How to quickly ripen an avocado

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of preparing a meal, only to realize that the avocado you bought is still rock hard? Perhaps you had planned a scrumptious guacamole for your dinner party, but your avocados are stubbornly unripe. Don’t worry; you’re not alone in this situation. Many home cooks face the challenge of using avocados that just aren’t ready yet, and the good news is there are effective ways to accelerate the ripening process.

To quickly ripen an avocado, place it in a paper bag with an apple or banana for 1-3 days. The ethylene gas produced by the other fruit helps speed up the ripening process.

If you’re looking to ripen an avocado quickly, using ethylene-producing fruits is a great method. Here’s how it works: avocados naturally produce ethylene gas as they ripen, and this gas can further accelerate the process when combined with other ethylene-producing fruits like apples or bananas. Simply place your unripe avocado in a paper bag along with one of these fruits. Fold the bag tightly to trap the ethylene gas inside, and leave it at room temperature. Check the avocado daily; it should soften within 1 to 3 days, depending on how unripe it was to start with. This method is not only effective but also a preferred choice among many home cooks looking for a quick fix without resorting to microwave hacks or other less ideal solutions.