r/Cooking • u/ruinsofsilver • 1d ago

is there any way to combat the tingling feeling from sour acidic astringenct fruits with bromelain enzymes like pineapple, kiwi etc.?

i love the taste of these fruits but the acidity and tingly icky feeling is quite off putting, especially because i have sensitive gums and acid reflux issues. is there any way to remove or atleast reduce this? any hack or trick to 'neutralise' it?

9 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

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24

u/_9a_ 1d ago

Cook it, especially pineapple. 

1

u/Ok_Acanthisitta_2544 14h ago

Searing pineapple, topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon, is divine. On the grill, or even just in a frying pan.

The heat also denatures the bromelain enzyme, preventing it from doing it's protein-digesting thing.

15

u/fjiqrj239 1d ago

Heating will work, as others have said. It's the enzyme that does this, not the acidity, so a base won't solve the problem. Canned pineapple has been cooked. You might experiment with how much heat it takes.

I do find that fresh, ripe, local pineapple doesn't give me that problem, so if you're ever travelling to a pineapple producing country, take the opportunity to enjoy.

4

u/HandbagHawker 1d ago

i love that as you eat pineapple, pineapple eats you back.

3

u/ruinsofsilver 1d ago

a giver, not just a taker 🥰 find yourself a pineapple that treats you right

2

u/HandbagHawker 1d ago

well that was a direction i wasnt expecting this to go. and in retrospect, i should choose my words more carefully.

1

u/ruinsofsilver 1d ago

lmaooo sorry i guess it's not that easy to interpret tones online i did not mean to make it weird or creepy twas just a silly lil jokey joke😭

2

u/HandbagHawker 1d ago

oh i dont actually care. i thought your reply was hilarious. and a good reminder to double check what I type

2

u/Lumpy_Scheme_9528 19h ago

This comment is, hands down, the best of the day.

4

u/koalafied_human 1d ago

I eat my pineapple with red meat. It breaks down the meat in order to make it even more bioavailable. I try not to over-do it though because too much pineapple will make my tongue hurt.

So don't eat too much of it in one sitting.

2

u/Gwynhyfer8888 1d ago

A little brine tempers the effects of pineapple.

1

u/Miriaaa 17h ago

this!! we always soak the pineapple in some water with a bit of salt for an hour... you can always rinse it off later if you want but it's really not noticeable when eating

3

u/Square-Dragonfruit76 1d ago

Well the acidity will only go away if you add basic things to it, but the enzyme will denature if you cook it.

1

u/RR_Maverick 1d ago

Just want to say thanks for posting this question because I have the same issues with pineapple. I learned a lot from reading the responses. 😊

1

u/tubermensch 11h ago

I think you're just allergic, bro.

1

u/Pterodactyl_midnight 1d ago edited 1d ago

Chemically, add a base (ph) to neutralize acid. It’s how Tums helps acid reflux. Cooking fruit can also reduce acidity.

2

u/Responsible-Bat-7561 1d ago

Bicarbonate of soda, in very, very, small amounts.

1

u/BeautifulHindsight 1d ago

Tingly feeling sounds like a mild allergic reaction. If this is the case you shouldn't be eating it at all.

1

u/ruinsofsilver 2h ago

i don't think im allergic to pineapple tho, i have been eating it pretty much all my life with no serious issues, i think it is just the acidity and the digestive enzyme thing. and to be fair, my lactose intolerance doesn't keep me away from dairy soooo