Your nose is your best friend here. Smell the bottom of the pineapple—the base, where it was cut from the plant. If it smells sweet, fragrant, and a little like a piña colada, you’re on the right track. No smell at all? That pineapple is probably still a rock-hard teenager, not ready for prime time.
But be careful: if it smells too strong, like it’s fermenting or like vinegar, put it down. That pineapple has partied too hard and is past its prime. Think of it like a good friendship—you want a warm, inviting scent, not one that screams “drama.”
