Apples, bananas, peaches and tomatoes have the beneficial ability to ripen. Harvested when unripe, they nevertheless transform into a fruity delight. Find out here whether the pineapple also has this property.
Can a pineapple continue to ripen?
A pineapple has no ability to ripen and should be harvested when fully ripe to ensure a delicious and he althy enjoyment. So the fruit does not continue to ripen after it is harvested.
Non-climacteric fruits do not ripen
Pineapple is one of the non-climacteric fruits. This classification implies that it lacks the ability to mature. In contrast to ripening fruits, the pineapple no longer absorbs oxygen and no longer releases carbon dioxide. As a result, she doesn’t “breathe” or only continues to breathe minimally. Pineapples must therefore be harvested when fully ripe if they are to provide a delicious and he althy treat.
Safely identifying a pineapple that is ready to harvest
Since a pineapple does not ripen, the timing of the harvest becomes even more important. All work related to planting and care comes to nothing if the fruit is harvested too early. Unripe pineapples not only taste very sour, but are even slightly toxic to sensitive people and pregnant women. You can recognize a pineapple that is ready to harvest by these characteristics:
- a wonderful scent emanates from the base of the pineapple stem
- the foliage of the crown is lush green and plump
- the firm flesh yields elastically under light pressure
- a single leaf can be picked out with minimal pull
- the bowl has no cracks or other damage
- the fruit has a harmoniously shaped appearance
The color of a pineapple, on the other hand, is not a reliable indication of the degree of ripeness. There are varieties commercially available that still have green flesh when fully ripe.
Despite ripeness, different taste zones
Don't be surprised if the freshly harvested, ripe pineapple doesn't taste uniform. Gravity causes the fructose to distribute unevenly. The pulp in the lower part is therefore particularly sweet, while the middle part scores with a balanced taste. Anyone who prefers to eat pineapple in a sour-sweet way will secure the upper zone of the fruit.
Tips & Tricks
If you are planning to grow a pineapple from the leaves, you have a wonderful opportunity to experience the root growth live. Instead of immediately planting the prepared leaf crown in substrate, place it with the stem in a glass of lime-free water. So you and your children can watch Mother Nature work her miracles every day.
