Does ripe equal less acid?

[Piccolina]

Hi all,

I have a question...am I correct in thinking that as fruits and vegetables ripen they loose some of their natural acidity? (Obviously other chemicals increase/decrease or develop the riper a piece of produce becomes, too.)

Thanks for any thoughts

 

[AlexR]

Yes, organoleptically, but not in real terms.

Factors at play:
- percentage of sugar
- percentage of acidity

The acidity level stabilizes fairly early in the growing season and does not change.
Therefore, the more the fruit ripens, and the greater the proprtion of sugar and pulp, the sweeter the fruit will be, and the less acidity will come through on the palate - even though the actual level of acid has not decreased.

Best regards,
Alex R.

 

[Piccolina]

Hi Alex,

Thanks so much for your answer! I was not aware of this important difference, and had been lead to believe that the decline in acid was in fact a "real process" that the fruit/veg went through as it ripened.