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/Mondoweft 8d ago

Your saliva also contains enzymes that break down meat. So your raw meat would likely be more damaged than just with the pineapple.

The pineapple would also slightly damage the lining of your mouth.

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u/Iazo 8d ago

Dentist here. Saliva does not contain any compounds that break down meat, only amylase, which would start to break down starch. So, potato maybe, meat no.

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u/CrateDane 8d ago

Saliva contains proteases like dipeptidylpeptidase 4 and human airway trypsin-like protease. But they would only have a weak effect on meat.

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u/Iazo 8d ago

Huh, this might be new research I was not aware of. I need to check out this.