Exotic fruits are delivered from distant countries. Even with prompt air transportation, it is difficult to preserve fruits. Therefore, they are harvested unripe, which is why you can easily buy an unripe pineapple in a supermarket. Don’t be upset. In our article, you will find some tips on what to do with an unripe pineapple so that it ripens at home. And we will also tell you how to determine the ripeness of a pineapple in general.
How to understand that a pineapple is unripe
It is not necessary to cut a pineapple to understand its maturity. It is enough to pay attention to a few important details.
- Appearance. The leaves are juicy and bright green in color – this indicates that the pineapple is not yet ripe. The pulp of such pineapples will not be juicy, hardened and may even be bitter. But dry brown leaves are also not the best purchase – this fruit is clearly overripe and may have already started to spoil. It has a lot of juice, has an unpleasant aroma and taste. Our task is to find a fruit with dense, dark greens. The ends of the tops should be slightly dry.
- tail Many people are sure that it is enough to twist the top of a pineapple to understand whether the fruit is ripe or green. Theoretically yes! If you twist the tail of a ripe pineapple, it will yield and even fall off. And the green one will continue to sit as if poured. But if the fruit turns out to be ripe and loses its top, then it will have to be eaten immediately. And if we want to keep it for the upcoming holidays? Therefore, it is enough to shake the top a little, if it is mobile, then you can take it.
- Skin color. Unripe pineapples are light with yellow or green. The grooves between the scales are clearly visible. Dark, burgundy spots are a sign, on the contrary, of overripe fruits. Ripe fruit is golden brown with hard, dried skin and dark greenish stripes.
- Flexibility. Ripe fruit springs under your fingers, but its skin remains soft. When tapping with the edge of the palm, a dull sound is heard.
- Scent. The fruits, which have no smell, are green. Ripe pineapple smells pleasant (somewhat reminiscent of a strawberry aroma), but not obtrusive. Sweetness is a sign of overripe fruit.
Given the above, finding the ripest pineapple is easy. But if he is still immature, then you can resort to some tricks.
Do not eat unripe raw pineapple. This can cause unpleasant consequences: disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, irritation of the mucous membrane.
How to make pineapple reach at home
It should be noted right away that a completely green pineapple will not be able to ripen. The content of the fruit contains a minimum of starch, which is necessary for the formation of sugar and ripening. Therefore, simply creating favorable conditions, as for bananas, we will not achieve anything. A long stay in the heat or in the sun will make the green pineapple spoil faster.
An almost ripe pineapple can be brought to taste perfection in a few days. But don’t expect it to get any sweeter. Unfortunately, the sweet taste of pineapple is gained only in the garden. And we can only add softness.
The easiest method is to leave the pineapple fruit at room temperature. But the process has its own characteristics:
- the fruit should stand with the top down – this way the available starch is better distributed;
- it is placed away from direct sunlight, electrical appliances;
- do not place substances with a strong smell and household chemicals nearby;
- the total ripening time is 2-3 days.
After that, the pineapple fruit is placed in the refrigerator on a lower, separate shelf, far from other products. A separate plus is if you put a paper bag on it with holes that ensure air circulation.
But these are far from all the ways to speed up the ripening of pineapple.
Package and apple
We will need a paper bag and half of any apple. It is known that it provokes the rapid ripening of fruits that are placed nearby.
A paper bag can be replaced with a dense newspaper.
- Cut the apple in advance and let it dry on the table. Let the brown spots appear and the cut dry.
- Place pineapple and apple in a paper bag. Or wrap them in newspaper.
- Fix everything with tape and hang. As a result, the pineapple should be upside down.
Leave the fruit for 3 days at room temperature. Pineapple is used immediately after “ripening”.
In addition, you can put an unripe banana in the bag. It is also able to have the same effect on pineapples as an apple.
An alternative to paper bags can be a large plastic container. Just put a pineapple with an apple or bananas in it. The ripening time will be reduced to 1-2 days.
Radiator
The use of this method also involves the consumption of pineapple, immediately after achieving the result.
- Wrap the pineapple in a tight, clean cloth. Better cotton, non-pilling.
- Put it on a plate and put it near the radiator.
- Wait 1-2 days.
No need to put on a battery! The fruit will simply spoil. Only nearby.
Balcony
The duration of ripening in this method is ambiguous – several days. We recommend checking the level of ripeness daily. And upon reaching it, immediately eat the pineapple.
- Wipe the pineapple with a wet rag.
- Put on the balcony.
- Control the absence of sunlight.
However, this option is only suitable if the balcony is heated. Or it’s summer outside.
Food film
A fairly simple and effective method. And you will only need a skein of cling film.
- Return the pineapple to the cling film.
- Hang in a warm place.
It is ready for consumption within a day.
Towel
A long-term method, but it will allow you to store the pineapple after ripening for several more days, without spoiling.
- Wrap the pineapple in a terry towel.
- Put it in the closet.
- Keep for about 5 days, controlling the ripening process visually.
The methods all boil down to one thing – gradual warming up. Thus, the process of starch conversion is stimulated.
What can be done from an unripe pineapple
Well, what to do if the pineapple is already cut and you managed to make sure that it is not ripe: dense and not too sweet. Do not despair – there is always a way out. For example, you can bake pineapples in the oven. This method of preparation will make even green fruit safe.
When heated, bromelain breaks down – a component that irritates the mucous membrane. You can bake the pieces on their own or together with chicken and other fruits.
It is allowed to boil pineapple and then caramelize it and use it in meat dishes, desserts, snacks, and salads.
Buy and eat pineapples. They are very useful. And if you suddenly come across unripe ones, our advice will always help.