Do you want to soak your mouth in salt water when you prick your pineapple? No, this is a better way

"If you eat pineapple, your mouth will sting, but soaking it in salt water will stop stinging you"

Many people feel their mouths prick when eating pineapples. They think that pineapples soaked in salt water are less astringent, and believe that soaking pineapples in salt water can inactivate proteases to prevent mouth prickling.

Rumor Analysis

This statement is not rigorous.

Some people think that pineapples soaked in salt water are not as astringent. It’s just the synergistic effect of taste: saltiness can reduce bitterness and enhance sweetness.

Spring is the best time to enjoy pineapples. This tropical fruit has won the love of many diners for its unique sweetness and rich nutritional value. However, many people are often hesitant when enjoying this delicious delicacy because of the "prickly" feeling.

So the magical operation of soaking pineapple in salt water has been circulated. So, will the pineapple not prick your mouth when soaked in salt water? When eating pineapple, how can we enjoy the sweetness of pineapple while avoiding the unpleasant "prickly mouth" experience? Will the pineapple not prick your mouth when soaked in salt water?

A common way to eat pineapple is to soak the cut pineapple in salt water for a while to reduce the irritation or stinging sensation when eating pineapple. Some people explain that this is because salt water inactivates or reduces the activity of bromelain. Is this true?

The science behind this may not have much to do with a direct reduction in the activity of bromelain. In fact, low concentrations of sodium chloride may not have much effect on protease activity, as proteases generally remain active over a range of salt concentrations.

Image source: Generated by the author using AI

As for why some people think that pineapples soaked in salt water are less astringent, it is just the synergistic effect of flavors : saltiness can reduce bitterness and enhance sweetness.

In addition, soaking pineapple in salt water is not so astringent, which can be understood from the following aspects:

Soaking pineapple in salt water may temporarily reduce the sensitivity to proteases by changing the state of the oral mucosa, thereby alleviating the pricking sensation in the mouth; although low-concentration salt water is unlikely to completely inactivate bromelain, the soaking process may cause some of the proteases dissolved in the water to be dissolved and removed, thereby indirectly reducing the amount of proteases that come into contact with the oral mucosa when eaten.

So why don’t some pineapples prick your mouth?

Why don’t some pineapples prick your mouth?

We first need to talk about the difference between pineapple and pineapple. In fact, these are different names for the same fruit, mainly due to regional differences. In most cases, these two words refer to the same fruit - a tropical fruit with the scientific name Ananas comosus.

Pineapple and pineapple are actually different names for the same fruit. Image source: Generated by the author using AI

However, in different Chinese-speaking regions, people are used to calling it by different names:

Pineapple: This name is more commonly used in mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore and other regions. The word "pineapple" comes from the Malay word "Pineapple", which was first introduced to Asia by the Portuguese from America.

Pineapple: This name is more common in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and other regions. The origin of the name "pineapple" is related to its appearance, because its shape is very similar to the crown, and it is considered to be the "pear" related to the "phoenix", so it is called "pineapple".

The difference between the two words is more a reflection of regional cultural differences rather than referring to different fruits. As for the origin of the name "pineapple", as explained above, it is based on the combination of the appearance of the fruit and its cultural connotations.

Across cultures and languages, people name fruits based on their characteristics, appearance, or association with local culture; pineapples are one such example.

Whether a pineapple tastes prickly or not depends mainly on two factors: the amount of bromelain in the individual fruit and its maturity.

Bromelain in the laboratory (Source: Photo by the author)

① Bromelain

Bromelain is an enzyme that breaks down proteins and is found in all parts of the pineapple, especially the flesh and stem.

When you eat pineapple, bromelain begins to work in the mouth, where it begins to break down proteins in the mouth, including those on the surface of the tongue and oral mucosa. This breakdown can damage the oral mucosa and may cause a slight irritation or pain, which feels like a "burn" in the mouth or tongue.

The amount of bromelain may vary between different pineapple varieties and individual fruits, which can also affect the degree of stinging you feel in your mouth after eating it.

② Maturity

Unripe pineapples tend to have higher concentrations of acids (such as citric acid and ascorbic acid) and stronger bromelain activity, which can make them more likely to feel prickly or uncomfortable. As pineapples ripen, their sugar content increases, and the acid content and protease activity may decrease, so more mature pineapples usually taste sweeter and have less prickly sensations.

In addition, personal sensitivity to bromelain can also affect whether you feel a sting in your mouth. Some people may be more sensitive to this enzyme, and even a ripe pineapple may make them feel uncomfortable.

Eat pineapple like this

Sweet and delicious, not pungent!

To reduce the tingling sensation in your mouth, try the following:

Choose a more mature pineapple: Ripe pineapples are usually sweeter and have lower protease activity. Generally speaking, when buying pineapples, choose pineapples with yellow sides. Ripe pineapples will also have a sweet and strong aroma. You can smell it from the bottom of the pineapple. Ripe pineapples should have a distinct sweet smell.

Heat the pineapple: You can slightly heat the pineapple before eating it to reduce the activity of bromelain. This is why you don't feel uncomfortable in your mouth when eating pineapple fried rice, but the pineapple loses its original flavor.

Rinse your mouth after eating: Rinse your mouth with clean water immediately after eating pineapple, or eat some dairy products, such as drinking milk or eating some yogurt, because the protein in dairy products can combine with bromelain and reduce the impact on the oral mucosa.

Remember these tips for choosing pineapples and several ways to handle them. I believe you will be able to better enjoy this delicious tropical fruit during the pineapple season.

Looking in the mirror of rumors

Sometimes, we often come across some life experiences and explanations passed down by word of mouth, but if we think about them carefully, we will find that they may not be tenable. Only through in-depth thinking and verification can we find the real scientific principles behind them. This can actually be seen as a small microcosm of scientific research.

References

[1]Manzoor Z, Nawaz A, Mukhtar H, et al. Bromelain: methods of extraction, purification and therapeutic applications[J]. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 2016, 59.

[2]Pavan R, Jain S, Kumar A. Properties and therapeutic application of bromelain: a review[J]. Biotechnology research international, 2012, 2012.

[3]Dave S, Kaur NJ, Nanduri R, et al. Inhibition of adipogenesis and induction of apoptosis and lipolysis by stem bromelain in 3T3-L1 adipocytes[J]. PLoS One, 2012, 7(1): e30831.

Author: Denovo team

Review丨Zhang Yu, Researcher, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Doctor of Medicine