When it comes to selecting a perfectly ripe pineapple, using your nose is the best way to determine if the fruit is ready to eat. Melissa Mackay, Vice President of Marketing at Fresh Del Monte North America, suggests smelling the base of the pineapple for a sweet, tropical aroma. Avoid pineapples with no smell or a fermented, sour smell as they may be underripe or overripe. Look for pineapples that are mostly golden yellow in color, with a little green being acceptable. A pineapple that is all green may be too tart, while a dark orange base indicates the fruit is verging on overripe.
If you end up bringing home an unripe pineapple, don’t hold out hope that it will sweeten up. Pineapples are non-climacteric fruits, meaning they only ripen on the plant and not once they are harvested. To keep a pineapple fresh before cutting into it, Mackay recommends storing it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or in the fridge to maintain freshness. An uncut ripe pineapple can last three to five days at room temperature and up to a week when stored in the refrigerator. If the pineapple starts developing brown spots, it is best to cut it up and store it in an airtight container in the fridge, where it will stay fresh for an additional three to four days.
Mackay also addressed concerns about storing pineapples near other fruits and vegetables. Since pineapples emit very little ethylene gas, which is a ripening hormone, there is no issue storing them with other produce. While pineapples can be affected by ethylene, their thick skin provides protection from the off-gassing produced by other fruits. Therefore, storing pineapples with other items in a fruit bowl is perfectly fine. If you’re ready to dig into your ripe pineapple, you can learn how to cut it properly for consumption.
Overall, selecting a ripe pineapple involves using your senses, specifically your sense of smell, to determine if the fruit is ready to eat. Avoid pineapples with no smell or a sour aroma, and look for those that are mostly golden yellow in color. Unripe pineapples will not sweeten up once harvested, so it’s best to store them in a cool, dry place or in the fridge to maintain freshness. A ripe pineapple can last three to five days at room temperature or up to a week in the refrigerator. There is no issue storing pineapples near other fruits and vegetables, as their thick skin offers protection from ethylene gas.
