Pineapple: health benefits and harms

Exotic tropical fruit firmly entrenched in domestic stores and bazaars. This is not surprising, because pineapple is very tasty, actively used in cooking, and most importantly - extremely useful. Now among all tropical fruits, it is pineapples that occupy the third position in terms of cultivation worldwide. Chefs appreciate it for its excellent properties to soften meat, it also gives dishes a sweet and sour taste and unique aroma, looks good when served. Women love pineapple not only for their refined taste, but also for the opportunity to use it as a component for a diet, to become more beautiful and rejuvenated.

What is pineapple and where does it grow

This tropical and extremely thermophilic fruit hails from the area between Peru and Brazil. Europeans first learned about pineapple in the 16th century, and the first documentary mention dates back to 1553. It is noteworthy that only one variety is eaten - Ananas comosus.

The perennial plant grows to 60 cm and has a rich leaf base. The fruit can reach two kilograms. It consists of a hard, scaly-like peel and soft yellow pulp, which goes into food. By the way, local peoples used not only juicy and tasty pulp, but also long pointed leaves. Of these, mats, small household items, and even decorative elements such as table baskets or toys were woven.

For a long time, pineapple grew only in Brazil and Peru. Attempts to grow fruit in warm European countries did not give the desired result, despite the first harvest in 1658 and the construction of many court greenhouses. Far better results have been achieved by cultivation in the Caribbean and Central America, especially on Costa Rica. However, the real revolution took place already in the 19th century, when pineapple came to Asia, where its own varieties appeared, giving good harvests. India, the Philippines and Thailand today are the leading producers of this fruit worldwide.

Composition and calorie content

Pineapple is an extremely healthy fruit, while it is completely non-nutritious. It is added to many, even the toughest diets. A lot of nutrients supports the body well. 100 g of pineapple contains the following substances:

• calories - 52;
• proteins - 0.3 g;
• fats - 0.1 g;
• carbohydrates - 11.8 g;
• dietary fiber - 1 g;
• organic acids - 1 g;
• water - 85.5 g;
• ash - 0.3 g.

The fruit contains beneficial saturated fatty acids, as well as omega-3 and omega-6. In 100 g of the product there are such vitamins, micro and macro elements:

• Vitamin C - 11 mg or 12.2% of the daily norm;
• pyridoxine B6 - 0.1 mg or 5% of the daily norm;
• thiamine B1 - 0.06 mg or 4% of the daily norm;
• Vitamin B5 - 0.16 mg;
• alpha tocopherol E - 0.2 mg;
• vitamin PP - 0.4 mg;
• potassium - 134 mg or 5.4% of the daily intake;
• silicon - 93 mg or slightly more than 100% of the daily norm;
• magnesium - 13 mg;
• calcium - 17 mg;
• phosphorus - 8 mg;
• chlorine - 47 mg;
• chromium - 10 mcg or 20% of the daily norm;
• manganese - 0.8 mg or 40% of the daily norm;
• cobalt - 2.5 mcg or 25% of the daily norm;
• fluorine - 4.2 mcg;
• zinc - 0.12 mg;
• molybdenum - 9.9 mcg or 14% of the daily norm;
• copper - 113 mcg or 11% of the daily norm.

What is useful pineapple

General benefit

Amazingly healthy tropical fruit can be safely recommended to everyone. It contains a special enzyme, bromelain, which breaks down fats and helps to absorb proteins. This is a great combination that is suitable for those who are losing weight and those involved in training. Most of the fat burns in the digestive tract, and proteins enter the body and are involved in muscle building.

The complex of pineapple active substances reduces blood viscosity, strengthens the vascular walls, stimulates the digestive system, and alleviates the symptoms of pancreatic diseases.

Extracts, juices and pulp are actively used in cosmetology to soften the skin, saturate the subcutaneous layer with necessary vitamins.

For women

Pineapple is the best helper in diets. It has virtually no calories, but it saturates the body with useful substances and a special enzyme bromelain. However, you should not think that you can eat sweet, fatty and then fix everything with a pineapple ring. Nutritionists include pineapple juice and pulp in almost all nutritional recommendations, this is not a magical ingredient, but very useful.

Statistics say women are more confirmed with osteoporosis. Regular consumption of pineapple in any form without heat treatment will be an excellent prevention of this disease.

Pineapple is very useful for women's health, it reduces the intensity of menstrual pain, improves reproductive function and saturates the body with necessary substances during pregnancy.

For men

Even the Indians began to use pineapple in rituals dedicated to conception. Modern studies have confirmed that the use of the fetus after 3 hours has a beneficial effect on the male reproductive system, increases sperm motility. The high manganese content also improves male strength, stimulates libido.

The presence of special enzymes allows you to absorb 3.8% more protein from food. Pineapple is loved by all athletes for this, as it activates muscle growth and increases the effectiveness of training.

According to an Indian study, regular consumption of pineapple juice can lower low-density lipoproteins or bad cholesterol. Reducing blood viscosity provides additional protection against many cardiovascular problems.

During pregnancy

Modern medicine recommends eliminating or minimizing the use of pineapple in the first trimester of pregnancy. This is due to the presence of active substances, which under certain conditions can become a factor for miscarriage in the early stages. With fetal development, risk is minimized. The only contraindication is allergy.

Pineapple allows you to saturate the body with all the necessary substances, especially during pregnancy, normalize digestion and facilitate going to the toilet.

When breastfeeding

The use of pineapple in the diet of a nursing mother will enrich the milk with all the necessary substances, strengthen the body, and improve digestion. This means that more beneficial minerals and vitamins will be absorbed, and then get into milk.

However, there is a contraindication - pineapple is a rather strong allergen, which can provoke a reaction in a baby. Therefore, you should carefully and gradually introduce it into your diet, observing the behavior and condition of the child.

For children

Tasty and healthy tropical fruit is always loved by children. It can be given in any form - fresh or canned, juice or jam. A growing child’s body needs many macro- and micronutrients found in pineapple.

In the traditional countries where this fruit grows, it is given to children from 7-8 months. However, in our country it is better to wait until 1.5–2 years. There is an old, still Soviet instruction to ban the use of pineapples up to 3 years. It was previously believed that active substances can seriously harm even a well-formed children's digestive system, but now European and American studies have approved the gradual introduction of pineapples into the diet from 20 months.

When losing weight

Pineapple is included in almost all diets. It is able to dull the hunger, while activating the digestion and breakdown of fats due to bromelain. Using the pulp of the fruit and its juice, you can comfortably and in a controlled way reduce up to 20% of the daily intake of calories, significantly limit the sweet and starchy foods, without risking losing your diet.

Dried and sun-dried pineapple: benefits and harms

Dried and dried fruits are unique due to the increased concentration of active substances and special processes that take place inside during drying.

However, you need to be careful, it's quite simple to uncontrollably eat a couple of pieces of the fruit for the equivalent of several kilograms of fresh pineapple. This will lead to hypervitaminosis and a state of poisoning. Also, dried and dried fruits should be used with caution by diabetics and with gastritis or an ulcer.

Among the new features of dried and dried pineapple it is necessary to name the fight against smoking. This form allows you to effectively perform replacement therapy, just eat a few pieces, and the desire to smoke will disappear for a while. A similar purpose of fruit in diets - it helps prevent a breakdown. When the desire to eat sweets takes up - just eat a few slices of dried or dried pineapple.

Pineapple Oil: Properties and Applications

The process of making pineapple oil is very complicated, it requires high-precision distillation, as well as a special carrier. Usually they are jojoba, coconut or almond oil. In the technological process, the carrier specifically enriches pineapple oil, therefore, the preparations indicate on what basis the product is made.

This is a unique cosmetic and massage product that has a light warming effect, good antifungal and antimicrobial capabilities. It nourishes the skin with useful vitamins and essential substances. The skin becomes more elastic, the effect of visual rejuvenation is achieved.

You can treat the skin with pineapple oil after hair removal or shaving. It can be applied even on the most oily skin type, and is absorbed very quickly, besides there is no film effect.

In massage practices, pineapple oil is used as an aromatic and effective tool for lubricating the skin. A warming effect emphasizes the efforts of a massage therapist. At the same time, it is extremely useful for the skin, nourishes them with useful substances and vitamins.

The benefits of candied pineapple

The usefulness of candied fruit depends entirely on the type of raw material. They are made from fresh or canned pineapples. They differ slightly in the basic content of vitamins. Somewhat more useful is candied fruit.

Candied fruits give a lot of energy, improve mood. However, this dish can no longer be called completely dietary, since it contains a lot of sugar. And this should be considered for people with diabetes.

Are canned pineapples healthy?

On the shelves you can always find banks with canned pineapples. They are not only very tasty, fragrant and affordable, but also healthy. However, in the canning process, about 20% of nutrients and most of vitamin C are lost. This should be taken into account if it is planned to use such pineapples as a fight against hypovitaminosis.

Other useful properties are saved. Canned pineapples stimulate the digestive system well thanks to the presence of the bromelain enzyme and other macro- and microelements.By the way, when choosing really good canned food, you should look not so much at the price as at the cutting format itself. At the enterprise, the most even and undamaged fruits are sorted under canned food with cutting circles. Damaged fruits, with rot-outs or other differences from the standard, go to the line where they are cut into cubes.

How to Preserve Pineapple at Home

You can preserve pineapples at home, like any other vegetables and fruits. The process is quite simple. Only the most basic ingredients are needed:

• sugar - 3 cups;
• one medium pineapple - about 500 g;
• water.

Peel the pineapple and chop it in a convenient way. Industrial canning is similar, but there is a sorting of fruits. The best pineapples always go for slices and circles.

The chopped pineapple must be filled with sugar, put the container in the refrigerator overnight. After 10 hours, the fruit will put in enough juice for preservation. Now it is necessary to carry out the heat treatment, bring the syrup with pineapples to a boil, and then cook for 5 minutes. If foam appears in the process, then it should be removed. Cooled pineapples in syrup can be transferred to a sterilized container and hermetically closed for storage. Again, the home process is completely identical to the industrial one.

The benefits and harms of pineapple juice

Pineapple juice is a real vitamin squeeze enriched with beneficial acids and substances. It is juice that is recommended for use with a mild degree of motion sickness; it eases the condition with motion sickness. It is also necessary to drink it for colds, it has a lot of vitamin C and strengthens the general immunity.

Compresses soaked in pineapple juice should be applied to the sore spot in case of sprains or attacks of arthritis. It is juice that is actively used by cosmetologists around the world. It nourishes the skin, smoothes out microwrinkles, reduces bags under the eyes, and counteracts the onset of dermatitis, acne and acne.

Culinary specialists use juice to add a sour taste to dishes, add it to sauces, marinades, jellies and gravy. It is a key ingredient in many liquors, cocktails, pastry creams and mousses.

Pineapple juice contains quite a few different organic acids. When rinsing the mouth or drinking it abundantly, they can begin to destroy the enamel, especially if there are already weak spots, damaged teeth. You should also refrain from drinking juice for people with peptic ulcer and complications of gastritis.

Pineapple in medicine

The history of the use of pineapple for medical purposes dates back to pre-Columbian America. It was used to treat various gastrointestinal problems and poisoning.

Modern medicine recommends using pineapple for diabetes, various intestinal disorders, chronic constipation, for the prevention of thrombosis and thrombophlebitis in risk groups as part of complex therapy. Separately, the enzyme bromelain should be isolated - it breaks down fats, which makes it useful against the background of eating fatty and heavy foods. This allows you to remove the effect of a heavy abdomen and improve the condition.

With diabetes

Pineapple has a valid glycemic index of 66. The presence of a large amount of manganese makes the fruit especially useful for diabetics. The intake of juice can slightly reduce the swelling of the lower extremities and improve the general condition. However, it should be understood that it is recommended to eat only fresh, dried or dried fruits. Sliced ​​and candied fruit canned in syrup contain a large amount of sugar and are not suitable for diabetics.

With pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis does not allow the use of any products containing active acids. This will cause severe cramping and a sharp deterioration.

In chronic pancreatitis, in general, pineapples are allowed, but according to certain rules. You can eat fruit only after a heavy meal, in no case should you consume juice or pulp on an empty stomach.It is allowed to add pineapple to products in a fresh, stewed, fried or boiled form. The juice must be diluted with water or a liquid with a neutral acidity in a ratio of 1 to 1.

With gastritis

Gastritis requires accurate diagnosis. Pineapple is extremely useful, but it increases the overall acidity, and if gastritis occurs on this soil, then deterioration is guaranteed.

After diagnosis, pineapples and other fruits can be added to the diet, but according to certain rules. It is usually forbidden to eat them on an empty stomach, only with other dishes or after eating. Pineapple here acts as an additional reinforcing agent for digesting food.

For the intestines

Even the ancient peoples of Brazil and Peru used pineapple precisely as a universal medicine for intestinal upset. The active substances of pineapple improve the digestive system, stimulate intestinal motility. The enzyme bromelain activates the breakdown of fats, increases the digestibility of nutrients and proteins. All this in the most beneficial way affects the overall work of the intestines.

For constipation

Pineapple has a pronounced but mild laxative effect. This applies specifically to the fetus itself, it can be eaten fresh, canned, dried or cooked. Pineapple acts very gently but comprehensively. Fiber is essential for a good and comfortable trip to the toilet. Stimulation of digestion eliminates stagnant effects and activates peristalsis. All this leads to a serious mitigation and improvement in the quality of toilet use.

It is important to note that pineapple gives a good and statistically confirmed effect in counteracting chronic constipation, since it removes the cause of their appearance.

With gout

To alleviate the condition with gout, you must follow a strict diet. Pineapple is one of those products that are definitely prescribed for this ailment. It can be eaten in any form. It does not interact on its own with gout, but it has a tonic effect.

However, there are cocktails that alleviate the condition. For example, you need to grind the pulp of one medium pineapple in a blender, pour a glass of cherry juice, preferably freshly squeezed, add a teaspoon of turmeric, two teaspoons of ground ginger and honey. Mix everything into a homogeneous mass and pour into a closed glass jar. The cocktail must be insisted in the refrigerator for a week. After drinking half a glass every day.

Pineapple in cosmetology

The ingredients in the form of pulp, juice, oil or extracts are included in many professional cosmetic creams, masks and shampoos. The main tasks that pineapple solves when interacting with skin, nails or hair are as follows:

• gentle cleansing;
• oily skin and hair care;
• saturation with vitamins;
• exfoliation.

Now lifting face masks are popular. They are very simple to prepare, you need to take a tablespoon with a hill of pineapple pulp, the protein of one egg and a teaspoon of honey. The flesh of the fruit should be finely chopped using a grater or blender. If the honey is too hard, then it must be melted in a water bath to a fluid consistency. Mix all the ingredients until smooth and apply on the face, avoiding the area around the eyes and lips. Action time - 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

People with oily skin are recommended to simply wipe their face with a slice of pineapple every two days. This allows you to normalize the condition of the skin, to prevent the occurrence of acne.

To soften the cuticles, it is good to use warm baths with pineapple juice, the solution should have a 35% concentration. The softening effect will come in 10 minutes. He will also saturate the nail plates and the subungual layer with the necessary vitamins.

Pineapple is found in many shampoos and professional multi-component hair masks.However, there is an effective and simple combination that allows you to give your hair silky, shiny, saturate their life to the very tips. Pineapples and bananas are used in a ratio of 1.5 to 1. Products must be whipped in a blender and applied from the roots to the ends of the hair. The mask lasts 30 minutes, then rinse off the residue with warm water.

Harm and contraindications

Fresh or canned pineapple will not do any harm to a healthy person. The concentration of toxic substances is many times higher than the actual volume of use. If you do not eat 4 kg of fruit at a time, then there will be no harm.

A slightly different situation with dried and dried pineapples. They have a large concentration of active substances, and eating a lot of them is easier. However, if you adhere to the norm of 300 g of dried product with a single daily intake, then there will be no problems. Candied fruits and preserves are harmful due to sugar.

A clear contraindication for use is allergy. Everyone can have it, especially in our country, where this tropical fruit could not appear naturally. Therefore, the first acquaintance should begin with a few pieces or sips of juice.

You can not use pineapple for peptic ulcer, acute form of pancreatitis, not diagnosed gastritis. This can lead to deterioration. Modern doctors do not recommend eating pineapples in the first trimester of pregnancy, although there are no statistics on the increase in the number of miscarriages due to the use of products from this fruit.

How to choose a ripe pineapple in the store

Pineapples enter our country thousands of kilometers on ships. Therefore, marriage inevitably appears, some fruits are re-ripened, some, on the contrary, remain unripe and begin to rot. The fruit is expensive, and often on the shelves you can find not very high-quality specimens, even frankly spoiled. Therefore, it is important to learn how to choose a good and healthy pineapple, it is not difficult. There are only four main points that you should pay attention to.

1. Smell. Ripe pineapple has a soft and delicate smell, which is almost not felt. If there is no smell at all - it means that the fetus has not ripened. A sharp, beating smell in the nose is a clear signal of an overripe or, possibly, fruit that has already begun to deteriorate.
2. Tops. Juicy tops are a sign of ripe pineapple. Chilly and yellowing leaves are a sign of improper storage or the beginning of spoilage of the fetus. If a single leaflet is too unstable and difficult to separate from the base, then the pineapple is green.
3. Crust. It is necessary to feel the crust, in ripe fruits it is a little soft and elastic. Unripe pineapple has a hard and unyielding crust. If there are dark spots on the crust, it means that it has already deteriorated. By the way, green peel does not mean that the pineapple has not yet matured, it may be a feature of this variety.
4. The state of the pulp. The quality of the pulp can be checked on the counter (by analogy with a watermelon). You need a little pat on the crust with your palm. If the sound is dull, then everything is fine, the flesh is in the right condition. An empty sound is a sign of an overripe fetus.

How to store pineapple

Storing tropical fruit can cause problems. The whole taste of a whole, unpeeled pineapple is best preserved at room temperature about 20 degrees. However, depending on the ripeness, he will remain in good condition from 2 days to a week.

Industrial storage is carried out at a fixed temperature of 7 degrees, good ventilation and low humidity.

The refrigerator extends storage for up to two to three weeks. It is only necessary to wrap the fetus in a paper towel with holes for breathing. However, it will become more watery and slightly change its taste at a stable low temperature.

The cut fruit can only be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 72 hours. Shelf life can only be preserved, turned into jam or candied fruit, frozen or dried.

Is it possible to freeze

Pineapple is not completely frozen, however, the ability to preserve a fragrant, healthy and tasty fruit remains for a long time. It is necessary to clean the fruit and grind into portioned pieces. It is easiest to store cubes, but you can make half rings or rings. They need to be folded into a bag and pumped out air with a vacuum, and then put it in the freezer.

You can do just sterilized and hermetically sealed containers, but this is less convenient. You can store frozen pineapple slices for up to three months. They retain taste, aroma, practically without losing vitamin C.

How to peel pineapple at home

It may seem that it is difficult to peel a pineapple, because you do not want to lose the pulp, removing dense skin. However, the restaurant level of cleaning is achievable even at home, and it is really easy.

The fruit must be laid horizontally, cut off the top and bottom. Next, put the pineapple and carefully cut the peel, taking as little pulp as possible. There will remain inedible eyes that need to be removed. The structure of the fruit is such that the eyes line up in parallel diagonal rows. For this reason, two incisions at 45 degrees can immediately remove a whole row and save a lot of healthy fruit pulp.

Next, you should determine the type of slicing. The easiest way is to cut the fruit into cubes or slices. It is enough to cut it in two, and then each part is still in two. This will remove the hard cores with a regular knife, just cutting them at an angle. Then grind in the usual way.

Cutting into slices is more difficult because of the core. They need to be cut immediately in batch thickness. Next, with a vertically set knife, carefully cut the core, ideally, an excellent fruit bagel should be obtained. The restaurant uses a special form for cutting the core, where the circle comes out just perfect for a minimum of time. It can be bought in specialized stores.

How to eat pineapple

Tropical fruit must be properly peeled. The peel does not go into food, but the core can be used limited in squeezing juice. The rest of the fruit is edible and suitable for various types of processing.

1. Fresh pineapple can be cut into pieces and eaten alone or as part of another dish, such as ice cream, porridge or salad.
2. Juice can be drunk cold, warm or hot. It is also added to marinades, sauces, creamy desserts, ice cream and smoothies.
3. Frozen fruit before use must be completely thawed. Pineapples can be cooked, fried, stewed, baked and boiled, in the process they are significantly softened.

How much can you eat per day

Pineapple can be called a harmless product. However, excessive constant consumption can increase the acidity of the stomach, lead to hypervitaminosis and an overabundance of certain macro and micronutrients that will begin to accumulate in the body.

A healthy adult in daily use should eat no more than half a pineapple per day or drink about a glass of juice. However, even a significant one-time increase in the diet (up to 2 fruits per day) will not lead to serious consequences, although short-term discomfort may occur. Of course, a useful dose is about 200 g of pineapple per day.

Can I eat at night and on an empty stomach

Healthy people eat pineapples at night and on an empty stomach, it’s even useful, especially when losing weight. The bromelain enzyme will work effectively by melting the remaining fats. This will lead to improved body shape and weight reduction in a short period of time.

However, there are contraindications. This is a rather stressful procedure for the body, as the empty digestive system is stimulated. Prolonged use of pineapples or juice on an empty stomach before bedtime can lead to gastritis and heartburn.

If certain diseases are diagnosed, for example, gastritis or pancreatitis, then pineapple can be consumed only with food or half an hour after eating.

Is it possible to eat pineapple core

Pineapple core does not contain any harmful chemical or toxic substances.It is removed due to the coarse fibrous structure, as it is rather difficult to chew. Moreover, poorly chewed hard flesh can damage the walls of the esophagus. However, in industry, juice is often squeezed whole together with the core. It can also be consumed after grinding in a blender.

By the way, it is in the core of pineapple that the highest concentration of the bromelain enzyme is. Therefore, nutritionists and sports trainers may advise to squeeze juice out of it or use it in crushed form.

Why does pineapple pinch tongue and lips

The composition of the fruit includes fairly active organic acids and the bromelain enzyme. Therefore, in areas with especially delicate skin and mucous membranes, slight discomfort is observed. This does no harm to the body and is an absolutely normal reaction to the active components of pineapple.

However, do not confuse light tingling with burning in the mouth. This is a more serious problem, usually it occurs if the pineapple was unripe or already spoiled. It contains several other substances, they actively irritate the tongue and mucous membranes. A thorough rinse of the mouth and throat with warm water will facilitate the condition.

What can be cooked from pineapple: recipes

Pineapple is an extremely popular fruit in any kitchen. It is universal and applicable almost everywhere.

Hawaiian canapes in 5 minutes

These are ideal snacks for any occasion, especially when there is no more time, and guests come to the house. These are delicious dishes that can be collected from what is found in the refrigerator. However, the key is to add fresh or canned pineapple. He will set the desired taste, aroma and a bit of exoticism. For a heavy canapé, you need the following components:

• slicing ham, boiled pork or other prepared meat;
• pineapple wedges;
• cheese.

You can additionally use pickled onions or garlic, herbs, any spices. Cut the pineapple into half rings, attach a similar slice of cheese to it and wrap everything with ham - the canapé is ready. It only takes a couple of minutes.

Light canapes require any available fruit or berries, where again the pineapple will set the desired taste. Ingredients:

• pieces of fresh or canned pineapple;
• strawberries or any large and sweet berry;
• pear or soft apple;
• Mango, orange or banana.

Just cut the fruit and string them on skewers. Such a combination will give an optimal balance of tastes and aromas. It can be served with honey, chocolate paste or sour cream as a sauce.

A Hawaiian sandwich is prepared in 5 minutes and has a magnificent appearance and aroma. A complex combination of tastes makes it a real treat. For cooking, you need such products:

• White bread;
• fresh tomato;
• hard cheese;
• canned pineapple in ringlets.

Slices of bread immediately send to the pan to get a crust. Cut the tomato and cheese into slices. Put tomato on bread with crisp, followed by pineapple and a slice of cheese. Bake everything in the microwave for 20-30 seconds until the cheese melts.

Pineapple and Chicken Quesadilla

This is an excellent dish that can be prepared in half an hour. Pineapple here not only sets the aroma and taste, but also softens the chicken, makes the filling really tender. For cooking, the following components are needed:

• tortilla
• one chicken breast;
• 200 g of pineapple;
• some hard cheese;
• butter - 40 g;
• ground black pepper;
• salt;
• dill, parsley, basil or cilantro.

You can use any herbs, also add more spices or cheese. Today, most stores sell pretty good tortillas, so there is no need to bake them yourself.

Add finely chopped chicken fillet to the pan. While it is roasting, you can slightly chop the pineapple slices and after 5 minutes add to the chicken. Juices of the fruit will soften the meat, make it very tender. After readiness, you should clean the pan, put butter in it and bring the tortilla to a golden color on both sides. Now you can collect the quesadillas - put the fried pineapple, chicken on the cake, add greens and pepper, and top with cheese and cover with another tortilla.Once again, send the collected cakes to the pan for 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese. After that, you can serve.

Delicious cupcake with pineapple without baking

Baking frightens away many because of the need to mess with the dough. This recipe can be implemented with a minimum of effort without baking. It turns out tasty and healthy. Such products will be required:

• cottage cheese - 400 g;
• a can of canned pineapple;
• condensed milk;
• gelatin - 20 g.

It is better to take cottage cheese with fixed fat content. Initially, you need to prepare the basis for the jelly, pour a glass of cold boiled water into the pan and dissolve the gelatin in it, bringing everything to a slow fire. Mix cottage cheese, condensed milk and chopped pineapples until smooth. Pour the cooled gelatin solution into the base and mix everything. Fill a mold or plate with a future cupcake and refrigerate for 5 hours. After that you can serve to the table an elastic, beautiful, very curd sweet cake with a pronounced pineapple flavor.

Juice

Pineapple juice is a real concentrate of vitamins and nutrients. However, it is important that it is freshly squeezed. Shop products are significantly poorer in terms of utility to the body.

For cooking, peel and chop the fruit. The core can not be cut, there are most of all useful enzymes that break down fats. The most optimal and fastest way is to use a blender. It is acceptable to sweeten the mixture with one or two teaspoons. Then grind the mass thoroughly, it will take 2-3 minutes to work.

If juice with pulp is needed, then just pass it through a large sieve, filtering out very large fractions. Pure juice must be filtered using folded gauze in 7–8 layers. Serving a drink to the table is best with an ice cube.

Candied fruit

Candied pineapple is a real delicacy, it is long and difficult to cook them, but the result will justify every minute spent. The following components will be involved in the preparation:

• one medium pineapple;
• sugar - 800 g.

Additionally, food coloring can be used to set various vibrant colors for the fruit. Pineapple itself needs to be cut into small cubes, half rings or slices.

Sugar and water should be mixed in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Then add the already prepared slices of pineapple. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let it brew for about 3 hours. Stir and bring to a boil again, boil for 10 minutes. The procedure should be repeated 4-5 times, the fruit should become transparent and be saturated with sugar. If rings are used, they should be mixed very carefully. At 2-3 cooking, the pineapple will become quite tender, so you can accidentally spoil the appearance of the wedges.

After the process is over, you need to put the mass in a colander and let the syrup drain. This is a long process, so you can leave pineapples for 2-3 hours. The final stage of preparation will require drying the fruits, on parchment you need to put slices or cubes in one row and send to the oven at a temperature of 50 degrees for 6 hours. Candied pineapple is ready, they can be served to the table.

Compote

Useful, very tasty and aromatic pineapple compote is not difficult to prepare. The following components will be required:

• one pineapple;
• sugar - 80 g;
• water - 500 ml.

Pineapple must be peeled, core and portioned. It’s better to focus on a teaspoon so that a piece of fruit fits easily in it, but you can cut large.

Boil water, add sugar and mix everything until dissolved. Then add the pineapple pieces and cook another 15 minutes after boiling. An important point: the compote should not only cool, but also insist. The most intense taste will come in 2-3 hours after the end of cooking. Serve with or without pulp.

Jam

It is best to combine pineapple with something pronounced sour when cooking jam. An excellent choice is lemon or mandarin, while you can use only their juice or pulp. For a classic jam recipe, you will need these components:

• pineapple - 1 kg of pulp;
• 400 g of sugar;
• half a lemon.

Instead of lemon, you can use 2-3 tangerines. Initially, cut peeled pineapple without a core into small cubes. It takes about half an hour for the pulp to start juice.

Now the resulting mass must be moved to the pan and pour a liter of water. After boiling, cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. At this point, you can add lemon or mandarin juice. After reaching the desired consistency, remove from the stove, cool and can be laid out on sterilized jars for storage.

Smoothie

This is an extremely healthy drink that can be enriched with grapefruit, ginger, banana, low-fat yogurt. It is extremely simple to make a pineapple smoothie, it is necessary to cut the peeled fruit for a blender, without even removing the core, thoroughly beat everything to a smoothie and put on a table.

The most winning combinations for the pineapple smoothie are as follows:

• 200 g of pineapple;
• a glass of white yogurt;
• one banana;
• a pinch of vanillin.

You should grind the fruit in a puree with a blender, then add vanillin, yogurt and beat again.

This is a refreshing, very soft and tasty drink, the best to start the day.

Products:

• 100 g of pineapple;
• pulp of half grapefruit;
• one small fresh cucumber;
• ginger root a few centimeters;
• half a glass of water.

Peel fruits and vegetables, grate ginger root, place everything in a blender, add water, mix in mashed potatoes. It turns out to be a little unusual in taste, but very refreshing smoothie that will quench your thirst and dull hunger.

Salad

Pineapple is a key ingredient in many salads with meat and vegetables. The best way to combine fruit with mayonnaise sauce and chicken. Together it turns out a complex and very pleasant taste. For cooking, you need such components:

• chicken fillet - 1 pc.;
• canned corn - 300 g;
• pineapple - 400 g;
• one small onion (red or salad);
• clove of garlic;
• mayonnaise.

You can add a little hard cheese with a bright taste, fried champignons, any spices and herbs. Fillet must first be fried. It is permissible as a whole, it is possible to grind previously, so readiness will be achieved faster. Add chopped onion to the meat 3-5 minutes before cooking. It is necessary to achieve a slight mitigation of sharpness and some transparency. Once ready, put the meat and onions to cool in the refrigerator.

Pineapples cut into portions, add canned corn, cooled meat and onions, as well as garlic, passed through a crush or grater. Mix everything and season with mayonnaise. A gourmet salad with a tempting look and a complex, but very pleasant taste, is ready.

Is it possible to give pineapple to animals

Cats and dogs may receive limited treats. Even a domestic parrot will be delighted with such a dish. The main thing is not to give too much, even if the pet really asks for another piece.

The vitamins B6, magnesium and iron contained in the fruit are essential for many animals. Bromelain in the body of cats and dogs is involved in the absorption of proteins, helping to digest food. Therefore, a piece of delicious fruit is best given 15-20 minutes after eating.

Excessive systematic feeding of pineapple will lead to severe digestive upsets in the animal, vomiting, diarrhea will begin, and the natural system of fat breakdown will be disturbed for a long time. Also, the toxic dose for a cat or dog is quite small, symptoms of poisoning will appear after eating 80-100 g of fruit.

Interesting facts about pineapple

1. A perennial plant of the bromeliad family bears fruit only once in a lifetime.This is an extremely laborious culture, if it had not taken root in Asia, today pineapple would remain a treat of kings (as in the 16th century). From planting to flowering, it will take 12–16 months. Another 3-5 months, the fruit ripens, after which the plant dies, giving new shoots that start the cycle anew.
2. It is noteworthy, but from a botanical point of view, pineapple is not a fruit or even an ordinary berry. The ear is represented by a separate inflorescence, fused together. Therefore, these are several dozen berries that form one fruit.
3. Almost all tropical gifts can ripen already plucked, but not pineapples. If the fruit is picked green, it will remain ripened even when it begins to rot.
4. Indians of pre-Columbian America appreciated the leaves of the fruit. From durable, wear-resistant fibers weaved mats, elements of clothing and decor, various toys and household items. Today, surprisingly strong pineapple fibers are also used in production, for example, a special Pinatex fabric is patented and produced. Handbags, wallets, shoes, various wear-resistant cases are made from it.

Pineapple Photo