Pineapple is a delicious treat that has become popular in recent years of universal food abundance. Bright and beautiful, it looks great on any holiday table. Numerous recipes allow the use of pineapple in salads, in the second meat dishes with chicken and, of course, in desserts. Pineapple is an indispensable ingredient for any celebration.
Origin of pineapple
At first glance at it, most people have the feeling that such a fruit must grow on palm trees. In fact, pineapple grows on small bushes that barely reach one meter in height. However, these plants are able to withstand large and juicy fruits, which can weigh about ten kilograms.
The plant gives fruit only in the second year of life - at first it grows independently, pouring juice. Narrow leaves can grow longer than half a meter, differing in small spines, which serve to protect against pests. After about a year, the plant gives one inflorescence, the pollinated flowers of which quickly turn into berries, and then form one whole fruit.
Pineapple Selection
Today on the shelves of all stores you can see this bright and juicy fruit , characterized by a slightly sour taste. However, buyers should not rush to the choice and take the first fruit that comes across. Shelf life of pineapple is only a few weeks, so you need to carefully look at the quality of the selected product.
Unripe pineapple usually has a greenish color. This option is suitable in cases where a person wants to eat fruit after a while. Ripe pineapple is bright yellow.
In addition, the freshness of the fruit can be checked by simply pressing a finger on the skin. If she springed and returned, then this fruit is ready to eat
How to store pineapple
This question is primarily relevant for unripe fruits, which were taken specifically to serve in a few weeks. Storage of pineapples at home has its own characteristics.
Firstly, first of all, it is necessary to determine the period for which a person needs to save a pineapple. The smaller it is, the easier the storage conditions will be for pineapples. For example, if you want to eat a still unripe fruit in a few days, you can just put it in a room with room temperature and wait until it gets a beautiful yellow color. The only thing worth paying attention in this case is air humidity. If the buyer does not monitor its level, the pineapple can rot.
Secondly, if a person wants to keep the pineapple for several weeks, then he must first prepare it for storage. The fruit must be wrapped with loose paper or put in a plastic bag with pre-cut holes. In addition, you should constantly look at the pineapple and turn it over several times a day so that it does not overripe ahead of time.
How much pineapple is stored in the refrigerator
There are two possible options for storing pineapple in the refrigerator. In the first case, a person can store the fruit in its original form. Then he should observe several special conditions. Storage of pineapples at home should be done at a temperature in the refrigerator of about + 7-8 degrees. If the degrees are less, then the fruit may freeze, and if more, overripe and begin to deteriorate. It is also worthwhile to pay special attention to air humidity. If it is too big, then the fruit will surely die and rot. Of course, do not forget about the need for packaging and constant turning of the fruit to the other side. Under such conditions, storage can last up to two weeks, and the fruit will still be fresh and juicy.
In the second case, a person can store the fruit already cut. Initially, it is necessary to wash and peel the fruit, preparing it for slicing. After cutting the pineapple into slices, it must be removed in a plastic bag and tie the latter tightly. The package must be placed in the freezer - this is how the pineapples are stored at home, provided they are initially sliced. Thus, the fruit can be stored for up to three months.
How to protect pineapple from mold
Storage of pineapples at home is often accompanied by another unpleasant problem - the appearance of mold. It occurs if the correct conditions are not met. The most common cause of mold is too high a temperature and high humidity. A temperature of more than +12 degrees negatively affects pineapples if stored for a long time.
In addition, humidity above 90 percent also negatively affects the condition of the fruit. On average, pineapples can be stored for a week at a temperature of about +11 degrees without observing additional conditions. But if the buyer needs to keep the fetus for several weeks, then it is better to follow the recommendations given above.
Useful properties of pineapple
After the question "how to store pineapple?" buyers are also usually interested in what beneficial properties its fruits have. This fruit is loved by all the girls and women in the world who strive for ideal weight. According to rumors, pineapple allows you to quickly break down fats and remove them from the body. Actually this is not true. Pineapple most affects protein breakdown and helps the body absorb them. However, only a fresh product possesses these properties - you should not pay attention to medicines that contain bromelain and are positioned as necessary for weight loss.
In addition, this fruit is quite low in calories and has less than 50 calories per 100 grams of food. This is another argument in favor of including it in the diet of slimming ladies and men. However, you should be careful - pineapple is not recommended for people with gastric ulcer and gastritis. Otherwise, this sweet and juicy fruit is completely safe, even with excessive consumption, and can be used in recipes for completely different dishes.