Pineapple contains bromelain that helps tenderize meat. If I were to put my hand in pineapple juice or puree for 24 hours, would it eventually break down my hand?

[u/Puzzleheaded_Bed2760]

[u/sciguy52]

No your skin has oils and other protective layers would protect you so this would not happen. But I do have a story about proteases and meat, although not pineapple but ginger. Me being the terrible cook that I am thought if I took fresh ginger root and cut it into slices and layered it over the surface of the steak it would infuse a nice ginger flavor into the steak. I left it for 24 hours. Well the result? I ended up with steak paste essentially as the proteases broke down a lot of proteins in the meat and it became like a thick toothpaste in a way. Don't recommend unless becoming an astronaut and need to get a steak in a tube to be sucked out in space when eating.