How to Accelerate the Ripening of Avocados

Avocados are a fruit -- not a vegetable.

Avocados are tasty and healthful when eaten whole or mashed into guacamole. Test for ripeness by gently squeezing the fruit -- a ripe, desirable avocado is firm and gives slightly when pressed. Avocados do not ripen on trees -- only after harvest. Most avocados purchased in the U.S. are the Hass variety. The skin turns deep-green or black when ripe. Other types remain light-green when ripe. Most avocados sold in markets are not ripe. They will ripen naturally after you take them home, but you can also accelerate the ripening process. Does this Spark an idea?

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Avocados
Apple or banana
Brown paper bag
Lemon or lime juice (for storing)

Instructions

- 1
  
  Avocados will not ripen in the refrigerator.
  
  Determine when you want to eat the avocados. The ripening process can be altered depending on how soon you want to use them.
- 2
  
  Place unripened avocados in a brown paper bag. Seal the bag and store the avocados at room temperature. They will ripen in 2 to 5 days. Avocados will ripen in 1 to 3 days if you add one banana or apple to the paper bag. Apples and bananas give off ethylene gas, which speeds-up ripening. The brown paper bag traps the gas.
- 3
  
  Store uncut ripe avocados in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Place ripened, sliced avocados in an airtight container. Squeeze lemon or lime juice on the flesh of the fruit to prevent browning. Seal and refrigerate 2 to 3 days. The fruit will lose its much of its flavor after a couple of days.
- 4
  
  Freeze avocados if you want them to keep longer. For the best results, puree avocados before freezing. Place peeled avocados in a food processor or blender. Add 1 tbsp. of lemon or lime juice for each avocado. Place the pureed avocado in an air-tight container. Use the avocado puree within 4 to 5 months of freezing.

Tips & Warnings

Do not use a microwave to accelerate the ripening process.
Whole, sliced or mashed avocados do not have as desirable of a result as pureed avocados when frozen.
Thoroughly wash avocados before slicing and serving to remove dirt and pesticide residue.