The smell of fresh pineapple just makes my day better. I hope that I could consume it constantly, on a daily basis. Despite my best efforts, I am never able to consume as much pineapple as I would like. Why is this the case? One explanation is that it makes my mouth sore or Why does pineapple hurt my mouth?.
When I consume fresh pineapple for more than a few minutes at a time, my tongue, lips, and roof of my mouth can get raw and start to burn. This usually happens after the first few bites. In point of fact, the roof of my mouth bled on one occasion. I don’t joke around when it comes to the good stuff.
I did a little bit of research, and I was able to find the solution. There is just one food known to contain the enzyme bromelain, which breaks down proteins, and that food is pineapple. To tell you the truth, eating pineapple is painful due to the fact that bromelain is digesting the sensitive skin while it is in your mouth.
The Real Reason Your Mouth Hurts After Eating Pineapple
To begin, there is absolutely no reason to be concerned about this phenomenon because it is something that is quite normal. But what factors contribute to the unusual characteristics of the exotic fruit?
The solution is an enzyme called bromelain, which is responsible for the burning feeling that occurs in the mouth. One of the compounds that can be found in pineapple, this particular compound’s job is to metabolize protein.
If eating pineapple causes a burning sensation on the tongue, this indicates that the enzyme is “doing its work” in our mouths. This small burning feeling, on the other hand, is something that can only be experienced while eating fruit that has not been processed. The pineapple that has been canned retains its “tongue-friendly” qualities.
If you are one of those people whose tongue is scorched by pineapple, you may, for example, try grilling or boiling it, as bromelain cannot tolerate high temperatures. If this does not help, you may be allergic to bromelain.
Eating an unripe pineapple, which has a higher concentration of acid in it, is another factor that raises the risk of experiencing a burning feeling on the tongue. The best course of action is to give it a shot.
You won’t be able to resist biting into the pineapple despite the tingling sensation you’re experiencing because the sweet tropical fruit tastes far too nice for that to be possible.
Here’s how to cut down on the enzymes in a pineapple.
Even if avoiding the core of the pineapple is a good practice, you may still cut down on the quantity of bromelain in the fruit by using one of several different methods. Even though this is not a scientifically proven method, soaking the pineapple in salt water before eating it should reduce the enzyme’s effectiveness. You will, however, need to do a little bit more in order to bring the total number of enzymes down.
Cooking pineapple reduces the amount of bromelain enzymes present in the fruit. They lose their ability to function properly after being heated for an extended period of time. Therefore, you might want to think about cooking your pineapple on the barbecue, in the oven, or even on the stovetop.
Utilizing the fruit alongside dairy items is still another method for mitigating the negative impacts of the fruit. If you give the enzymes more protein to digest, they shouldn’t irritate your mouth as much as they would otherwise. Additionally, the dairy will assist in bringing the pH level of the pineapple closer to that of the dairy. It’s the ideal combo to make one’s taste buds sing with joy.