Do pineapples have seeds?

Pineapple is the favorite fruit of many people. They are healthy, juicy and taste amazing.

But despite the popularity of pineapples, there are still things that people don’t know about them, such as whether or not this tropical fruit has seeds.

So do pineapples have seeds?

You will rarely find seeds in commercial pineapples. They are normally seedless as a result of genetic modifications and hybridization. Wild pineapples, on the other hand, do have seeds: about 50 small black or brown seeds scattered throughout the fruit. 

This article is for you if you like to eat pineapples but still have questions about how they grow.

Read on to learn why you’re unlikely to find seeds in store-bought pineapples, whether you can grow pineapples from seeds if you can find them, and much more about this tropical fruit.

Pineapple: Everything you need to know

The pineapple is a tropical plant with an edible fruit. It resembles a pineapple, hence its name. The pineapple is native to South America.

According to archaeological evidence, the Mayans and the Aztecs grew pineapples. Later, in the 14th century, they were introduced by Native Americans.

Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover this spiky-leaved tropical fruit at the end of the 15th century.

Today, pineapples are grown in different parts of the world, such as Hawaii, Mexico, China, Thailand, the Philippines, etc.

Chances are you can find pineapples at your local grocery store. These fruits are not expensive and are available all year round.

Even if you can’t find fresh pineapples where you live, you can certainly buy canned pineapple or frozen pineapple chunks.

There are multiple varieties of pineapple, such as the queen pineapple, the red Spanish pineapple, and the Pernambuco pineapple.

Smooth Cayenne pineapples are probably the most popular variety of pineapple.

Health benefits of pineapple

The health benefits of pineapples are impressive.

• Pineapples are rich in nutrients.  Low in calories, this tropical fruit is loaded with vitamin C and manganese. It is also a good source of vitamin B6, copper, folate, thiamine, etc.
• Pineapple is a good source of antioxidants . Including pineapple in your diet will help your body fight free radicals, thus reducing the risks of chronic diseases, cancer, diabetes, etc.
• Pineapple helps fight inflammation in the body . Rich in vitamins, minerals and enzymes, pineapple strengthens the immune system and suppresses inflammation processes in the body.
• Pineapple is good for digestion . Pineapple is the only fruit known to contain bromelain. Bromelain represents a group of digestive enzymes that facilitate digestion by breaking down proteins.

uses in the kitchen

Pineapple is a very versatile fruit. Considering the numerous health benefits they have, eating fresh pineapples is certainly a good idea.

But there are many uses for pineapple in the kitchen, both in sweet and savory dishes. 

You can use pineapples in salads, sauces, smoothies, cocktails, baked goods, desserts, etc. Pineapple tastes great on the grill.

Grilled pineapple can accompany ice cream, as well as chicken, ham and prawns. You can also dehydrate pineapples and eat them as a snack.

How do pineapples grow?

Many people believe that pineapples grow on trees and are surprised to learn that they grow on leafy plants, right in the ground. 

The plant has a central stem. The leaves grow around the stem of the pineapple.

They are conical and thick and can measure up to 1.5 m. The fruit itself grows on the central stem of the plant.

Are there seeds in the pineapple?

Pineapples have seeds. However, not all. It is highly unlikely that you will find seeds in a commercial pineapple.

The absence of seeds in store-bought pineapples is the result of genetic modifications to the fruits.

To make pineapples fit the needs of modern consumers and to be able to produce them in large quantities, these tropical fruits have also been hybridized.

But these genetic processes did not have a negative impact on the pineapples as one might think.

In fact, they were rather critical, since pineapples are not self-compatible.

This means that they cannot be fertilized by their own pollen. Even if the cones had undergone mutations, they would not produce seeds, since seeds are not essential for the formation of cones.

Originally, these tropical fruits needed cross pollinators like hummingbirds. If it weren’t for hybridization, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy juicy and sweet pineapples.

Furthermore, thanks to these modifications, pineapples can be grown in various climatic conditions and have a relatively long shelf life.

Do wild pineapples have seeds?

Wild pineapples are rare. They also look very different from the juicy fruits we all buy and enjoy eating.

In fact, the wild version of this fruit looks so different that some people think they aren’t even edible.

You can eat wild pineapple if you come across one. But don’t expect it to be as sweet as the pineapples you’re used to eating.

Wild pineapples have leaves that direct water to the center of the plant. The leaves of wild pineapples point toward the plant or outward.

Another big difference between wild and commercial pineapples is that unlike commercial ones, which rarely have seeds, wild pineapples always do.

There are up to 50 seeds in a wild pineapple.

The pineapple seeds are very small. They are black or dark brown in color. When you cut into the pineapple, you will see that they spread unevenly across the fruit.

Can pineapple seeds be eaten?

Pineapple seeds are completely safe to eat. Whether you find them in wild or commercial pineapple (the probability of which is low), you can eat the seeds of the pineapple.

These seeds are not toxic and it does not matter if the fruit is ripe or not.

The seeds should not worry you when eating wild pineapples, as there is something else to be more careful with: the acidity of wild pineapples.

The acidity level of raw wild pineapples is so high that you can burn your lips, tongue, or throat eating them.

Even commercial pineapples can cause a burning sensation. So imagine what a wild pineapple can do.

The reason why pineapple burns is that it contains bromelain. This group of enzymes is found in the stem, fruit, and juice of pineapples.

Eating pineapple hurts because bromelain dissolves the protective mucus inside the mouth and “digests” sensitive skin.

The burning sensation from pineapples can be reduced by cooking them. However, keep in mind that wild pineapple does not taste good when cooked either.

Can you grow pineapple from seed?

You can grow pineapples from seed. However, as already stated, pineapple seeds are not very easy to obtain.

There are easier ways to grow pineapples, such as using the top of the fruit or purchasing a pineapple plant at your local store. 

Using the top of the pineapple to grow the plant is not only easy, but also cheap.

All you have to do is buy a very ripe pineapple, twist the top off it, and let it dry for about seven days.

Next, you will need to place the top of the pineapple in a shallow container filled with water.

When the plant stays in the water for a few weeks, it will start to take root. That’s when you have to plant the pineapple.

If growing a pineapple from the top cutting seems too complicated for you, then growing it from seed is not something you should consider as it surely requires more effort.

But if you’re determined to do it, here’s how.

How to grow pineapple from a seed

As mentioned earlier in this article, pineapples with seeds are not very common, especially among the fruits sold in your local stores.

Therefore, the first thing you should do is get some pineapple seeds.

If you are looking for a pineapple that has small black seeds, choose ripe yellow pineapples for the best chance of finding them. 

Once you have them, this is what you should do 

1. Rinse the seeds that you have removed from the pineapple.
2. Wrap the seeds in a damp paper towel and put them in a resealable bag. This is the seed germination phase. Germination is the process of developing a plant from seeds, after they have been in a state of dormancy. Seeds start to grow in response to heat and water, so keep them covered.
3. Place the bag with the seeds in a room where it is always warm, between 65 and 75 degrees.
4. After about 6 months you will begin to notice the baby plants.
5. Plant them in containers with a capacity of 2 liters.
6. Let the baby plants grow in these temporary pots until they are big enough to plant in a large permanent pot.
7. Don’t expect the plant to bear fruit for at least two years. Pineapple trees must be about three years old in order to produce their first fruit. Then, expect the tree to bear fruit at two-year intervals.