How can you tell if a pineapple is ripe?

I love pineapple; it's my favorite fruit, but I always have to buy it canned because I cannot determine if it is ripe or not when I see it in the bin at the store. How can figure that out so that I can start eating fresh pineapple?

The other person says that the leaves should be brown - but I was always taught and still buy when the leaves are green but will pull out with just a tad bit of pull - - not too easy but not where you have to yank to get the leaf off.

I have never had a problem with any that I have bought using this method.

Mothers (and grandmother's as well) are always right - of which I am both. :) Report Abuse

1. Be alert for two key elements of a ripe pineapple: freshness and deterioration. You are looking for a fresh pineapple, not a rotting one. The stem is the area of the pineapple that feeds sugar to the fruit. It is from here that the pineapple changes color.
2. Look at the pineapple. It should reflect a golden yellow color. The minimum area for this should be on the eyes at the base of the fruit. Never purchase a pineapple that is fully green as it will not ripen well. The higher the color rises up the pineapple, the sweeter it will be.
3. Smell the pineapple. If it smells sweet, then it's ready. If it has no scent, it's not ripe. If it smells fermented, it's over ripe!
4. Touch the pineapple gently. It should be firm to a gentle press and only yield slightly.
5. Beware the myth! It is an urban myth that a pineapple is ripe when a leaf can be removed from the crown easily. It is proof of nothing in terms of ripeness.
6. Beware the deteriorating pineapple. A deteriorating pineapple will be a reddish, bronze color or it may even be green. It will smell as if it is fermenting, like vinegar. It will also be mushy when pushed gently and it will likely have wrinkled skin. Other clear indications include mold, oozing sticky juices, cracks in the skin and leaves turning brown and dropping off.

Steps
1. Be alert for two key elements of a ripe pineapple: freshness and deterioration. You are looking for a fresh pineapple, not a rotting one. The stem is the area of the pineapple that feeds sugar to the fruit. It is from here that the pineapple changes color.
2. Look at the pineapple. It should reflect a golden yellow color. The minimum area for this should be on the eyes at the base of the fruit. Never purchase a pineapple that is fully green as it will not ripen well. The higher the color rises up the pineapple, the sweeter it will be. The pineapples in the photo above indicate good coloring.
3. Smell the pineapple. If it smells sweet, then it's ready. If it has no scent, it's not ripe. If it smells fermented, it's over ripe!
4. Touch the pineapple gently. It should be firm to a gentle press and only yield slightly.
5. Beware the myth! It is an urban myth that a pineapple is ripe when a leaf can be removed from the crown easily. It is proof of nothing in terms of ripeness.
6. Beware the deteriorating pineapple. A deteriorating pineapple will be a reddish, bronze color or it may even be green. It will smell as if it is fermenting, like vinegar. It will also be mushy when pushed gently and it will likely have wrinkled skin. Other clear indications include mold, oozing sticky juices, cracks in the skin and leaves turning brown and dropping off.

Tips
Pick the pineapple that is the cleanest and brightest. The bigger the pineapple, the better, as you will get more fruit.

Buy the pineapple the same day that you intend to use it; that way, it will be fresh and will not deteriorate in your kitchen.

Be aware that some pineapples are considered to be ripe when green. This is the claim of those promoting them; you be the judge by testing them when green. The varieties that claim this include the Central American pineapple and some Hawaiian pineapples.

Store in the upper part of the refrigerator if you must store it. Do not leave it there for more than 2 - 3 days. Store at a 45 degree angle.

smell the bottoms of a few of them in the supermarket. Youll notice that while same have a greener smell (unripe) others have a fruiter zesty smell (ripe). Also, make sure that the outside loks ok and its not rotten or anything

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Usually, just smelling the pineapple is enough to tell you if it is ripe or not. If there is no scent, then it likely has not ripened all the way, and if it smells sweet, it is ready to eat!

The leaves start to turn brown and they come out easily if you pull on one.
The pineapple also gets a bit softer.
It's ready to eat at this point.

I heard that if the middle leaf comes out without too much effort, it's ripe.

it's more a warmish color.
and it looks like it's about to go bad.
that's when it's the sweetest