The only downside to avocados is their ripening time. They’ve earned a reputation for being finicky: They’re rock-hard when you buy them at the store, seem to take forever to soften, and then pass their prime in an instant. Luckily, there’s a trick that minimizes the time they need to ripen.
Paper Bag It
Here’s what to do: Place the avocado in a brown paper bag, such as a grocery bag or lunch bag, along with a ripe, yellow banana. It’s OK if the banana is slightly speckled, but it shouldn’t be overripe or mushy. Close the bag by folding the top over two or three times, then wait.
Bananas produce high amounts of ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening process of nearby climacteric fruits — those that continue to ripen after being picked. Unfortunately, you’ll still need to wait up to five days, depending on the ripeness of the avocado you started with. But two to three days seem to be the norm — there’s no way to ripen an avocado in a day, sadly. Remember to check the bag daily so you can use the avocado at peak ripeness.
Tips and Cautions
If you don’t have a banana handy, you can also use a ripe apple for a similar effect. For best results, choose a McIntosh, Fuji, Gala, or Red Delicious apple over a Granny Smith.
Be careful not to forget about your bag of ripening produce. Place it on the counter or somewhere in your line of sight, not in the back of the pantry. The last thing you want is a bag of mushy avocado and banana haunting your kitchen.
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More Avocado Hacks
Use a whisk to simultaneously scoop the avocado out of its peel and cut it into small pieces. This trick really comes in handy if you’re making guacamole or another avocado dish for a crowd.
Keep guacamole and cut avocados green by brushing them with lemon or lime juice, or artfully decorating them with a thin layer of lime slices. Avocados turn brown quickly because of oxidation, which occurs when enzymes in the fruit react with oxygen molecules. The citric acid in citrus acts as a barrier that slows this browning process. Plus, avocados and citrus taste great together, so it’s a win-win.
