Avocados are the perfect creamy addition to breakfast or to add to a sandwich but it can be frustrating trying to cut into the fruit only to discover it is still hard and unripe.
If you have a recipe you wish to try out and need to ripen an avocado quickly then it can be done, but make sure to keep it far away from heat as it will ruin the taste.
The experts at The Avo Tree have shared that people often cook their avocados in the oven to soften them up, but after trying it out, they discovered it ruins the texture and taste of the fruit.
They said: “We were left with hot and gooey avocados with an uneven texture. Far from the desired smooth, creamy whip one dreams of when making guacamole.”
Placing an unripe avocado in warm temperatures only softens the flesh which will result in a rubbery and mushy avocado that will taste bland.
Ripening is a natural process that is done to convert starches into sugar in the fruit, which creates the rich creamy flavour avocados are known for.
If you wish to ripen avocados without ruining the flavour then it can be done naturally, as all you really need is a banana or apple.
Both bananas and apples produce a high amount of ethylene gas, a plant hormone that helps ripen fruit and when too much of this gas is trapped in one place it will accelerate ripening.
All you need to do is store your avocados with a banana or apple in a paper bag, or another small container that can be covered.
The expert said: “It’s perhaps not surprising that the paper bag technique came out on top as the number one method to quickly ripen an avocado. The science behind the magic is simply hard to beat.
“Bananas and apples release a juicy amount of natural ethylene gas, the gas that assists in the natural ripening process of avocados.”
Make sure the paper bag is closed tightly at the top or your container has a lid to make sure air cannot escape.
Place the paper bag at room temperature in a cupboard or drawer away from sunlight, as the heat can damage the fruit to ruin the texture.
After a day or two your avocados will be soft and perfectly ripe to eat while still maintaining its delicious flavour.
This method does take longer than using an oven but is guaranteed to keep avocados tasting fresh and delicious as any heat cooks the fruit and ruins the flavour.
The expert said: “While some of the quickie methods do technically make your avocado softer in a matter of minutes, it’s not the kind of creamy texture that makes your avocado on toast pop.
“In reality, the quickest and best way to ripen an avocado is going to take a couple of days (and a spot of patience).”
