Learn how to ripen a pineapple at home. When it is just ripe, this fruit ( ananas comosus ) has a perfect degree of acidity that makes it delicious and very refreshing. So if you made a mistake when selecting a piece of this fruit that you thought was at its optimum ripeness point, we are going to learn a simple trick with which we can have our pineapple ready to eat in 24 and 48 hours.
How to ripen a pineapple?
The reality is that pineapples do not ripen any further from the moment they are cut from the plant. Technically, they will not become sweeter or riper from that point on. However, there are some tricks to enhance flavor, texture and color.
Although, as I said initially, the ideal is to choose a piece that is ready to eat, not everyone knows how to do it the right way. If this is complicated for you, some signs can help you select the best pineapple (pineapple) when you need one. For this, I advise you to read how to choose a ripe pineapple.
Method 1: Ripening pineapple by flipping it
The pineapples ripen from the bottom up, so for it to ripen equally, we must put it upside down (resting on the leaves of the crown). Holding it upside down for a couple of days will allow the sugars to flow to the top, making it ripen faster.
Putting the fruit on its crown can be a complicated task. As an idea, I will tell you that you can trim the leaves so that they are evenly shaped and form a base as rigid as possible. It is not advisable to remove the crown completely before it ripens, as it can spoil as it would allow moisture and bacteria to enter the fruit.
Method 2: Ripen a pineapple with ethylene gas
The best way to ripen pineapple is the one usually used in most supermarkets. They add ethylene gas in the chambers where they preserve/store the fruit until it is sold. This gas causes a rapid maturation of them, rapidly altering their appearance.
We can continue this process at home by putting our pineapple in a paper bag along with an apple or banana for a few days. Ethylene is a gaseous hormone that helps fruits ripen.
How long does it take for a pineapple to ripen?
Although still an important cash crop in tropical regions, pineapples are grown by beginning gardeners in many climates as decorative and fruit plants. Growing pineapples isn’t difficult, but it can take a long time. After flowers appear, the fruits take at least 4 months to ripen. Once half of the hard shell around the fruit is yellow, the fruit can be harvested.
Pineapples can be grown indoors for their entire lives, although new plants may take longer to produce fruit and require at least 6 feet of headroom. Give the plant plenty of sunlight daily for at least 6 hours, and consistently keep the soil slightly moist. When possible, move silver out during the summer.
