Although the peak season for pineapple is between the months of March and July
, the fruit is available and consumed throughout the year. However you need to store the fruit in a proper way so that it does not lose its flavor. If the fresh pineapple is cut then it will not ripen further. Without any starches to convert it into sugar, it will begin to ferment. While picking up pineapples you should go for the ones that have fresh, small leaves on the top with a compact crown. Any leaf should be easy to remove.
The pineapple fruit should feel heavy and plump and have a sweet smell. The color may be green or yellow gold. There should be no mold and the eyes should appear bright. Soft spots or dark eyes are signs of the pineapple being well past their prime.
Fresh pineapple is perishable and hence you should consume it soon after you buy it. You can store it for long term by cutting slices and then keeping them in the refrigerator. The fruit should be stored in a cool and dry place. In case you store the pineapple in room temperature then you should consume the fruit within two days. At room temperature the acidity level in the pineapple will increase and the sweetness level will decrease. You can eat the fruit within 5 days by refrigerating the fruit in a plastic bag.
Once the fruit is cut you should ensure that the fruit is covered in juice and then stored in an airtight container. You can then refrigerate the fruit within seven days. Before eating the fruit from the refrigerator you should keep it at room temperature for 30 minutes. You can store freshly cut pineapple in syrup or juice form. However it will lose flavor over a period of time. Te pineapple can be cut in chunks and then put in airtight containers in plastic bags.
You can also go for canned pineapple that is available in the form of chucks, slices, juice or crushed. The unopened canned pineapple can be stored for up to a year. In case the can has been opened then the unused pineapple should be stored in a covered container and it should be consumed within a week.