Does it need checking? Pineapple is not commonly infested in the USA. In Israel there are two kinds: one mostly infested on the outside, one not commonly infested. Peel fresh pineapple and remove the brown cavities under the peel. (Rav Moshe Vaya)
Rav Vaya’s rating
| USA | ✓ | not commonly infested (muchzak k’naki) |
| Israel | ☆☆ ✓ | two kinds (e.g. wild vs. cultivated, local vs. imported): ☆☆ mostly infested on the outside / ✓ not commonly infested |
Rav Moshe Vaya, Bedikat HaMazon K’Halacha, Degree of Infestation chart, p. 935 (Ananas, Pineapple)
Which bugs
- Dried pineapple with sugar: a small fly or insect may be stuck to it.
- Naturally dried pineapple: a larva, or round dark crumbs, may be in the small cavities of the fruit. (Rav Moshe Vaya)
How to check
- Fresh pineapple: peel it and remove all the brown cavities under the peel.
- Dried pineapple with sugar: look at both sides for a small fly or insect stuck to it.
- Naturally dried pineapple: break it into a few pieces. Look well for a larva or round dark crumbs in the small cavities of the fruit.
- Canned pineapple: canned in syrup is better than canned in natural juice. Pineapple canned in syrup is among clean fruits that do not need checking. (Rav Moshe Vaya)
Sources
- Rav Moshe Vaya, Bedikat HaMazon K’Halacha, Degree of Infestation chart, p. 935 (rating).
- Rav Moshe Vaya, Bedikat HaMazon K’Halacha: summary sheet “Tu BiShvat Without Worms: All the Fruits and How to Check Them” (published by Machon Aliya).
- cRc: dried pineapple with no added flavors does not need to be checked for insect infestation. (Fruits & Vegetables Checking Guide)
Related
References: cRc — Fruits & Vegetables Checking Guide · Rav Moshe Vaya — “Tu BiShvat Without Worms: All the Fruits and How to Check Them” (Machon Aliya, Hebrew)
Source: Rav Moshe Vaya, Bedikat HaMazon K’Halacha, p. 935
