How to Choose the Sweetest Pineapple
Costa Rica is a country rich in fertile soil where scrumptious, colorful fruits grow in abundance, and the microclimate on the Caribbean side is especially ideal for growing pineapples. So, it’s no wonder that Costa Rica is the number-one exporter of this tropical treat.
Danny, pineapple expert
I'm Lizzie from Road Scholar, and I was quite surprised about how little I really knew about pineapples until I embarked on the learning adventure A Taste of Costa Rica. Organic farming expert Danny Acuña provided our group with an eye-opening (and mouth-watering) educational experience, so I thought I’d pass along to you all of these helpful hints for picking out the juiciest pineapple the next you’re shopping at your local market.
Lizzie and Pineapple Expert
Eight DOs and DON’Ts of choosing (and eating) a delicious pineapple:
1. Don’t look for ripeness. Look for fermentation. You see, all pineapples from Costa Rica are shipped ripe. But the key to picking out the sweetest pineapple is how fermented it is.
2. Don’t ruin all the pineapples for everyone else while you’re trying to find the one you want. That means no squeezing, knocking or pulling out the center leaf. Contrary to popular belief, none of those methods (not even sniffing the pineapple) really work.
3. Don’t choose a yellow pineapple. Instead, when it comes to the color, look for a greenish-yellow pineapple — one that’s slightly more green than yellow is better.
4. Do choose a firm pineapple when it comes to the texture, not a soft one. (You can do this gently, without squeezing and bruising the fruit).
5. Do pay attention to the crown. It should look fresh and healthy, with firm, green leaves.
6. Do try this best-kept secret: Once you think you’ve found ‘the one,’ grab the pineapple by the bottom, smallest leaf of the crown (closest to the pineapple itself). Then, see if you can hold the entire pineapple up by that leaf. If the little leaf can support the entire weight and the pineapple doesn’t fall, then congratulations! You’ve got yourself a sweet, succulent pineapple.
7. Do eat your pineapple immediately! Don’t let it sit on your kitchen counter for days on end. If you must wait to eat it, put the pineapple in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
8. Do share, but you may want to keep this in mind: The top section of the pineapple is less sweet, and the bottom is the sweetest part!
No matter what restaurant you visit in Costa Rica, you’ll find a menu loaded with delightful, fresh-fruit smoothies. And during happy hour, fresh pineapple in a piña colada is another popular tasty treat. Now that’s living the good life — Pura Vida!
Discover more about Costa Rica on these incredible learning adventures and delve further into what it’s like to go on a Road Scholar educational journey in parts one, two and three of my series on Costa Rica!