Pineapple is one of those fruits that instantly sails you away to a tropical island without even leaving your kitchen. And while the canned variety is convenient, there's nothing better than slicing into that spiky fruit to reveal the juicy and sweet goodness inside. (Ree Drummond has a few easy tricks on how to cut up a pineapple, by the way.)
Widely available in grocery stores year-round, fresh pineapple is especially sweet and delicious from March to July when it's in peak season. But unlike other summer fruits like peaches and berries, it's not always easy to tell when a pineapple is ripe. Just when you think you have a crown jewel on your hands, the bright-yellow, sunshiny fruit you're imagining turns out to be hard as a rock and bitter.
The good news is that there are a few tips and tricks to picking out the perfect one at the grocery store. So here’s how to pick a pineapple that’s juicy, sweet, and ready to eat. Slice it up as a snack or get creative with both sweet and savory pineapple recipes that will transport your taste buds to the tropics.
How to Pick a Ripe Pineapple
The key to choosing a sweet pineapple is to make sure it's ripe! Here are a few ways to tell if a pineapple is ripe:
- Color: Generally, the more yellow a pineapple's exterior, the riper it is. Some green is fine, but you don't want to choose a pineapple that is dark green because it'll be underripe. You should also avoid deep yellow- to orange-colored pineapples as they may be overripe. The leaves on top, however, should be green and fresh-looking.
- Feel: Not only will a ripe pineapple feel heavy for its size, but it'll also be ever so slightly soft when you give it a good squeeze, just watch out for the spikes! Take your thumb and press on an “eye” (one of the hexagonal shapes on the skin). It should give slightly, and the spike in the center shouldn’t feel too sharp.
- Smell: Sniff the bottom of the pineapple—if it smells sweet and fruity, you've probably landed on a good pick, but if it smells funky and fermented, that pineapple has likely gone too far. If the pineapple has no smell? Well, then it's likely underripe, so choose a different one.
Do pineapples ripen on the counter?
Once a pineapple is harvested, it won't ripen much more. That's why it's so important to make sure the pineapple you're buying from the grocery store is already ripe! There are a few tricks to try that could salvage an unripe pineapple, though. Try storing it upside down for a few days to distribute the pineapple's natural starches and sugars and help it sweeten. You could also try storing an unripe pineapple in a brown paper bag with a banana. Fruits like bananas emit ethylene, which speeds up ripening and could help soften a pineapple.
What can you do with underripe or overripe pineapple?
Have a stubborn pineapple that's not quite ripe, or, on the other hand, one that's past its prime? Don't throw it out! While underripe pineapple isn't ideal, you can still eat it. Try cooking it or grilling it to bring out its natural sugars. You can use grilled pineapple in chicken quesadillas or skewer underripe pineapple with grilled shrimp for tasty kebabs. As long as it hasn't spoiled, overripe pineapple can be frozen for future frosty treats like smoothies, milkshakes, and even homemade Dole Whip.
