Sorry , TikTok . Storing a pineapple upside - down ( or any of those other ripen machine politician ) do n’t actually do anything . Here ’s why .
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FromCrinkle CakestoMillion Layer Potatoes , TikTok has found stacks of nutrient trends we adore and often vivify . But not all of the formula shared on the social media platform are reliable . ( We ’re looking at you , bungalow Cheese Flatbread . )
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Not all of the tips and tricks deal on TikTok are trustworthy , either . call back when a viral post suggested wash your shredded cheese before using it in a recipe ? There ’s a undecomposed resolution , and we have it for youhere .
We recently spottedseveralvideosswirling around about how to mature a Ananas comosus , include “ solutions ” like storing it upside - down ( balanced on the folio ) , rank it in a plastic or composition purse , or covering it with uncooked rice . The creators blaspheme that they had cracked the code about how to take the fruit from rock - hard to ready to slice up and savor .
But we ’ve been arse around enough time by hacks that are far from helpful , so we decided to turn to the pro for the facts about how to ripen a ananas … and if you actually can do so in the first spot .
The Surprising Science Behind When a Pineapple Stops Ripening
accord to Rudy Balala , the general manager ofMaui Gold Pineapplein Hali’imaile , Maui , Hawaii , who has been in the pineapple industry for 46 years , it fill 18 months for a pineapple plant to go fromplanting to harvest . pineapple plant plant begin to flower at 12 month , “ and from there , another 6 months to get a matured yield , ” Balala say . “ Ananas comosus ripen on the plant and should not be harvested until the fruit reaches a sure clams level . ”
That ’s becauseonce a pineapple is harvested , it will not continue to mature . It only ripens while on the works , Balala and Gareth Hollis , the San Francisco , California - base senior business manager ofDel Monte Foods , Inc. , agree . Once it ’s bring down from the stem , the fruit will not get any sweeter .
Balala take us to school with a lilliputian food for thought science : Fruits can be classified as either“climacteric ” or “ non - climacteric,”he tells us . Pineapple joins cherry tree and grape vine in the non - climacteric camp .
“ Non - climacteric fruits are fruit that ripen slowly on the plant , and stop ripening once they are harvest , ” Balala explains . “ They are different from climacteric fruits [ likeapples , smasher , and banana ] , which have a rapid increase in ethene production and internal respiration at the starting of ripening . Non - climacteric fruits do n’t have this peak in ethene production , so they demand to be harvested when they are fully advanced . ” ( In pillow slip you missed it , ethylene petrol iswhy you should never store these fruits and vegetable together … unless you desire them to spoil faster . )
Non - climacteric fruits , let in Ananas comosus , may soften and the skin might flex more yellowwhen bring out to ethene , but no changes in national ripeness occur once a pineapple is pick . As soon as a ananas is harvested , the clock starts ticking and the calibre lower berth day by day .
So if you choose a in force pineapple , you ’re actually wasting cute time switch it upside - down and get it rest on the counter for 24-hour interval on end . And lay in it in a bag with a banana , as some TikTok Almighty suggest , is only going to play visual tricks .
To tell when a pineapple is perfectly ripe , Balala and his squad valuate the “ brix , ” or the amount of internal saccharide solids in the yield .
“ A higher brix account indicates a sweeter yield . We begin evaluate the sugar level by sampling yield and assess brix 4 weeks prior to the scheduled harvest , ” he explains , so they can track and harvest at just the right clip . ( recollect of this like how you might peek at a lot ofsnickerdoodle cookieson the short remainder of their baking time to insure you do n’t overshoot it . )
How to Tell if a Pineapple Is Ripe
Few , if any of us , can measure brix at home , so we inquire Balala to portion out the feature of speech that we can look for to have a better chance of choosing a ripe - and - ready yield .
Since outside colour has no connection with internal ripeness , “ it take a special oculus and years of experience to see when a Ananas comosus has touch full adulthood , ” Balala include . “ Some diverseness can be mature and sweet , but the shell is still gullible . We wish to cue people that it ’s what ’s on the interior that counts . ”
That being say , there are several matter you’re able to depend for to reduce the risk of exposure of buying an underripe or overripe pineapple plant . A pineapple that is ripe has :
Can You Eat Underripe Pineapple?
You should be A - OK to eat underripe pineapple , and we for certain recommend doing so rather than wasting it . Still , you need not digest through a sub - par slice .
“ If you cut a yield and it is underripe , my good suggestion is to find a good pineapple recipe and cook with it . Pineapple is great in both sweetened and spicy formula options , ” Balala says .
Cooking ananas heighten the innate pleasantness of yield . Roast or grill diced Ananas comosus or pineapple rings to assist as part of sundaes , parfaits , emollient puff , or trifles . You could alsoinfuse it with coco rummy . Or pair sweet and savory in our sports fan - pet fresh pineapple recipes likeChicken - Pineapple Fajitas , Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers , Spicy Scallop - Pineapple Stir - Fry , orGrilled Avocado and Pineapple Salad .
Hollis vow that if you choose for canned ananas , you have very small probability of choosing underripe yield : “ It ’s reap at summit ripeness , which stand for it is by nature sweet without any added sugars , making it a great selection whenever you demand that ripeness guarantee . Plus the canning process locks in nutrients at the elevation of ripeness , and ensures constancy up until the meter of using up , helping to shorten waste from spoilage . ”
As much as we adore and still be after to stock up up and snack onfresh Ananas comosus , we ’re scented on canned , too . Try send away pineapple recipes likeMillion Dollar Cake , Pineapple Upside - Down Coffee Cake , Hummingbird Cake with Caramel Frosting , Banana Split Bread , Luau BBQ Chicken Foil Packets , orPineapple pork barrel Chilito make the most of your stash .
How to Store Pineapple
Since it ’s not getting any good the longer you wait , ideally , you ’ll be storing your peeled and sliced unused pineapple in your breadbasket ASAP .
But in the interim , the best place tostore pineappleis in the icebox . Refrigerate a whole pineapple for 5 to 7 days , or slice or cube the build , remove it to an airtight container , and refrigerate for up to 4 days .
