Picking the Perfect Pineapple

When it comes to tropical fruits; the Pineapple is second in sales directly behind the Banana. The fruit is sweet and when eaten will give you a burst of flavor like no other fruit. It is as if there is an explosion of sweet freshness that over-whelms the senses.

The Pineapple is not just tastee, but it is packed with nutrients that is extremely important to the internal organs and muscle health. And although this article is not necessarily about the health benefits of the little miracle...I think they are worth looking into. Therefore, if you will will go to Nutrient Data you will fined out just how vitamin packed the Pineapple really is.

Now that we know that the Pineapple is good for us...we can discuss the best method for picking out the little jewel.

In my thirty or so years in the Produce business, there was not a week that went by without some sweet little lady coming to me asking me to pick her out the perfect Pineapple. I was of course; perfectly willing to do so, but I always felt just as obligated to instruct her on learning the task herself. I finally realized that some of those wonderful ladies already knew how to pick out their Pineapple, but what they really wanted was just someone to talk to. And usually the joke was on me, because I never really ever seen it coming.

Pineapple is like most all other fruits...they are picked too green for human consumption. They are picked this way because of the need for in-store shelf life. They are gassed to kill insects and to excite the enzymes of the fruit to continue the ripening process. I am not one whom agrees with this particular process; however, I am also not anyone who can change it.

Therefore, one might say that "we just have to go with the flow" and in most cases the delectable fruit will finally come to ripen. And of course, it then becomes our responsibility to find that mature point of edibility. And of course; your question about the subject is...when is that?

The best way to pick out that perfect Pineapple is to navigate your way to the top of the leaves (also known as the crown) and reach into the very top of the crown and try to pull a leaf from the very center. You should not have to pull hard in the least. Give the leaf a slight tug and if the Pineapple is ripe...the leaf will come out very easily.

In some cases the leaf you touch might even just fall out. If this happens, take a second look at the Pineapple itself and make sure it is not bruised in any way. You don't want the Pineapple over-ripe.

A second method is to look on the bottom portion of the Pineapple and observe the core. If you have small amount of mold just starting to grow on the core...this is a good sign that the sugar content of the fruit is high. This type of mold needs two sources in which to grow and they are moisture and sugar. Therefore, if you've got a little mold, then it must have a fairly good source of sugar available. Don't be afraid of the mold, but don't consume it either. It will wash and or cut off without doing you any harm.

Now if you pick a Pineapple where the top center leaf plucks out easily and when you turn it over and find a small amount of mold on the core, then you've hit paydirt. That Pineapple will be both juicy and sweet. When you peel the fruit for eating just cut the mold from the core and then enjoy. But don't throw that core away!

There is probably two dozen things you can do with that core, so don't waste it. Here's just a few.

Blend it up to make a delicious smoothie
Use it for your Pina Colada
Use it for a meat tenderizer
Rub the core and the Pineapple on your skin to reduce the signs of wrinkles and aging. See Pineapple Face Mask
Put the core into a chicken and roast it (delicious)
Put them into a punch bowel
Slice up the core and put a chunk into your tea or lemonade

You get the idea here? In other words...you paid for it so by-all-means utilize the core. Why throw it away? Do some research and find out the many other uses for your Pineapple core and skins. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Good Luck!