Generally , fruits taste best and are most nutritious when fully ripe, and pineapples are no exception. Therefore, unripe pineapples bought from the market can be ripened quickly using certain ripening methods. Specific methods include:
1. Sunlight ripening
Pineapples are tropical fruits that thrive in high temperatures, so they can be ripened by placing them in the sun. The specific method is to expose the pineapple to sunlight; as it absorbs a lot of light, it will gradually ripen, changing color from green to yellow. Generally, 3-4 days of sun exposure is sufficient, and it's best to turn it frequently to ensure even drying.
2. Fruit ripening
Simply place ripe apples , bananas, or other ripe fruits along with pineapples in a sealed container for a few days. Ripe apples and bananas release a small amount of ethylene during storage; this gas is absorbed by the pineapple, causing it to ripen quickly without leaving any chemical residue.
3. High-temperature ripening
Placing pineapples in a warm environment will also help them ripen quickly. If there are many pineapples or the temperature is low, you can use an incandescent light bulb to reflect the light, which will help the pineapples ripen quickly in this environment, releasing their aroma and causing their skin to turn from green to yellow.
4. Chemical ripening
The ripening agent mainly used is ethephon, which is usually the method used by merchants. Buyers are generally advised against using this method to avoid problems. The specific method is to dilute a 40% ethephon solution 500 times and spray it on green ripe pineapples. Maintaining a temperature of 23-25℃ and a relative humidity of 85%-90% can make the fruit ripen 3-5 days earlier.
5. Inverted ripening method
Place unripe pineapples upside down in a box, with the top facing down. This allows the sugars to move towards the top of the pineapple, causing it to ripen quickly and evenly throughout. They should be ready to eat after 2-3 days of this method.
