2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
The pineapple originates from southern Brazil and Paraguay. It was spread by Native Americans from South and Central America to the West before Columbus arrived. In 1493, Christopher Columbus discovered the fruit on the island of Guadalupe and transported it to Spain, from where it was spread around the world by ships carrying it with them to protect against scurvy. The Spaniards also distributed pineapple in the Philippines, Guam and Hawaii in the early 16th century. Pineapple reached England in 1660 and began to be grown in fruit greenhouses around 1720.
The pineapple is tropical or an almost tropical plant, but can usually withstand up to 28 ° Fahrenheit. Prolonged cold weather leads to stunted growth, delayed fruit ripening and causes them to be more acidic. Pineapples are drought tolerant and bear fruit in annual rainfall in the range of 25-150 inches depending on the variety, location and humidity. They are grown in South Florida and the coastal areas of Southern California.
Pineapple is a perennial plant, with a height of 70 cm to almost 2 meters and a width of 50 cm. The pineapple tree has a short, strong trunk with a rosette of shiny, narrow and sharp leaves. During flowering, the stems lengthen and expand near the top, developing small purple or red flowers. The flowers are pollinated by songbirds and develop small, hard seeds.
The pineapple has an oval to cylindrical shape, which is a very small fruit connected in one. They are both juicy and fleshy with a stem-like fibrous core. The tough peel of a pineapple can be dark green, yellow, orange-yellow or reddish when the fruit is ripe. The color of the interior varies from almost white to yellow. The fruits are up to 12 inches long and weigh 1 to 10 pounds or more.
Composition of pineapple
The pineapple is a fruit, which has exceptional dietary and taste qualities. In a ripe pineapple, the amount of water is approximately 86%, organic acids reach 1.2%, and nitrogen substances and minerals are about 1%. Pineapple is very rich in B vitamins, A and C. Pineapple contains a lot of potassium, iron, calcium and iodine.
The fruit does not contain cholesterol and fat, and the sodium content is very low. 100 g of pineapple contain only 50 kcal. It is rich in many soluble and insoluble fibers, which are useful for the digestive system and colon.
Growing pineapple
The pineapple it needs to be planted in places where the temperature remains highest. The best soil for pineapple is crumbly, well-drained, sandy soil with a high content of organic matter. The plant is surprisingly tolerant of drought, but sufficient soil moisture is needed to produce good produce. Nitrogen is essential to increase fruit size and should be added every four months.
It is difficult to say when the pineapple is ready to be harvested. Some people judge its maturity and quality by snapping a finger on the sides of the fruit. A good, ripe fruit makes a dull, solid sound. Immaturity and poor quality are indicated by a hollow sound.
Selection and storage of pineapple
During buying a pineapple know that the more embossed the scales on its skin, the more fragrant and tasty the fruit. The well-ripened pineapple has a very slight reddish tinge.
Pineapple is a very tasty but also fragile fruit. It cannot be stored for more than two weeks at room temperature. At a temperature below 5 degrees, brown spots begin to form in its meat and it gradually loses its taste. Pineapple placed in the refrigerator loses its aroma. The fruit cannot be frozen. Do not place other fruits near the pineapple, because they significantly shorten its shelf life.
Pineapple in cooking
A very sharp fruit knife is needed to peel a pineapple peel. Put it in a pan to collect the juices and peel the pineapple carefully. Peel a squash, grate it and squeeze the juice. Cut the pineapple into pieces, but be sure to remove the core.
Pineapple is a very tasty fruit that is consumed mostly fresh. It is suitable for sweet dishes and salads, as well as local dishes and fish dishes. Pineapple combined with fruits such as apple, kiwi, banana and strawberry turns into a wonderful and very tasty fruit salad. However, remember that pineapple, like kiwi, contains an enzyme that breaks down gelatin and makes salads very soft.
Grilled pineapple slices sprinkled with brown sugar are an ideal healthy dessert. The shops offer canned pineapple, which is very tasty, but unfortunately not as useful as fresh fruit. Dried pineapple is an ideal addition to homemade muesli.
Pineapple is an addition to a number of Chinese dishes because it softens the aroma of strong spices. Pineapple combined with ginger and peaches is a very tasty culinary surprise.
Mix pineapple and hot peppers to make salsa sauce - an exceptional addition to salmon and tuna. Maple syrup placed on a slice of pineapple is a delicious addition to grilled meat. Sliced pineapple with dill and cashews are a perfect addition to chicken.
One of the most delicious juices is the natural pineapple juice. In addition to fruit juices, pineapple is also used as an additive in many alcoholic cocktails.
Benefits of pineapple
A few slices of pineapple for dessert are enough to improve your body's metabolism. In this case, the pineapple will cleanse the blood and stimulate the immune system. According to some scientists, it also acts as a prophylactic against cancer.
Pineapple contains many minerals, including manganese, which activates the metabolism of protein and carbohydrates. Therefore, it is used in many diets.
Canned pineapples taste sweet, but canning destroys the beneficial enzyme and usually contains sugar.
Pineapple has a positive effect on the functioning of the pancreas and is useful in venous thrombosis and edema. Half a fruit or one glass of pineapple juice a day is enough to get rid of these problems.
Pineapple fiber is thought to be helpful in fighting bad cholesterol. Studies show that regular consumption of delicious fruit is beneficial in arthritis. The flavonoids in pineapple protect against lung cancer and other dangerous cancers. Vitamin A contained in pineapple is known for its beneficial effects on vision and eye health.
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