Pineapple

Store in the crisper drawer after ripening

Best frozen as chunks or juice; texture becomes soft when thawed

Leave at room temperature to ripen; once ripe, move to fridge

A ripe pineapple has a sweet, fragrant aroma at the stem end and yields slightly to gentle pressure

Remove the core before eating—it's fibrous and tough

Bromelain enzyme is most active in fresh pineapple and can prevent gelatin from setting

Grill sliced pineapple to caramelize the sugars and enhance sweetness

Ham, bacon, and other pork

Coconut milk and coconut flakes

Ginger and chili

Vanilla and brown sugar

Lime and mint

Judging ripeness by color alone—golden yellow is ripe, but some varieties are greenish even when mature

Storing cut pineapple at room temperature—it will spoil quickly

Using raw pineapple in gelatin or mousse without cooking it first, which prevents the mixture from setting