Understanding Pineapple Ripening: How Long and How to Do It
How Long Does It Take for a Store-Bought Pineapple to Ripen?
Store-bought pineapples are usually harvested when they are mature but not fully ripe. This means that they will not ripen significantly once picked. However, the available fringe benefits include the ability to continue softening and develop flavor over a period of 1 to 3 days when kept at room temperature.
Tips for Ripening Your Pineapple
Room Temperature: Place the pineapple at room temperature for 1 to 3 days. Look for a sweet aroma and slight softness at the base, which are signs of ripeness.
Refrigeration: Once the pineapple is ripe, you can refrigerate it to extend its freshness. However, it will not continue to ripen in the refrigerator.
Real-Life Experience: Growing a Pineapple Plant
Domestically, I grew a pineapple plant in a pot for several years. It flowered and set a fruit in February, and it finally ripened fully in July, about five months from blossom to fruit. The fruit was the size of a softball and particularly delicious.
Tribal Knowledge: Deterioration and Degradation
Once harvested, pineapples may continue to change appearance without additional ripening. For instance, they may turn a bit more brown, lose some green color due to chlorophyll degradation, and appear sweeter due to water loss. However, they do not develop new aromatics or change starch to sugar like other fruits such as peaches and bananas.
Specific Store Observations
My Aldi pineapples take about 2.5 weeks to ripen. The ripening time can vary depending on how long the pineapples have been on store shelves. I have had ripe pineapples from other stores, but not often.
The Process from Start to Ripe Fruit
Generally, it takes around 28 months for a pineapple to flower once planted, and another six months for its fruit to ripen. However, this process can vary depending on factors such as the temperature of the location and the type and size of the plant.
A Personal Journey
When in grade school, I entered a science fair with a project on growing a pineapple plant. My mother obtained information from Hawaii in the early 1960s, before the widespread use of the internet. I had a poster board with my information and pictures, and a pineapple that I had started in water, cut into a cone shape, and planted in soil. My project highlighted the prospect of the pineapple as a houseplant since it belongs to the Bromeliad family. I explained that it would not bear fruit where I lived due to the lack of suitable climate and soil. I got an honorable mention ribbon, whereas other students did not receive anything.