Fruits
Pineapple in gelato
Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a juicy tropical fruit that is about 86% water with roughly 10 g of natural sugars per 100 g. In gelato it is used as a fresh-fruit base for sorbetto and fruit gelato, contributing bright acidity, aroma, and moderate sweetness.
Balancing parameters
Per 100 g of product, verified against independent food-science sources (listed below).
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Solids | 14% |
| Water | 86% |
| Sugars | 10% |
| Fat | 0% |
| MSNF | 0% |
| Protein | 0.5% |
| POD (sweetening power) | 11 |
| PAC (anti-freezing power) | 13 |
Typical use: 25-45% fresh pineapple (puree/juice) of the total sorbetto or fruit-gelato mix
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Open the balancerHow to use it in gelato
Use ripe pineapple as puree or juice in sorbetto and fruit gelato, typically alongside added sucrose/dextrose to hit target solids and PAC. Its sugar profile is sucrose-dominant (~60%) with fructose and glucose, giving a moderate anti-freezing power (PAC ~13 per 100 g of fruit) and slightly above-sucrose sweetness (POD ~11). Because the fruit alone contributes few solids (~14%) and little PAC, most of the mix's sugar and body must come from added sweeteners and stabilizer. Raw pineapple contains the protease bromelain, which can hydrolyze milk and egg proteins; briefly heat the puree before use in dairy or custard bases to deactivate it and prevent thinning or off texture.
Origin & background
Pineapple is native to the Paraná-Paraguay river region of South America and was domesticated by Indigenous peoples long before European contact. Christopher Columbus's crew encountered it on the island of Guadeloupe in 1493, and it became the first bromeliad brought to Europe, prized as a luxury fruit in 17th-18th century courts.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 169124 — Pineapple, raw, all varieties (water 86.0 g, total sugars 9.85 g [sucrose 5.98, fructose 2.12, glucose 1.73], protein 0.54 g, fat 0.12 g per 100 g): https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/169124/nutrients
- Aprifel (French Ctifl/CIQUAL nutritional sheet) — Pineapple (water 85.5 g, carbohydrate 11.7 g mainly sucrose/fructose/glucose, protein <0.5 g, fat <0.5 g per 100 g): https://www.aprifel.com/en/nutritional-sheet/pineapple/
- USDA SR Legacy mirror (nutritionvalue.org, item 169124): https://www.nutritionvalue.org/Pineapple%2C_all_varieties%2C_raw_nutritional_value.html