When is pineapple too ripe

Ripe pineapple is perfectly sweet, slightly tangy, and somehow packed with warm, sunny energy. But how can you tell what's going on with all that other stuff in the way?

Knowing how to tell if a pineapple is ripe is actually pretty simple—you just need to follow a simple three-step process. When you think of pineapples, you probably think about a greenish-yellow fruit. Be alert for the two key elements of a ripe pineapple : freshness and deterioration. You are looking for a fresh pineapple, not a rotting one.

The stem is the area of the pineapple that feeds sugar to the fruit. It is from here that the pineapple changes color. Look at the pineapple's color. It will often reflect a golden-yellow color, but a green-tinted pineapple is not necessarily unripe. You should also place more emphasis on the pineapple's healthy appearance.

As a general rule, the yellow coloration should be visible on the eyes at the base of the fruit. Color that rises further up the pineapple usually indicates a sweeter fruit. Focus on the color of the leaves. Because the color of the fruit itself can be either golden-yellow or green, looking at the leaf color might be a better option. Choose pineapples with healthy, green leaves. Check out the shape of the pineapple.

Pineapples should be well developed with rounded edges and developed eyes. The eyes are the spiked centers of the rough circles created by the geometric pattern on the pineapple. Make sure that the eyes have filled out and are relatively flat. Choose pineapples from the growing location closest to you. For instance, if you live in California, Hawaiian or Mexican pineapples will probably be the freshest because they traveled the shortest distance from the plantation to your supermarket. Method 3.

Eat a whole pineapple stored at room temperature within a few days. As long as you do not cut the pineapple, it should stay fresh for several days. Do not leave cut pineapple out in a room temperature setting, however, since it will spoil after a few hours. Refrigerate your pineapple to keep it fresh longer. A whole refrigerated pineapple, when left uncut, can last about two weeks. Once you cut the pineapple or remove its skin, it will only last for about one week in your refrigerator.

Cut the pineapple up and refrigerate it for up to one week. To properly cut your pineapple, cut off the crown and the base of the fruit. Place the pineapple upright on a cutting board and carefully slice on the inside of the rind from top to bottom. Make sure to cut deep enough to remove all of the prickly rind. You can cut them away individually, but it might be easier to cut along the sides of the pineapple in a diagonal, v-shaped trench since the eyes should be patterned along the sides in a diagonal.

Cut the tough core out of the center and discard, then slice the four pieces into chunks or slices. Freeze freshly cut pineapple for up to six months.

Slice the pineapples in large chunks to retain as much flavor as possible, as freezing can cause pineapples to lose flavor. Place the pineapple chunks in freezer-safe plastic containers or freezer-safe plastic bags before storing. No, for pineapples the ripening process halts after being picked. So if you get one that is too green there is not much you can do.

Not Helpful 37 Helpful A relatively heavy pineapple also means that it's juicer, and a juicy pineapple will be much sweeter. Pick up the pineapple and sniff the bottom. When ripe, it should smell fruity and sweet. If it has no smell, it may be underripe. If it smells slightly funky or vinegary, your pineapple may be overripe as the natural sugars are starting to ferment. Give the pineapple a squeeze.

It should feel firm but give very slightly when ripe. You want just a little give, as too much is a sign that the pineapple may be too ripe. It's actually easier to feel for what you don't want: Rock solid is probably underripe, so anything less than that is likely ready to eat. For sauces, use pineapple juice in place of chicken stock or wine in savory dishes.

Before the pineapple turns bad, cut it and freeze the pieces for up to 12 months to use for smoothies, frozen pops and granitas. To make a smoothie, use about equal parts of frozen pineapple chunks for the liquid, such as milk, coconut milk or orange juice; and add half those amounts of other ingredients that go well with pineapple, such as yogurt, strawberries, bananas and ginger.

Use the juice alone with a bit of ginger, crushed mint or vanilla to freeze on sticks. Both the color and texture of overly ripe pineapples are hidden when you cook with the fruit. Grill the fruit in slices to serve with a dollop of yogurt or ice cream for dessert; use it for baked goods like muffins, or upside-down cake; or add it, cut into chunks, to Asian-inspired stir-fries.