The green tinge on the pineapple skin turns yellow as the fruit ripens.
Fresh pineapple has a short shelf life. The fruits arrive at stores nearly at their peak of ripeness and the quality and flavor of the fruit quickly deteriorate after purchase. Preparing the pineapple and storing it properly extends the storage life of the fruit by a few days. If you must store the pineapple longer, choose one with a husk that's still predominantly green. Green pineapples require two to five days of ripening time at room temperature, which can extend the storage life to up to twice as long as that of a ripe pineapple.
Instructions
1. Lay the pineapple on its side on a cutting board. Cut the leafy top and the bottom off the pineapple with a sharp knife.
2. Stand the pineapple back up on the cutting board. Cut off the sides of the pineapple in strips until all the skin is removed.
3. Place the pineapple back on its side. Cut the pineapple into ½- to 1-inch- wide slices. Smaller slices work well for pineapple rings and larger slices work best for pineapple chunks.
4. Cut the center core from each ring with the tip of your knife. The core is the dense, lighter-colored tough portion in the center of the rings. Leave the rings as is or cut them into smaller chunks after removing the core.
5. Place the pineapple pieces in a sealed storage container. Store the pineapple for three to five days under refrigeration.
Tags: cutting board, five days, pineapple back, Place pineapple, slices work, storage life
