How to Pick Sweet, Juicy Pineapples: Just Look at These 4 Features

If you want to choose the sweetest, juiciest pineapples, simply observe the base, crown, and skin to identify fruits that have absorbed enough sunlight.

 

 

Pineapples are available year-round, but they reach peak sweetness and nutritional value in the summer. This fruit is rich in essential nutrients like vitamin C, protein, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. Besides being a refreshing treat, pineapples promote healthy skin, detoxify the body, boost immunity, fight inflammation, and aid digestion.

The best pineapples are perfectly ripe, bursting with sweetness, and have a fragrant aroma. However, not everyone knows how to pick a good one. Choosing the wrong pineapple can result in a sour or bland taste.

To select the perfect pineapple, look at these four key features:

1. Check the Skin Color

Pineapples generally come in three color variations: deep yellow, green with yellow patches (more green than yellow), and yellow with green patches (more yellow than green). Which one should you choose?

Many people opt for fully deep-yellow pineapples, assuming they are the sweetest. However, this is not always true. Some deep-yellow pineapples are overripe from sitting too long. They may look fine on the outside, but when cut open, the flesh can be mushy or even have black spots.

On the other hand, pineapples that are mostly green with a bit of yellow are often underripe. Their skin is still firm, making them suitable for stir-frying or cooking in soups, but they may be too tart to eat fresh.

The best choice is a pineapple that is mostly yellow with a little green. These pineapples have a balanced sweetness, a crisp texture, and are neither too soft nor too firm.

2. Look at the Pineapple Leaves

A pineapple that has received enough sunlight and nutrients will have long, lush leaves. This indicates that the fruit is sweet and crisp. In contrast, pineapples with short, sparse leaves have likely lacked sunlight and nutrients. These fruits tend to be less sweet, less fragrant, and contain less juice.

3. Examine the Base of the Pineapple

You can tell if a pineapple is fresh by checking its base. A fresh pineapple should have a clean bottom with no black spots, and its surrounding leaves should be relatively green. If the base looks shriveled and has dense black spots, the pineapple is likely old or spoiled.

Some people think they can just cut away the rotten part and still eat the rest. However, once a fruit starts rotting, bacteria and fungi spread rapidly, contaminating the entire pineapple. Consuming it may lead to nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

4. Observe the Pineapple "Eyes"

The last thing to check is the pattern of the pineapple "eyes" (the small circular indentations on the skin). If the eyes are small and densely packed, the pineapple likely didn't receive enough sunlight and may not be very sweet. On the other hand, if the eyes are large and widely spaced, the fruit has had ample sunlight and nutrients, making it sweet and flavorful.

Tips for Eating Pineapple

• Choose fresh, whole pineapples without bruises or damage.
• When peeling, remove the outer skin and cut deep enough to remove all the eyes.
• Rinse the pineapple with salt water before eating.
• Avoid eating fresh pineapple on an empty stomach, as it can irritate the stomach lining and cause nausea or discomfort.