Select Fresh-Looking Fruit

• Unlike other fruits, pineapples are harvested when they're ripe, and they don't ripen any more after they're picked. It's a kitchen myth that a pineapple is ripe if its leaves can be pulled off easily. The best way to choose a good pineapple is to look for fresh-looking fruit with deep green leaves and to avoid pineapples that appear old and dry, have brown leaves or show bruises or soft spots. A ripe pineapple yields slightly when it's touched, and it gives off a sweet smell. A too-sweet smell is a sign that the pineapple is old.

Sometimes Origin Matters

• Another good way to choose a pineapple for baking is to check the quality of fruit from a certain location. Pineapples are mostly associated with Hawaii, but the fruit actually originated in South America and took an around-the-world journey before landing in the Pacific paradise. Most pineapples available in supermarkets are labeled with their country of origin. Professional chefs who tested supermarket pineapples from Hawaii and Costa Rica found that the Costa Rican pineapple tasted sweeter and was better suited for cooking and eating. Testing pineapple from different locations can help you assure quality fruit for your baking needs.

Use Fresh Pineapple Quickly

• Whatever you plan to bake with pineapple, it's best to do it quickly after the fruit is purchased. Store whole fresh pineapples at room temperature for up to 2 days and in a refrigerator for 2 to 4 days. After it's cut, keep it in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 days. Unfortunately, you lose much of the fruit in the peeling process, so the best solution is to get the largest quality pineapple available. To prepare a pineapple for use in baking, cut it from top to bottom, then pare away the leaves from the top down and cut diagonal grooves to remove the eyes. Cut the fruit into eighths or quarters and remove the tough core sections, then slice or chop as needed for baking. Utensils made specifically for paring and coring pineapples exist, but these aren't really cost-effective for a home baker unless you plan to make many cakes, pies, cookies and pastries with fresh pineapples.

Pineapple Cake Does the Flip

• Probably the most familiar American dessert using pineapple is a pineapple upside-down cake, whose variations are as numerous as its bakers. A basic recipe places pineapple slices or rings on the bottom of a 13-by-9-inch baking pan along with butter and brown sugar, with a yellow cake batter poured over top. When the cake is done, cool the confection and flip it over to display the caramelized fruit.