The times when pineapple was difficult to buy are long gone. This fruit is sold on every corner today. At the same time, it is far from always possible to choose a delicious ripe pineapple in the store: in two cases out of three, the buyer comes to the conclusion that he bought something that was not what he expected, because the fruit turns out to be sour and unripe.
Anyone who once tasted a ripe pineapple, just picked, will never find anything like it in the store. As you know, these fruits are not grown in our country, and before they are put on sale, they are transported over long distances. In order for the fruits to withstand such transportation, they are plucked unripe, and on the way in the boxes they definitely do not become the same as those that continue to ripen on the pineapple plant. There are fruits that ripen plucked, but pineapple is not one of them. Therefore, finding the perfect taste in a supermarket or in the market will not work.
All that remains is to try to choose the best of what is available in the store. How to do it? Notice the leaves that form the green crown of the pineapple. In a good fruit, it will be even, dense and symmetrical, while not too long - no more than twice the length of the pineapple itself. The color of the leaves should be bright, saturated. It is quite acceptable if the tops are slightly dry at the edges, but if it is clearly dry, yellowed, you do not need to take such a fruit.
Some determine the ripeness of pineapples by pulling out the leaves: if this is easy, the fruit is considered ripe. However, this is wrong. Such a sign suggests that the leaves have dried up, because the pineapple has been waiting for the buyer for a long time on the shelf.
To know for sure whether the pineapple is whole, you can try unscrewing its crown, like a bottle cap. If the fruit is ripe, it will work out without problems. True, it is not a fact that sellers will approve of your desire to spoil the look of their product.
Another sign that you can use to pick a ripe pineapple in the store is the condition of the rind. In a good fruit, it is uniformly yellow. Greenish tints on the rind indicate that the fruit did not have time to ripen and remained sour where the rind is green. It is worth making a reservation here that there are varieties of pineapples that have a green rind even when ripe, but it is better not to risk it.
You can knock on the pineapple to determine how ripe it is. If the sound is muffled, it may mean you have a good option in your hands. If the knocking is heard with a booming sound, the fruit is probably already dry.
If it is possible to see the fruit in section, give preference to the pulp with a rich yellow color. Also, a good pineapple should have a pleasant sweetish aroma, but not too strong. If the smell is felt at a great distance, this indicates that the fermentation process has begun.
A good pineapple cannot be very cheap. If it is being sold at a huge discount, then you need to think about why. It should be understood that less time is spent on transportation of fruits by plane, and this method of transportation is quite costly. Cheaper fruits are delivered by sea transport - it takes weeks, so the fruits are picked unripe.
Do not take pineapples in the refrigerator from the store. At low temperatures, they lose their taste. Sellers usually know this, therefore, if the fruit is in the refrigerator, it means that it began to deteriorate, so they put it there.
By following these tips on how to pick a ripe pineapple in the store, you can find a fruit to complement your holiday table.
