Even though an pineapple might look a little like a giant citrus fruit at first glance, these two plants actually have nothing in common! Botanically speaking, the pineapple belongs to a completely different family and has its own unique set of rules when it comes to climate and where it likes to grow.
A Member of the Bromeliad Family
Citrus fruits—along with their cousins like the kumquat—belong to the Rue family (Rutaceae). These plants grow as shrubs or trees and can stay productive for many years.
The pineapple, on the other hand, is a member of the Bromeliad family, which you can easily see just by looking at its unique shape and leafy top. And don’t let the name fool you: it’s not related to the Pineapple Guava either! While you’ll find pineapples growing in tropical regions all over the world, they crave high humidity. Some citrus plants grow in the tropics too, but generally, citrus prefers much drier air than a pineapple does.
Eating a Ripe Pineapple
If you’re browsing the produce aisle, you might think pineapples and lemons have one thing in common: they both look green when they aren’t ready yet. Because they often have to travel long distances, unripe pineapples sometimes end up on store shelves. But here’s the kicker: unlike a lemon, a pineapple won’t ripen once it’s been picked.
Eating an unripe pineapple isn’t just a sour experience—it can actually cause an upset stomach. To play it safe, only eat fruit that is fully ripe. You’ll know it’s ready when it has that signature sweet aroma and the skin has turned a beautiful golden-yellow or light brown.
How to Store Your Pineapple
Citrus fruits are pretty low-maintenance and can stay fresh for several weeks, but pineapples are a bit more delicate. You should only keep a ripe pineapple for about a week and a half at most, ideally at a temperature around 50°F (10°C).
If you aren’t going to eat it right away, you can get creative! Pineapples make amazing juices, jams, and jellies. They also make a delicious dried fruit snack, though keep in mind that because they’re so juicy, they take a long time to dehydrate completely. If you’re still undecided on what to make, you can always cut the fruit into chunks and pop them in the freezer for later.
