When we buy a pineapple, we all hope that it will be sweet and juicy, but unfortunately, it often happens that we bring home from the store something that tastes bland.
To avoid getting into trouble next time, use the advice of the expert of the online publication BelNovosti, chef Yulia Arkhipova, who listed several clear rules.
Peel color
The color does not necessarily have to be bright yellow: the color of the pineapple depends on its variety. The main thing is that the color is uniform, without dark spots, and the peel itself is elastic, with small protrusions-eyes.
Smell
The aroma that a pineapple gives off is the best indicator of its ripeness. A ripe fruit has a sweet smell with a slight sour note. You need to smell it at the base, where the pineapple was cut from the bush.
If the pineapple has no smell at all, it is not ripe enough, and if it smells too strong and sharp, it is overripe and will soon start to spoil.
Hardness
Before buying, be sure to feel the pineapple to assess its hardness - if it feels like a stone, you have a very green fruit in front of you.
Ideally, the peel should spring back a little when you press on it, and then return to its original state.
Leaves
A ripe fruit has a green and dense crown, the leaves are slightly damp when touched. Dried and brownish leaves are a sign that the pineapple has been lying around for too long.
To determine ripeness, try gently pulling one of the leaves. In a ripe pineapple, it will easily separate.
Expert: Julia Arkhipova
