The question often asked, “Is pineapple a fruit?” may be answered with an unequivocal yes. Pineapple can indeed be classified as either a fruit or a vegetable depending on how it’s prepared and eaten.
In the United States, there are many who do not consider them vegetables because they eat the whole fruit including the skin and stem which has fibrous material that resembles wood pulp. If this definition of what constitutes a vegetable were to apply in all countries around the world then every person would have different opinions about what kind of food should be considered a vegetable.
A good example is potatoes; most people will agree that when cut open they contain both edible parts like the flesh, leaves and sprouts but some people think that only the tuber part is edible while others believe that you could even eat the greens off the plant. This is why we need to remember that personal preferences play a big role in determining one’s view on whether something is actually a vegetable or not. The same goes for pineapples. It really depends upon the individual taste buds of each person.
To answer the question more specifically let us examine the characteristics of each category. Fruits are commonly referred to as sweet-tasting foods whereas vegetables usually refer to leafy green plants that grow underground.
We are able to distinguish between these two categories by their appearance as well as by their texture and chemical composition. Most people associate pineapples with fruits since their color is orange-yellow and their taste is very sweet. However, if you peel back the outer layer of the rind (skin) you’ll discover a white pith underneath, making it look similar to cabbage. The pith inside contains water and small amounts of sugar. When cooked the pith turns into a jelly-like substance called sugary juice. On top of that, the flesh itself tastes bitter unless it is first juiced. Therefore, although the outside covering looks like a red juicy piece of candy apple, once you get closer to the core, you realize that it’s just a large round sponge filled with mostly water. Although no other type of tree produces such a product, pineapples belong to the Bromeliaceae family along with bananas, breadfruit trees, and mangosteens. They also share the ability to produce flowers from special flower structures found at the base of stems near where new growth occurs. These flowers give rise to clusters of tiny berries containing seeds surrounded by soft tissue resembling a capsule.
Like any other type of fruit, pineapples begin life as seeds within a protective case covered by a thin shell. As the growing organism develops, the shell splits and eventually falls away leaving behind the hard protective coating. Once removed, however, the pineapples’ true nature becomes clear as they reveal themselves to be fleshy-looking fruits.
Vegetables are generally categorized as having thick stalks, tough skins and being dark colored unlike brightly colored fruits. Vegetable groups include things like lettuce, broccoli, carrots, peas, onions, etc. All vegetables are derived from flowering plants that lack seeds. Their main function is to provide nourishment through photosynthesis so that humans and animals alike can consume them without fear of getting sick.
Some examples of common vegetables are tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, spinach, eggplants, corn, radishes, artichokes and avocados among others. Because of their unique qualities vegetables tend to be less popular than fruits among consumers across the globe. Since they are grown from the ground up instead of ripened directly off a tree, vegetables take longer to mature thus increasing costs associated with production.
Another reason why certain types of vegetables aren’t always preferred over fruits is due to seasonality. For instance, fresh garden veggies are available year-round unlike oranges whose availability is limited to winter months. So in essence, the best time to buy vegetables is during the summertime when supply is high and prices are lower compared to those sold during the fall and spring seasons.
So now that we’ve gone into detail regarding what makes a fruit versus a vegetable,
lets discuss our original question. Is pineapple a fruit or a vegetable?
Depending on your preference, it can easily be argued that the answer is neither! Many people believe that the answer lies somewhere in between, though because pineapples are made up of multiple components that combine together to form one tasty treat. Its fleshy exterior hides a somewhat sour interior section known as pith which is similar to a potato tuber. It doesn’t hurt to say that the majority of people who enjoy eating pineapples prefer the taste of the sweet sections rather than trying to bite into the hard pith.
However, if you’re willing to try out the pith side then go ahead and give it a shot. Just make sure that you remove the outermost layers of the rind before doing so otherwise you might end up biting down on something that feels similar to a dry cork board. After removing the outer layer of rind using a sharp knife, slice off pieces of the inner yellowish portion until you reach the middle of the center white section of pith. Then slowly pull apart the entire thing revealing a string of jellied liquid running throughout. You can keep pulling and twisting it apart until the entire mass comes loose.
Now you can decide if you want to cook the rest of the pith yourself or simply throw it out. Even though this method does require effort, I personally find myself enjoying the bitterness of the pith after cooking the fleshy parts. Other ways to prepare the pith include boiling or steaming it as long as you don’t leave it too long otherwise it begins to become mushy and turn brown. To add extra flavor to the dish boil up 2 cups of salted water and pour it over the slices. Next cover the pot tightly and bring the temperature up to medium heat stirring occasionally. Let sit for 45 minutes and voila! Delicious raw pith served warm.
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