The scent is the best indicator of ripeness, so take it seriously! Turn the pineapple upside down and smell the base of the pineapple. The two main things to look out for when picking a good pineapple are ripeness and degradation of the rind. Refrigerated pineapples don’t have a strong smell. [1] X Research source You can try smelling the pineapple from other sides; a sweet enough scent may be distinguishable from any side of the fruit. I'm kidding, but you can now use your newfound knowledge on these spiky beauties to make amazing recipes like these savory-sweet grilled chicken pineapple sliders or this refreshing sparkling pineapple ginger ale cocktail. Pineapple has a natural enzyme that breaks down protein, and it only takes a short time to tenderize meat this way. One interesting thing about pineapple is that it actu… Pluck an inner leaf from the crown of the pineapple. Ripening of unripe pineapples on its own is far from truth. Read on for another quiz question. By adding your email you agree to get updates about Spoon University Healthier. Before cutting a pineapple should be stored at 45 degrees. Sliced pineapple can be refrigerated for a week, or you can cut it into chunks and freeze it. If you harvest the pineapple before it totally changes colors, you can allow the outer skin to finish ripening indoors at room temperature. “How to Tell if a Pineapple Is Ripe,” wikihow; http://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-a-Pineapple-Is-Ripe, last accessed April 13, 2017. If it sounds like we’re trying to sell you on a weight-loss product or a new credit card, we’re not. ", "How to avoid overripe pineapple was helpful! Once the pineapple is picked from the plant, it cannot ripen any further but you can see if you can make a smoothie or something out of it that will compensate for the unripe flavor, such as a cake. A heavier pineapple is more likely to be juicy. Pineapples are ripe and ready to harvest when the entire outer skin develops a yellowish color and a pineapple smell and the flesh is an orange-yellow color. ", "I did not know you could freeze pineapple. Remember that at full ripeness, a pineapple will only last about two days at room temperature, or up to one week in an air tight container stored in your fridge. If you’re not in a hurry to eat the fruit, then this is a suitable option. Pineapples don’t want to help you. How to Remove a Pineapple Without Killing the Plant. What are the Benefits of Pineapple Juice? (Not that fermented pineapple is a bad thing per se; we just want it to happen on purpose, not by accident.). To create this article, 47 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Is it Okay to Feed Pineapple to a Chicken? You can only keep a cut pineapple in the fridge for about a week. Make sure you opt for fresh fruit rather than the canned variety. I suspect that if it were an animal you would have probably found pieces laying about where the animal was feasting. The more of the pineapple that is covered by the yellow color, the more you can assume will be fully ripe with the maximum flavor. It’s best to allow the fruit to fully ripen on the plant because once picked, it won’t get any sweeter, although the outer skin will continue to ripen. ", "I always wanted to eat ripe pineapple fresh. But the scent is sweeter at the base. Always wrap peeled pineapple stored in the fridge, to prevent fridge odors from being absorbed. The flower petals are white at the bottom and a bright blue-violet color at the top. How to ripen a pineapple. Read on for another quiz question. Other factors to help you tell when a pineapple is ripe include well trimmed bottoms, and where the crown of the pineapple is a reasonable size – either ideally the height of the pineapple and not more than double its height. No, for pineapples the ripening process halts after being picked.