Avocado on toast is the perfect combination for a delicious and nutritious breakfast, although waiting for this fruit to ripen can be quite an inconvenience. If an avocado resists cutting due to its hardness, it’s not yet ripe, often taking nearly a week to reach the ideal ripeness for consumption if left to its own devices.
However, no one wants to wait this long, so chef Jeff, a culinary expert who has more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry, has claimed that ripening avocados quicker is done by storing them in a humble paper bag with certain fruits. He said: “Avocados are like the prima donnas of the produce aisle—perfectly ripe, they’re creamy and dreamy, but wait too long, and they turn into a mushy mess. Here’s the ultimate guide to ripening avocados quickly.” The chef has listed several different methods, but only one of them works the fastest without disrupting an avocado’s taste.
For this natural hack, you will need a brown paper bag and an apple or banana.
Jeff said: “This is a tried and tested method that involves using a paper bag to create a cosy, ethereal environment for your avocado.
“Place your avocado in a paper bag and fold the top to seal it. The bag traps ethylene gas – a natural ripening agent released by the fruit itself – allowing the avocado to ripen faster.”
“For added speed, throw in an apple or banana, which also releases ethylene gas and will boost the ripening process.”
Place this bag in a warm, sunny spot, like on top of the fridge or near a window. The combination of trapped ethylene gas and warmth will “hasten the ripening process” further.
The chef added: “Check daily, and you’ll have a ripe avocado in just one to two days.”
When you’re in a “real rush and need ripe avocados as soon as possible”, the oven can be your secret weapon, claimed the pro.
However, while the heat will soften the avocado, it will not have the same texture as naturally ripened fruit.
If you’re not fussed about the taste, wrap the avocado in foil and place it on a baking sheet. Bake at the lowest temperature for several minutes. Just be sure to keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking, and leave it to cool in the fridge before eating.