How Can You Tell Whether a Pineapple Is Ripe and Ready for Consumption?

It is hard to come across a fully ripe pineapple outside of the shelves of a store. This is because pineapples are harvested before 100% ripe. With that said, it can be determined whether the pineapple is ripe by smelling the bottom of the fruit (butt). The butt of the pineapple is where it is most fragrant. If it smells sweet, like pineapple juice, it most likely means it is ripe. If the butt doesn’t have a significant smell, it usually means that there is insufficient sugar and the fruit is not fully developed. Visual cues also provide a good indication of the fruit’s maturity. As the fruit begins to ripen, it will turn yellow and golden in color. If the fruit is yellow on the bottom and green on the top, that means the fruit will yield inconsistency in sweetness. A ripe pineapple will be yellow all the way to the crown which means that sugar has been evenly distributed throughout. Lastly, a simple “press test” can help determine the ripeness of the pineapple. A sweet and ready-to-eat pineapple will yield slightly to pressure. One should avoid overripe pineapples, which will have a distinct appearance and funky smell. If the pineapple appears reddish-bronze or dry-looking, it indicates overripeness.