Should you trust your nose? Does the skin have to be a nice yellow, or do the leaves reveal something? How can you tell if a pineapple is ripe?

1. Pineapples are harvested when ripe and do not ripen further

Dole pineapples are always harvested when ripe. They do not continue to ripen after harvest but have already reached their full sweetness at the time of harvest. Therefore, during cultivation, a refractometer is used to measure the fruit’s sugar content (Brix value) to determine the optimal harvest time. To do this, the juice from a halved pineapple is dripped onto the measuring device. From the outside, the degree of ripeness can be determined by the curvature of the individual scales. This means that the flatter the skin, the riper the fruit.

2. What does the color of the pineapple indicate?

The colors of ripe fruits vary between green and gold, depending on growing conditions. Therefore, they are not an indication of the pineapple’s ripeness or shelf life.

3. The myth of pulling the leaves

The popular tip that you can determine a pineapple’s ripeness by pulling out the crown leaves is a myth. 😉

4. Shelf life

Like all ripe, perishable fruits, pineapples should be eaten as soon as possible. If the pineapple smells too strong, it has already started to ferment. Ideally, choose a pineapple that looks fresh, has green leaves, and gives slightly when pressed. Then nothing stands in the way of optimal enjoyment! 

Good to know: Pineapples ripen from the bottom up. That’s why the sugar concentration is higher at the base than directly under the crown.

We hope you enjoy trying them!
Your Dole Team