How to Pick a Ripe Pineapple

Are you tired of picking unripe pineapples?  

Whether you’re looking for a perfectly ripe pineapple for your next fruit salad, upside-down cake, or salsa, you’ll want to look for one that has yellow skin and is firm with only a little give.  

Let’s take a detailed look at how to pick a good pineapple. 

HOW TO CHOOSE A PINEAPPLE

If you’re curious about how to pick a pineapple, there are three basic ways to do it: The Sniff Test, The Squeeze Test and The Frond Test. 

THE SNIFF TEST

To employ this test, simply pick up a pineapple and smell the underside. Does it smell sweet? If it does, the fruit is ripe. If it doesn’t smell like anything, it probably needs some more time on the shelf. 

THE SQUEEZE TEST

The squeeze test is used for most fruits and vegetables, including pineapple. However, it’s best to use this method gently so that you do not break the skin or damage the produce. When you pick up your pineapple, the skin should be firm and mostly yellow. Next, give it a little squeeze with your fingers. It should give slightly. If the pineapple is extremely hard, it’s not yet ripe. 

THE FROND TEST

The green leaves at the top of the pineapple are the fronds. To employ this method when choosing a pineapple, locate a frond near the middle. It’s not necessary to dig all the way down the frond. Once you find a good frond near the center, give it a slight tug. If it comes out, the pineapple is ripe. 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU CAN’T FIND A RIPE PINEAPPLE

If you can’t find a ripe pineapple, don’t fret. Pineapples, like most produce, are picked when they’re underripe in order to give them a longer shelf life. When you use these methods on how to choose a pineapple and find that none of them are ripe, pick the one that’s closest to being ready. You can still take it home and set it on your kitchen counter to finish ripening. 

To make the most of your ripe pineapple, check out our library of recipes. From pineapple teriyaki sliders to pineapple and chipotle pork tacos, we’ve got something to make your pineapple the star of the show.