You can mostly find this fantastic tropical fruit full of disease-fighting antioxidants, immune-boosting compounds, and digestive enzymes between March and July. Luckily, you can enjoy well-stored or canned pineapple for a long.
Even though it is possible to consume canned pineapple throughout the year, some experts find the added liquid unhealthy because of too much sugar. On the other hand, it extends this product’s shelf life. If you prefer fresh fruit, you probably wonder does pineapple go bad over time, how to recognize signs that it is no longer edible, and how long you can keep it. Let’s see.
Table of Contents
Does Pineapple Go Bad?
Do you know that regular consuming pineapple increases immunity and significantly lowers the risk of infections, especially in children? Plus, it is highly beneficial against cancer, thanks to the digestive enzyme bromelain. So, many scientists agree that we should eat this fruit to stay healthy.
Then, we should discuss whether the pineapple spoils quickly. Unfortunately, the answer is – YES. If you inappropriately store this fruit, it will go bad within two days, mainly when you leave it at room temperature. On the other hand, your pineapple will stay fresh for several days when correctly cooled.
How Long Does Pineapple Last?
No matter how careful you are with pineapple, it is not a long-lasting food. When left on the kitchen cabinet at room temperature, your fruit will retain its quality for a day or two.
Pineapple shelf life |
|||
|
Pineapple |
Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
| Whole | 1 to 3 days | 4 to 5 days |
/ |
|
Cut (slices and chunks) |
/ | 3 to 4 days | Up to a year |
| Canned | 3 to 6 months | / |
/ |
On the other hand, whole pineapple adequately stored in the fridge can last up to five days. If you don’t mind eating not-that-great fruit, you can keep it for additional few days.
Once you cut this fruit, you can’t keep it at room temperature and expect it to remain edible, but it can stay 3 to 4 days in the fridge. However, there is a way to double that period by submerging pieces in syrup.
When you look for a long-term solution, freezing for a month or two is the way to go. In the end, you can use canned pineapple for months after a best-by date printed on the label.
7 Tips to Tell If Pineapple Has Gone Bad
Color
Pineapple rind is green and yellow with a raised and tan netting pattern. Don’t believe in a common misconception that greenish fruit is unripe.
On the other hand, entirely green pineapple won’t get sweet because harvested fruit can’t ripen much. A perfectly ripe pineapple appears bright instead of dull and has a yellow color.
Fresh and canned cut pineapple is yellow initially, but it will turn pale yellow over time as it begins to dry out. Be suspicious when noticing the orange exterior and brownish flesh since it can be the first sign that the rotting process has started.
Smell
Ripe pineapple’s fragrance is sweet, but it becomes pungent, vinegar-like, and sour over time due to fermentation. Lack of scent is always a sign that the fruit is not adequately ripe. Avoid the one smelling of chemicals.
Texture
This fruit should be firm all over with green, healthy, and vibrant leaves on the top. If it looks dry and soft outside with soggy bottom covered by white patches, it is a sign of over-ripeness and the beginning of decay.
Taste
Pineapple is sweet, and any change of its aroma is a sign of undesired ferment and means that it is on its way out. Avoid eating fruit that tastes pungent or bitter. If the flavor is standard, you can use it, although it looks overripe.
Leaves
Once a pineapple is about to spoil, its leaves start drying out and losing color. Their crown will turn brown, brittle, and withered.
Mold
The occurrence of white spots over the pineapple surface, leaves, and under the skin is an indicator of fungi growth. You can cut affected parts before consumption but always throw away entirely discolored fruit.
In rare cases, you can notice white polyp-like structures along indentations on pineapple flesh. Don’t be afraid since it is the ovaries, the place where seeds will develop. Such fruit is entirely safe to eat.
Can
Canned pineapple is edible as long as the can doesn’t leak and becomes bulged or rusty. Once you expose its content to the air, the fruit color will become darker, and the liquid inside may develop the fermented, cider-like smell.
Tips to Store Pineapple
Fresh fruit is pretty perishable. Therefore, you should pick out the one looking healthy and fresh with green leaves and without soft spots. Take care to avoid leaving pineapple in the kitchen for too long.
The whole fruit
Pantry
When left at room temperature, this fruit can stay fresh for approximately three days. The cold and dry environment favorably affects its shelf life.
Unfortunately, you can expect increasing the acidity level without the sweetness improvement in such conditions. Plus, extended storage in the pantry will result in rot setting within a few days.
Fridge
If you put an unwrapped pineapple or the one packed in a perforated plastic bag in the fridge, you can extend its lifespan to four to five days. Avoid placing other food on top of it to prevent the early onset of bruising.
Freezer
Avoid freezing a whole pineapple since it is quite impractical because of its shape. Plus, it can’t last long once you thaw it.
Slices and chunks
Fridge
Put cut pineapple in an airtight container before placing it in the fridge. If you prefer using a resealable plastic bag, give your best to squeeze out as much air as possible.
Another option to prolong the storage period is to pour simple syrup over the pieces placed in a rigid airtight container. The best option to avoid browning of cut pineapple pieces is to squirt citrus juice over them.
Freezer
You can freeze freshly cut pineapple in syrup but be prepared that it may lose some flavor. A better option is to place it in a container or airtight plastic bag. That way, it will last up to 6 months. It can last much longer when packed in a freezer-safe container.
Canned pineapple
Pantry
It is an ideal place for storing canned pineapple since it doesn’t require special conditions. You can choose from four options available on the market:
- Slices
- Chunks
- Crushed
- Juice
Be aware of the product’s shelf life, although it will be edible for months after that date.
Fridge
Once you open the can, you should keep leftovers in the refrigerator and eat them within four to five days.
The Risk of Consuming an Expired Pineapple
Even though pineapple is a delicious and highly nutritious fruit, it can be quite dangerous when consumed overripe, rotten, or moldy. Since you can quickly conclude that this fruit is of dubious taste, food poisoning is extremely rare, although it is possible.
The tricky part is that it can go from overripe to rotten pretty quickly. Consequently, your healthy food will become brown, soft, mushy, bitter-smelling, or even moldy in the blink of an eye.
Sometimes you may face pineapple contaminated by Staphylococcus when it comes into direct contact with meat, eggs, dairy, or pastries containing bacteria.
If you eat raw contaminated pineapple without previous washing, you will probably get sick within 30 minutes of consuming it. Some of the characteristic symptoms include:
- Stomach ache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
In some cases, you can find that your pineapple turns black. It is base rot, better-known as black rot of pineapple. The reason is the occurrence of the fungus Ceratocystis paradoxa.
Can You Freeze Pineapple?
In general, you can maximize the pineapple shelf life by freezing it at 0 F (- 18 C). It contains approximately 70% liquid juice, so you can effortlessly store it this way. However, it implies only cut fruit, not the whole one, because it is impractical. Thanks to its oval shape, it will take up a lot of space and need to much time to freeze.
Prepare the fruit properly by peeling and cutting it into smaller cubes or slices. The best option is to wrap them tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. However, a better way is to use a resealable plastic bag or covered container to protect them from the smell of other food stored in the freezer.
I prefer freezing separated pieces before putting them in a resealable plastic bag. That way, I can take only a necessary amount instead of the whole package.
It can sound surprisingly, but you can freeze even canned pineapple. Be careful and always leave at least 1/2 to 1 inch (1.3 – 2.5 cm) free space in a container since the liquid from the can will expand at low temperatures. Avoid freezing it in the original can to prevent a mess inside the freezer.
Summary
Your pineapple can last from a day to a few months, depending on its initial condition and the way of storing it. Therefore, always check the fruit thoroughly before purchasing it and keep it at the right temperature to stay fresh as long as possible.
This fruit will rarely cause poisoning, but you should be careful with pineapple that has changed its texture, smell, and color.