How Do Pineapples Grow, Benefits, Recipes, and More
Have you ever wondered how do pineapples grow? What benefits do they have? What can you make from them? Well, you’re in the right place. We have all the answers you are searching for. We’ll show you how to grow your own pineapple tree, how to pick it, cut it and enjoy it! The whole cycle in one place and everything you need to know. Originally from Latin America and West Africa, the pineapple plant dates back as far as 1200–800 BC in Peru and in Mexico. It is believed the plant was cultivated by the Mayas and the Aztecs. Packed with nutritious health benefits, the pineapple, much like bananas, has been a delicious treat for nations all around the world for centuries. So, check out our ultimate guide to everything you need to know about pineapple!
How do pineapples grow?
How Do Pineapples Grow Naturally?
Like many of us, you probably think pineapples grow from trees. However, it’s quite the opposite. Pineapples actually grow from a leafy plant out of the ground. The plant is made up of stocku leaves. They are spiraled around the stem of the plant. And the fruit come out from the top of the central stem. However, the downside of pineapples is that it takes all that plant for producing a single fruit. The pineapple itself as we all know is topped with something that resembles a leafy crown. Created from it short, spiky leaves.
Pineapples do not grow from trees
Unlike most of the fruits we know, pineapples don’t grow from any seeds. Most common varients of the pineapple are self-incompatible. What this generally means is that the plant doesn’t have sufficiant pollen that can fertelize other pineapples. It happens very rarely. But on the bright side, in the crown of the pineapples there are roots. When you plant the crown, no matter into the ground or the pot, a new pineapple plant will grow. And after some time it will also produce fruit.
In the crown of the pineapple fruit, there are small roots
How Do You Grow Pineapples at Home?
Now that we know how do pineapples grow, we can see how to look after this beautiful plant and fruit in the comfort of our own home.
An easy guide how to grow your own pineapple
How Tall Do Pineapple Plants Grow?
Pineapple can grow quite tall! A fully grown, matured, healthy pineapple plant can grow to between three to six feet high and wide.
Pineapples can grow quite tall
How Fast Do Pineapple Plants Grow?
Regardless of how the plant was started, a pineapple can take between two to three years to mature before bearing its first fruit. Keep in mind this can take longer if you live in a colder climate. The happier the plant and the better you look after it, the sooner it will flower. After that, the plant can fruit another time or two at roughly two-year intervals until the plant has worn out.
It takes two to three years for a pineapple plant to mature
Pineapple Health Benefits
Ah, pineapple. There are plenty of health benefits to the fruit. It has amazing nutritional value and it’s a great pick both for a side dish, a healthy dessert, or even the main pick for a dish. Here are all the cool benefits you can get.
Pineapple has many health benefits
Packed with Nutrients
As we mentioned pineapple is jam packed with amazing nutrients. It’s low in calories and super high when it comes to minerals and vitamins. Here is what just one cup can get you.
Vitamin C. Pineapple is filled with vitamin C. This vitamin is amazing when it comes to restoring tissue and growing it. It also helps fight heart disease, cancer and all other types of problems.
Manganese. You may not believe it but all of the daily value of manganese is found in just one cup of pineapple. Manganese gives the body an amazing immune response, helps the metabolism, and aids in bone formation.
Fiber. Pineapple and fiber go hand in hand. Fiber is great for creating amazing gut health, helps you starve off the hunger and its an essential part of our life.
Vitamin B. Pineapple is packed with B vitamins. This includes niacin, thiamin, B6, and folate. All of these nutrients help the body turn the food we ingest into energy.
Minerals. The body needs several minerals to function, plenty of them such as potassium, copper, and magnesium can be found in pineapple.
Pineapples are highly nutrient-packed
Antioxidants
Pineapples are loaded with healthy antioxidants. But what are those you may ask? Antioxidants are molecules that help your body combat oxidative stress. Whereas oxidative stress is a state in which too many radicals are free in the body. These radicals interact with the body’s cells and can cause damage linked to chronic inflammation, weakened immune system, and all types of harmful diseases. The antioxidants in pineapples help fight the damages done by the oxidants.
Helps Weight Loss
There have been studies done on animals, that found that pineapple juice may help decrease the fat formation in the body and help increase fat breakdown. This is because of its enzymes. Consequently, this will help with weight loss. But there is still a lot of research to be done to back up this statement. However, adding a bit of this healthy fruit into your diet certainly doesn’t hurt.
Pineapple juice helps decrease fat formation and helps increase fat breakdown
Digestion
As we’ve already mentioned, pineapple has a lot of fiber within it. Fiber helps with digestion. Thanks to pineapples bromelain contents it aid digestion even more. This is because bromelain can break down the molecules of protein into tiny peptides and amino acids. This is amazing as since the protein molecules can get absorbed much easier by the body.
Thanks to pineapples bromelain contents it aid digestion even more
Arthritis Relief
Arthritis comes in different types, however, the main symptom in all is inflammation in the joints. Once again, thanks to pineapple’s anti-inflammatory properties and bromelain, it may help provide some pain relief to people struggling with this condition.
Anti-inflammatory
While small amounts of inflammation can help our bodies fight off illnesses, if too much occurs, especially over long periods of time it can cause serious health conditions, such as cancer. The anti-inflammatory power in bromelain can help fight inflammation and slow down the growth of unwanted health conditions.
Pineapple helps fight off disease
Immunity Booster
Since pineapples contain such a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that may collectively help boost immunity in the body. The stronger the immune system the easier it will be for your body to handle any type of disease.
Speeds Up Recovery
Once again, pineapple’s anti-inflammatory properties thanks to bromelain come to the rescue! Several studies have shown that bromelain may reduce the inflammation, bruising, swelling, and pain that often occurs after surgery or even a workout.
The bromelain found in pineapples reduces inflammation, bruising, swelling, and pain
How To Choose a Pineapple?
Just like there are tips and tricks when picking an avocado, there are for picking a pineapple as well. Here are some things to pay attention to when choosing the perfect pineapple.
Here is how to pick out the perfect pineapple
Color
If the pineapple is way to bright of an orange, then it is overripe. If it’s green, well it’s definitly unripe. The best pineapples are the ones with a consistent golden color.
The golden, the better
Eyes
The little knots you see on the pineapple’s skin can help give you a clue what’s hiding on the inside. Make sure to search for fruit with the bigger of the knots. This usually means the fruit didn’t have the time to ripen enough while on the tree.
Larger knots equals a ripe fruit
Weight
A good pineapple should feel much heavier than it looks. This indicates that there is plenty of pineapple juice inside.
The heavier, the juicier
Aroma
If you are picking by aroma, make sure to smell the bottom of it. A great pineapple will have a sweet, fresh smell. If the fruit smells funky, weird, or generally off, do not take it home.
The pineapple should smell sweet and ripe
Firmness
A good, ripe pineapple shouldn’t be hard. It should always have a bit of a give away when you gave it a squeeze. However, that in no way means a mushy or soft pineapple.
The fruit should have a give to it
Leaves
Leaves can also be a great indicator. The fresher and greener they look, the better!
The greener the leaves, the fresher the pineapple
How To Cut a Pineapple?
Cutting a pineapple can seem like quite a hard task. And it can be! However, here is a great tutorial on how to easily cut a pineapple. It will save you time and nerves, and you’ll get to enjoy the delicious fruit much faster with this technique!
An easy tutorial how to cut pineapple
Can Dogs Eat Pineapple?
Yes, they can! Raw pineapple, in small amounts, is safe for dogs to eat. It’s also an excellent snack for them. Of course, this goes for peeled, sliced, bite-sized pineapple with no prickly outside or crown in sight. Just as for humans, this fruit is filled with great vitamins, minerals, and fiber that are great for our four-legged friends! Freeze some pieces of fresh pineapple to make your dog a yummy treat for the summer and warm weather.
Frozen pineapple slices are a great idea for dog treats in the summer
Pineapple Cake Recipe
Ah, upside-down pineapple cake. This recipe is a real classic and favorite to most. It’s retro, fun, and brings back a lot of childhood memories. It’s also a great centerpiece and a treat for a gathering, especially a tea party. The great thing about this recipe, except that it’s delicious, is that it doesn’t take too much any time, and it’s fairly simple.
Ingredients:
Toppings:
- 50 grams of butter, softend
- 7 pineapple rings. Make sure they are in syrup. Drain the syrup and reserve it for later.
- Cherries, glace
- 50 grams brown sugar, light and soft
Cake:
- 100 grams butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 100 grams sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 100 grams self-raising flour
Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180C) or 320 degrees F (160C) if you have an oven fan.
- In order to make the topping, you will have to beat the butter and brown sugar. Do this until they look nice and creamy.
- Spread the mixture over the base. Make sure to go at least a quarter of the way up all around the sides of the tin.
- Put the pineapple rings on top.
- After that put the cherries into the centers of each pineapple.
- Place the eggs, butter, flour, sugar, baking powder, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Here is also where you put the pineapple syrup. Mix until you achieve a good consistency. It should look soft.
- Put the mixture into the tin where you’ve put the pineapples. Yous should make the mixture smooth in order to level it out. This way it will bake consistently.
- Cook for around thirty-five minutes. Let the cake rest for around five minutes and then turn it onto a flat plate.
- Serve the slice of cake with a dollop of ice cream on the side.
Delicous upside-down pineapple cake
Pineapple Salsa
Who said pineapples are only for smoothies? If you want to try something new, interesting, and delicious, this pineapple salsa is a great choice. It’s super easy, fast and the results are amazing.
Ingredients:
- A Whole Pineapple
- 1 cup Diced Pineapple
- 1 cup Diced Bell Peppers
- Diced Jalapenos (Optional)
- 1 cup Diced Roma Tomatoes
- 1/3 cup Chopped Cilantro
- 1/4 cup Minced Red Onion
- 4 tbsp Lime Juice
- Black pepper
- Salt
Method:
- From the whole pineapple, we are going to make a bowl. You will need to cut 1/3 off of the pineapple.
- Make sure to leave the stem attached to the bigger piece of the fruit.
- Cut around the outer edge cut. You should also make some cuts across the middle as well.
- Take a spoon, and start loosening and scooping out chunks.
- Make sure to get out all the juice from the pineapple so it’s fully empty.
- Cut up the chunks of the fruit enough to fill up a cup. They will be used for the salsa. You can keep the others for another use.
- Take another bowl. Everything should be diced up and chopped up. Mix together the tomatoes, peppers, pineapple, onions, cilantro, salt, pepper, and lime juice.
- Now you can put all of the salsa inside of the pineapple.
- Refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
A great addition to any table
This was our guide on everything pineapple. From how do pineapples grow to what you can make out of them. We hope you found this guide useful and found everything you were looking for.
Pineapples rock!
