3 Ways To Tell If A Pineapple Is Ripe - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow Picking the Best Pineapple & Knowing When It’s Ready to Eat PDF download Download Article What a ripe pineapple should look, feel, and smell like Co-authored by Randall Chambers and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: April 10, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Testing the Scent & Feel
    • |
  • Visually Checking for Ripeness
    • |
  • Storing
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Expert Interview
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
|Show more |Show less ARTICLE VIDEO X

This article was co-authored by Randall Chambers and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Randall (Randy) Chambers is a Personal Chef and the Owner of Luxury Meals From Home based in Arvada, Colorado. He has more than 16 years of commercial kitchen experience, five years of sous chef experience, and two years of experience as an executive chef. Chef Randy draws inspiration from his half Bolivian background and his forte is South American cuisine. He holds an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts from The Art Institute. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,713,461 times.

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.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Testing the Scent & Feel

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  1. Step 1 Does is smell sweet? 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.
    • 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. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if a Pineapple Is Ripe 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.[1]
    • If the pineapple’s hard, it’s probably unripe.
    • If the pineapple molds too easily in your hands, it may be rotten inside.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if a Pineapple Is Ripe 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]
    • 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. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if a Pineapple Is Ripe 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.[3]
    • Be careful because a leaf that slips out too easily may be rotten inside.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Visually Checking for Ripeness

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  1. Step 1 Is it golden-yellow in color? 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.
    • 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.
  2. Step 2 Are the leaves perky and green? 2 Are the leaves perky and green? 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.
  3. Step 3 Are the spikes flat against the fruit? 3 Are the spikes flat against the fruit? 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.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Storing

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  1. Step 1 Leave an uncut ripe pineapple at room temperature for 3 days. 1 Leave an uncut ripe pineapple at room temperature for 3 days. 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.[4]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if a Pineapple Is Ripe 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!
    • 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. Step 3 Freeze freshly cut... 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.
    • 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.
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Join the Discussion...

How can you tell if a pineapple is ripe? Chef Jeff Woodward Chef Jeff Woodward Private Chef The easiest way to tell if a pineapple is ripe would be to try to pull one of the leaves out. The color of the pineapple doesn’t matter. Simply try to pull on one of the leaves - if it comes out easily, the pineapple is ripe and ready to eat. Read More See all 2 Replies and Read Discussion

Community Q&A

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  • Question Do pineapples continue to ripen after picking? wikiHow Staff Editor 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 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 53 Helpful 83
  • Question Is pineapple used to tenderize meat? Community Answer 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 94
  • Question Can I plant the top of the pineapple? Community Answer 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 20 Helpful 110
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Video

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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 7 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 1

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
  • Squeeze out the juice from the core first before discarding it, and let the pineapple chunks sit in it to further enhance flavor.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about cooking with fruits, check out our in-depth interview with Ollie George Cigliano.

References

  1. ↑ Lindsey Swett. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ ​​https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/pineapple-glossary
  3. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/pineapple-glossary

About This Article

Randall Chambers Co-authored by: Randall Chambers Personal Chef This article was co-authored by Randall Chambers and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Randall (Randy) Chambers is a Personal Chef and the Owner of Luxury Meals From Home based in Arvada, Colorado. He has more than 16 years of commercial kitchen experience, five years of sous chef experience, and two years of experience as an executive chef. Chef Randy draws inspiration from his half Bolivian background and his forte is South American cuisine. He holds an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts from The Art Institute. This article has been viewed 3,713,461 times. 15 votes - 87% Co-authors: 49 Updated: April 10, 2025 Views: 3,713,461 Categories: Featured Articles | Food Selection and Storage Article SummaryX

To tell if a pineapple is ripe, first look at the color of its rind. The more yellow the rind is, the riper the pineapple will be. A pineapple that’s a golden-yellow color from top to bottom is perfect. If the rind is green, the pineapple isn’t ripe enough, but if it’s dark orange, the pineapple is too ripe. You can also tell if a pineapple is ripe by squeezing it. If the rind feels slightly soft, it’s ripe but if it’s tough and solid, the pineapple isn’t ripe enough yet. Finally, try smelling the bottom of the pineapple to see how ripe it is. If it smells fruity and sweet, it’s probably ripe but if it smells like vinegar, the pineapple is likely overripe. For tips on keeping a ripe pineapple fresh for longer, scroll down! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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    Jun 14, 2016

    "I just cut my first pineapple without the use of the slicer you can buy. It not only was super sweet, but also..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Randall Chambers Co-authored by: Randall Chambers Personal Chef Co-authors: 49 Updated: April 10, 2025 Views: 3,713,461 87% of readers found this article helpful. 15 votes - 87% Click a star to add your vote Kathryn Spencer

Kathryn Spencer

Jun 14, 2016

"I just cut my first pineapple without the use of the slicer you can buy. It not only was super sweet, but also..." more Jack Lane

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"This story really helped me. Every time I want to know something, wikiHow shows me step by step how to do it, which..." more Wendy Brown

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"I learned more and it was very helpful. Very good. Now I will pass along the knowledge to others who like fresh..." more Martha M.

Martha M.

Nov 23, 2017

"It told me that pineapples do not ripen after being cut and it told me how to pick a ripe pineapple." Rated this article: Helen Cummings

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