Picking the Best Pineapple & Knowing When It’s Ready to Eat

Is there anything better than a juicy, sweet slice of pineapple? This bright, sunshiney fruit is fit for a day by the pool, but cutting it at the wrong time can turn your day upside down. So how do you know when a pineapple is ripe and ready to be eaten? We’ve laid out everything you need to know right here, so keep reading to learn how you can smell, feel, and see when a pineapple has reached ripened perfection.

Things You Should Know

Sniff the bottom of a pineapple. If it smells sweet, it’s ready to eat!
Squeeze a pineapple with your fingers. If it’s firm but moves ever-so-slightly, you can chop it up.
Look to see if a pineapple has perky green leaves and a golden-yellow hue on the outside, which means it’s perfectly ripe.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Testing the Scent & Feel

Download Article

1
Does is smell sweet? Flip the pineapple over and sniff the bottom. If you smell something sweet, it’s ripe. If not, it’s probably not.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- You can smell the pineapple on other sides too, but the strongest fragrance will come from the bottom or stem end.
- Throw out pineapples that smell fermented or like alcohol or vinegar, as they’re most likely bad.
2
Is it squeezable? Hold the pineapple in your hand and gently press on it with your fingers. A ripe fruit will be firm but soft enough to bend under your fingers, specially in the bottom indentation.
- If the pineapple’s hard, it’s probably unripe.
- If the pineapple molds too easily in your hands, it may be rotten inside.
Advertisement
3
Is it heavy? A heavier pineapple usually means it’s juicy, and juice means it’s ripe and sweet. If the fruit feels hefty in your hands, it’s most likely ready to eat. This method isn’t foolproof, especially since pineapples come in all shapes and sizes, but it’s worth trying!^{[2]
X
Research source}
- This is a great way to pick between 2 pineapples at the store. Weigh each in your hands, and choose the heavier one.
- Note that “heavier” doesn’t mean “larger.” A ripe, smaller-sized pineapple might be as heavy (or heavier) than a larger, unripe pineapple.
4
Do the leaves pluck right off? Now, this is a controversial method of testing ripeness, as some believe it works while others don’t, but it’s worth a try! Pull out the innermost center leaf. If that leaf removes easily, then the pineapple is ripe.
- Be careful because a leaf that slips out too easily may be rotten inside.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Visually Checking for Ripeness

Download Article

1
Is it golden-yellow in color? When pineapples ripen, their green or brown outsides start to turn a shade of yellow, especially near the base of the fruit. Even so, a green-tinted pineapple doesn’t automatically mean the pineapple isn’t ripe. Check to see if the pineapple has some yellow tones to it, as that may mean it’s time to cut it open.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Pineapples will start to change color on their base first. The more golden a pineapple is and the further the color rises towards the crown, the sweeter and riper it’ll be.
- Avoid pineapples with wrinkled or reddish-brown skin, as these are signs of rot.
A pineapple with droopy brown leaves is most likely overripe and not good to eat anymore. If the leaves are perky and green and there are other notes of ripeness, the fruit is most likely perfect to eat.
The eyes or spikes around a ripe pineapple are flush with the fruit, not pointy. If the eyes are sharp and sticking out, the pineapple isn’t ready to be cut and eaten, so leave it on the shelf for a few more days.^{[4]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Storing

Download Article

As long as you don’t cut the fruit, a pineapple can last on your countertop or in your fruit bowl for around 3 days. Just don’t try to stick it in the fridge, as this could cause it to ripen unevenly.^{[5]
X
Research source}
2
Store cut pineapple in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. When you’re ready to eat your pineapple, chop it up and place it in the refrigerator for about 4 days in an airtight container. This way, you can grab a fresh, sweet snack whenever you’d like!^{[6]
X
Research source}
- If your cut pineapple turns brown or slimy, it’s gone bad and should be tossed right away.
- To keep your pineapple fresh longer, chop off the rough exterior and store it in the fridge in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap for up to a week.
3
Freeze freshly cut pineapple for up to a year. Slice the pineapples into large chunks to retain as much flavor as possible. Then, place the pineapple chunks in freezer-safe plastic containers or freezer-safe plastic bags before storing them. The sooner you use them, the fresher they’ll taste.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Try freezing your pineapple pieces on a lined baking sheet before placing them in a freezer bag, so they don’t clump together.
- When you're ready to use the pineapple, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Do pineapples continue to ripen after picking?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

No, for pineapples the ripening process halts after being picked. So if you get one that is too green there is not much you can do.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 52 Helpful 82
Question

Is pineapple used to tenderize meat?

Community Answer

Yes. Pineapple has a natural enzyme that breaks down protein, and it only takes a short time to tenderize meat this way.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 15 Helpful 93
Question

Can I plant the top of the pineapple?

Community Answer

Yes you can! This is the most common way to plant pineapples. Check out How to Grow a Pineapple for more detailed information.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 18 Helpful 109

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Read Video Transcript

Tips

Buy a pineapple while it's ripe the same day you intend to use it. That way, it'll be fresh and won't keep ripening or go bad on the counter.

Thanks
Helpful 6 Not Helpful 2
Choose pineapples that are grown near your local area, as these won’t have to travel a long way to get to you.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0