Dried Pineapple

Name: Dried pineapple — pineapple (Ananas comosus) rings, chunks or wedges that have been dried, usually sweetened and sometimes dipped in sugar syrup or coated with sugar. The fresh fruit is described under Tropical Fruits.

Description

Pineapple is native to South America, and was spread through the Caribbean and later around the tropics after European contact. Because the fresh fruit is juicy and perishable, drying has long been a way to preserve it, particularly in Thailand, the Philippines and Hawaii, where much of the world's pineapple is grown.

Commercial dried pineapple is typically infused with sugar syrup before drying, giving it a sweet, tangy, sticky chew. Plain, unsweetened dried pineapple is darker, tarter and chewier. It is often sold in rings, chunks and as part of tropical trail mixes.

Main nutrition value

Dried pineapple is a concentrated source of natural and added sugars, with some fibre, manganese and vitamin C, though less of the fresh fruit's vitamin C remains.

How best to be consumed

Dried pineapple is sweet and acidic, so a small portion is enough.

1. Eat a few pieces as a snack with nuts.
2. Chop into muesli, yoghurt, trail mix and baking.
3. Add to savoury dishes, such as stir-fries and curries, for a sweet-sour note.
4. Choose unsweetened dried pineapple, or one with little added sugar.
5. Store in an airtight container to stop it getting sticky or hard.

Overconsumption could cause…

Drying removes water but leaves the sugar, so dried fruit is far more concentrated in sugar and energy than the fresh fruit.

1. High added sugar and calorie intake, since most dried pineapple is sweetened.
2. Mouth soreness or irritation from the fruit's acidity and bromelain enzyme.
3. Reactions in people sensitive to sulphites, including some with asthma.
4. Tooth decay and enamel wear from the sugar and acid.

GroupsDried FruitsDried

Made fromPineapple

Related foodsCurrantsDried AmlaDried AppleDried ApricotsDried BananaDried Blueberries

Wikipedia — Pineapple, used for origin and general background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple Wikipedia — Dried fruit, used for general background on drying and storing fruit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dried_fruit