A lot of people enjoy alcohol, but most of us are aware that our fruits should not generally taste alcoholic – and if they do, something may have gone wrong. Have you ever tasted a pineapple that has an alcoholic tinge to its flavor? If so, you might be wondering whether it’s safe to eat it.
Unfortunately, if your pineapple tastes or smells alcoholic, the fruit has started fermenting. This means that it has bacteria living in it, and it also means that it will not have a pleasant flavor. There is a chance that it could make you sick if you eat it, so avoid any pineapples that have this sort of taste.
In this article, we’ll explore why your pineapple might have an alcoholic taste, and what you can do about it if you notice this. We will also check what a fresh pineapple should look and smell and taste like.
Why Does My Pineapple Taste Like Alcohol?
There is a simple explanation for why your pineapple might taste like alcohol: it is becoming alcoholic. Like other fruit juices, pineapple juice can ferment when it comes into contact with certain kinds of yeast, and the process works like this:
- The pineapple’s skin begins to break down as the fruit ages, allowing more particles to pass through into the inner flesh
- Wild yeast (of which there is a lot in the general atmosphere) gets into the pineapple and starts feeding on the sugary juice
- The yeast’s presence causes the pineapple juice to ferment, affecting its flavor and essentially making pineapple wine within the fruit
- This continues the longer the pineapple is left, making it gradually more and more alcoholic (although it may also begin to rot)
This can happen to almost any kind of fruit, but we don’t generally use pineapples to make alcohol with (although we can). It might sound pretty appealing to you if you enjoy alcohol and you like the idea of pineapple wine, but don’t just tuck it in. First, let’s look at whether this is safe to eat.
Can You Eat Alcoholic Pineapple?
You should not eat a pineapple that has started to taste alcoholic, no. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that it will be safe for you to consume. Although the process is much the same as the process that creates alcohol from fruits like apples and grains like barley, it isn’t done in controlled conditions and consuming the product could make you sick.
There are many strains of wild yeast and you have no way of telling which one infected the pineapple. That means you have no way of telling if the pineapple is safe for you to consume, and you could get sick if you try to eat it.
That said, a lot of people do choose to consume fermenting pineapple because they like the flavor. It is not likely to be very strong, so you probably won’t get drunk from doing so. You may get sick if a dangerous kind of bacteria has got into the fruit. Remember that if the outer skin is compromised, any microorganisms can penetrate the flesh.
In theory, an alcoholic pineapple could make you sick and might give you food poisoning. Eating one is not advisable, since you have no way of controlling what yeast and bacteria have got into it, and no way of knowing how safe it is.
What Should A Fresh Pineapple Smell Like?
Fresh pineapples ought to smell sweet and juicy, without any hint of alcohol or fermentation. When they are ripe, the scent will be quite strong, but it will get stronger if the pineapple has become overripe or started to ferment. You will probably find that you can smell it most strongly around the base (if the pineapple hasn’t been cut open).
Always check how a pineapple smells before you decide to eat it. You should also check that the flesh is firm, not mushy, and that the color is good. Your pineapple should be a rich yellow hue, and if you can see brown spots, bruises, discolored areas, or anything else, you need to be very wary. These all indicate that the flesh is starting to decay.
You should avoid pineapples that feel soft or spongy, or ones that are losing their leaves. Any signs of mold on the flesh are also clear indications that the pineapple needs to be thrown away, so look out for fuzzy dots in blue, green, black, or white.
Conclusion
Pineapples should not taste like alcohol. If yours does, this indicates that yeast has managed to penetrate the fruit’s flesh and started to ferment the sugars, converting them into alcohol. Discard the pineapple and buy a fresh one, rather than risking your health by consuming one that has been compromised like this.
