Did you know that they ate rotten pineapples in the 17th century? Why? Because pineapples were a new, exotic, expensive fruit displayed on mantelpieces as a mark of wealth and culture.
You’ll find out later – mantelpieces and other open places are the *worst* places to put pineapples!
Nowadays, we don’t wait until the pineapple has gone bad to eat it. And pineapples don’t cost $8000, so you don’t need to feel bad about putting them in the fridge.
In this article, we’ll run down how to tell if a pineapple has gone bad, how to store pineapple, and how long pineapple lasts.
Want to know the answers now? Pineapples have gone bad (or, at least, bad enough not to eat) once their flesh has started going mushy.
You’d be right to store your pineapple in the refrigerator for under a week and to opt for the freezer should you want to store your pineapple any longer than that.
Help! Has My Pineapple Gone Bad?
Like a lot of food, pineapple degrades in quality before it goes completely bad.
Want a pro tip? When the leaves of your pineapple start to fade in color and dry out, it’s time to eat your pineapple, as this is the first sign of aging.
Soft spots or bruises are also a sign you should throw the fruit out, or, at the very least, cut the mushy part out, as when moisture has spread through the fruit, mold will spread fast too.
If you’re smelling anything funky – like vinegar – that’s a sign the sugar has started to ferment, and your pineapple, unfortunately, needs to go in the bin.
Can’t see anything but still unsure? Just cut up your pineapple into mouthful-sized chunks to check there aren’t any brown spots or nasty creepy crawlies.
How Long Do Pineapples Last?
Whole pineapples will only stay fresh for a day or so at room temperature or 4-5 days in the fridge. That said, you can eat your pineapple 1-2 days after these timeframes until it’s actually gone bad.
Cut pineapples stored in airtight containers in the fridge last 3-4 days.
These time frames might not look great. But there’s one way you can keep your pineapples fresh for extended periods of time.
The freezer! Pineapple you store in the freezer will keep for 3-5 months and won’t lose any nutritional value.
One thing to remember – pineapple will only last this long if you follow our instructions on how to store pineapple in the freezer.
As for canned pineapples, it’s best to go by the date on the can. However, you can eat canned pineapple pieces for up to 3 months after the expiration date, but it’s definitely not recommended.
What Is The Best Way To Store Pineapples?
Before we even begin talking about how to store pineapples, let’s start with how to pick pineapples.
When you’re at the grocery store, you want to find a pineapple without spots and bruises. Color-wise, the leaves should be green, and the skin shouldn’t have started to turn brown.
Don’t worry if the leaves fall off. It’s not a sign of looming decay.
Once you get home, feel free to leave your pineapple on the counter or in the pantry as long as you’re happy to eat it all within a day. The warmth, light, moisture, and temperature modulation will speed up its aging process.
Ideally, you’ll store pineapples either in the fridge or in a cold pantry/cellar. Take your pineapples out of any plastic packaging and make sure they’re well-ventilated in the fridge. This is to prevent moisture from settling into the pineapple.
Remember not to put anything on top of the pineapple. Although they may look armored, they bruise surprisingly easily.
One problem. Your fridge is absolutely full. No problem – you’ve got two options.
The first is to cut your pineapple into chunks and put them into an airtight container. A plastic tub should be much easier to fit into the fridge than the whole uncut fruit.
Your second option is to skip the fridge altogether and turn to the freezer.
Cut your pineapple into slices or chunks. Lay these out on a baking tray, wrap this in cling film or aluminum foil, then pop them in the freezer for 2 hours.
This is what’s known as a “flash freeze” and is designed to keep your frozen pieces apart for easy portioning when you want to eat them.
Once your flash freeze is over, transfer the pineapple pieces into a freezer bag or airtight container. Add a label with today’s date so you’re not caught out in the future.
When you’re ready to use the pineapple, thaw it for a few hours in the refrigerator. Or just eat it frozen as a refreshing snack on a hot day!
Do Pineapples Go Bad? In a Nutshell.
Yes, pineapples go bad.
And they go bad fast when left on the countertop. Therefore, you want to store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
