Pineapples are easy to ripen.
Pineapples are a sweet but acidic and tart fruit that comes from tropical regions and grows on a large species of bromeliad plants. It can be used in a variety of recipes, drinks, baked goods or eaten on its own. Pineapple is canned when the fruit is ripe, but when eating fresh pineapple you'll want to ensure the pineapple is ripe, otherwise it will be sour. There are ways to ripen pineapple at home.
Paper Bag Method
As fruit ripens, it releases a gas called ethylene. This gas can cause other fruit nearby to also ripen very quickly, taking only a few hours to a full day. Pineapple does not continue to ripen after being picked, unlike other fruits such as bananas and apples. One of these fruits can be placed in a paper bag with a pineapple, and then rolled closed to trap the gas, which will ripen the pineapple in about a day.
Turning Method
When a pineapple is stored upright, all the sweet juices in the pineapple settle at the bottom of the fruit. Cutting off the green top of the pineapple to make a flat surface on the top of the fruit so it doesn't fall over, and then storing the fruit upside down will allow these juices to circulate back through the entire fruit and sweeten it for eating.
Longer Growth
If you are growing your own pineapple, allow it to remain on the plant as long as possible before picking. The exterior of the fruit should be yellowish-brown, and the outside of the fruit should not be green in any spots. Do not pick the fruit until it is 6 months old.
Choosing A Ripe Pineapple
Choosing a ripe pineapple in the first place can save time, allowing you to eat it right away. Pineapples are often shipped to the store when they are under-ripe, so they don't become bruised or ruined in transit. Some pineapples may be perfectly ripe, and you can pick these out by pulling on the leaves of the crown -- the green part at the top of the plant. If the leaves come out easily, the plant is ripe.
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