How to Tell if a Pineapple Is Ripe and Ready to Eat

If you've been eyeing pineapples in your local grocery store, imagining all of this tropical fruit's delicious possibilities, from piña coladas to pineapple upside-down cake, perhaps you've also wondered how to tell if a pineapple is ripe and ready to eat. It may seem counterintuitive—surely factors like softness and aroma come into play, as with other tropical fruits like mangoes and papayas? Well, not exactly. Here's what you need to know about gauging a pineapple's ripeness so you can enjoy all of its juicy glory, according to experts.

4 Signs Your Pineapple Is Ripe

Oval or cylindrical in shape, pineapples boast a sweet yellowish flesh, tough fibrous core, green leafy crown, and a spiky outer shell called a rind. The hard exterior of a pineapple is what makes it difficult to know when a pineapple is ripe and ready to eat, especially to the untrained eye—and nose, says Melissa Jones, senior category manager at Misfits Market.

Luckily, there are a few telltale signs to look for before cutting open a pineapple:

• Color: The more yellow a pineapple's exterior is, the riper the fruit will be. "Pineapples change from green-gray to yellow as they ripen," says Christopher Gonzalez, VP of sales, WP Produce Desbry, a family-owned grower, packer, and shipper of tropical fruits.
• Texture: The firm shell presents a slightly soft texture when squeezed, says Gonzalez. The leaves should also be easy to pluck from the crown.
• Weight: The fruit should be heavy in the hand.
• Smell: It should have a syrupy sweet smell on the bottom, says Jones.

Still, some pineapples can be outliers; ripe but skirting those obvious signs. "I've also had some pineapples that looked a bit worse for the wear, but once peeled and cored, were absolutely delicious!” says Jones.

Why You Should Buy a Pineapple When It's Ripe

Once you haul a pineapple home, don't expect dramatic changes—it's one of the few fruits that don't ripen after being picked. "Unlike a mango, banana, or a kiwi, pineapples do not get any sweeter after being harvested," says Jones.

Though they do not ripen, they can get softer and have a creamier texture after sitting for a few days at room temperature. similar to watermelons, pomegranates, or even grapes, she adds.

How to Store Ripe Pineapples

The kitchen counter is the best place to keep a whole pineapple. After it's peeled and cut, you can refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to a week, but it's best eaten within three to four days, says Gonzalez,

The Best Ways to Enjoy Pineapple

Some like it cold; others, like Jones, find the flavor of fresh pineapple more powerful at room temperature. But why stop there? "Freshly blended pineapples turn into this sweet, complex, frothy juice. It's so good in mocktails or cocktails," she says.

Gonzalez perks up drinks with homemade pineapple-infused vodka and considers pineapple to be a flavorful enhancement for almost anything on the menu. Culinary trends, he notes, have also pushed pineapple into the limelight. "Pineapple is a popular variation for salsa, pies, and salads," he says, adding that it's also delicious charred on the grill.