Have you ever taken a bite of pineapple and experienced a fizzy sensation in your mouth? Behind this phenomenon there’s a common biochemical reaction you need to be aware of. Keep reading to learn more.
Why Does Pineapple Taste Fizzy?
If you perceive fizziness when you take a bite of pineapple, that means that the pineapple is overripe and is fermenting.
Simply put, Fermentation is a process in which microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, or fungi convert sugars and other organic compounds into simpler compounds such as alcohol, gasses, or acids.
Wine and beer are some common examples of beverages made using fermentation. Tepache, a traditional Mexican beverage, leverages the same principle, but uses pineapple instead of grapes (as in wine) or malted barley (as in beer).
With a sugar content equivalent to a slice of cherry pie, pineapple ferments easily. However, that doesn’t mean that fermented pineapple is always safe to eat, so proceed with caution. If the pineapple has an unpleasant taste or odor, it’s advisable to throw it away instead of eating it.
How To Store Pineapple
Properly storing your pineapples is key to keeping them fresh for longer.
When you buy pineapples, leave them at room temperature until they fully ripe, which can take 1-3 days depending on the level of ripeness when purchased (remember that pineapples don’t ripen much after they’re picked).
As for cut pineapple, remove the skin and put the slices into an airtight container or zip-top bag and store in the fridge for up to six days.
If what you want is to store pineapple for long-term consumption, then freezing is your best bet: properly stored frozen pineapple keeps for up to 10 months. Here’s how to do it
- Peel off the skin and cut the pineapple into chunks or slices
- Remove excess moisture by patting the pineapple with a paper towel
- Place the pineapple on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
- Put the baking sheet in the freezer
- Once the chunks of pineapple are frozen, put them in a zip-top bar or airtight container making sure to label them with the date and content
To learn more about pineapples, check out our previous post, “A Culinary History of Pineapple” and “How To Tell if a Pineapple Is Ripe?”
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