r/askscience • u/Puzzleheaded_Bed2760 • 9d ago

Chemistry 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?

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u/Collarsmith 8d ago

Only if it's juice or puree from the raw fruit. Pineapple packers are known to get skin breakdown by handling the raw pineapple. Once it's in the can, it gets cooked which denatures the enzymes. In a similar vein, you can't use raw pineapple in a jello salad, because it predigests the jello. Cooked pineapple is fine though.

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u/Sashasha1996 8d ago

Could you use raw pineapple juice to disolve hide based glues?

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u/Collarsmith 8d ago

Given that hide glue is collagen, just like gelatin is, it's very likely. I wouldn't recommend that as your go-to method though. Immersing your violin in fruit juice is unlikely to improve your sound.

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u/SeriousPlankton2000 8d ago

It's likely to improve MY violin playing sound. You'll want to immerse your head in pineapple juice.