Whether you put them in your sandwiches, eat them raw, or use them to mix up a delicious bowl of guacamole, avocados are a staple in many people’s kitchen pantries. Yet, it can be surprisingly difficult to find a perfectly ripe avocado at the grocery store or farmer’s market.
Because ripe avocados only last for up to three days, many stores sell unripe avocados – which means that you’ll need to find a way to ripen them up yourself, if you hope to use them immediately. Luckily, there are a couple of ways to accomplish this, based on how unripe the fruit is.
If the avocado is not quite ripe and not hard, you can use plastic wrap and your microwave to ripen them up in two minutes flat. Cut the avocado in half vertically and remove the pit. Wrap each half in microwave-safe plastic wrap and microwave on high for two minutes.
When your avocado is cool enough to hold, run the wrapped fruit halves under cold water. This stops them from cooking, so you won’t end up with an overripe avocado. Once the fruit has cooled to your liking, proceed to use them as intended.
If your avocado is rock hard and nowhere near ripe enough to eat, you’ll need to rely upon your oven. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Without cutting into the fruit, wrap the avocado in aluminum foil, and bake on a sheet pan for ten minutes. Check for ripeness. If your avocado is very hard, this process could take up to an hour. Be sure to check every five minutes if 10 minutes in the oven doesn’t do the job. Once softened, leave the avocado in the fridge for a few minutes, until it’s cool enough to handle.
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FAQs
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Without cutting into the fruit, wrap the avocado in aluminum foil, and bake on a sheet pan for ten minutes. Check for ripeness. If your avocado is very hard, this process could take up to an hour.
Can you soften an avocado in the microwave? ›
Do not microwave your avocados or put your avocados in the oven to try to ripen them faster. If you do, the microwave or oven may soften the flesh of the fruit a little which may make it 'seem' ripe, but it isn't. The avocado will taste unripe and won't have the creaminess or buttery, nutty flavor we all know and love.
Can you leave avocados on the counter to ripen? ›
If your avocado feels hard, you can leave it out on your countertop to ripen naturally. Ideally, store this green fruit at room temperature, out of the way of direct sunlight. Over the next 4-5 days, your avocado will ripen and be ready for you to make your signature guacamole.
What to do if an avocado is not ripe? ›
If you have a bunch of rock-hard avocados but crave a sandwich with a creamy avocado spread, try putting unripe avocados in a brown paper bag for three days. Fruits release a gaseous plant hormone called ethylene that triggers the ripening process.
How to soften up a hard avocado? ›
Put an avocado in a paper bag with a banana, an apple or a kiwi and fold to seal. These fruits produce ethylene gas, a plant hormone that aids ripening. The closed brown paper bag traps the gas inside to speed up the ripening time.
How long does it take to ripen an avocado in a paper bag? ›
The basics: Put your rock-vocado in a paper bag, roll up the top and let it sit on the counter for 24 to 48 hours or until ripe (a ripe avocado is dark green-black in color, and the fruit will give slightly when gently pressed).
Can you eat a hard avocado? ›
If you're unable to tell from its bright, green look and firm skin that an avocado is unripe, the bitter or bland taste will certainly be an indication. Despite its underwhelming flavor and flesh that's as hard as the outer skin, unripe avocados aren't dangerous, so you can still go ahead and eat them.
Why is my avocado still hard after a week? ›
Bright green: If your avocado has a bright green color, this means that it is still around four to seven days from being ripe. Avocados this color will typically be hard to the touch and will need to rest on the counter for a few days—maybe even a week—before you can eat them. Underripe avocados tend to lack flavor.
Can avocados last 2 weeks in the fridge? ›
A perfectly ripe avocado is best eaten right away. If this is not possible, the best way to store ripe avocados is in the fridge for a maximum of 2 to 3 days. Any longer and the avocado may brown inside. Unripe avocados, on the other hand, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Do avocados ripen better in the fridge? ›
Until they're fully ripe, avocados should be stored at room temperature. Placing an unripe avocado in the refrigerator will slow the ripening process, but the same concept applies to ripe avocados: put them in the refrigerator to keep them at their prime ripeness for longer.
Apples, pears, peaches and other fruit can be used to ripen the avocado, too. Just store them together in a box at room temperature, or slightly warmer. Like bananas, avocados can be ripened by gently microwaving them. (Note that they become softer, but not necessarily sweeter or with a fully developed taste.)
How do you ripen an avocado hack? ›
Avocado Ripening Method A: Oven
Her proposed method: Bake your avo, swaddled in foil, at 200°F for 10 minutes (or more) until it softens. Let cool, unwrap, and slice. Foster's verdict? The texture might be ripe, but the flavor is lacking.
How to make unripe avocado taste good? ›
Got a couple hours before it's time to eat? Give sliced avocado a soak in your favorite pickling brine. The vinegar makes the avocado slightly softer, and mellows out the weird raw flavor. Stuff the pickled avocado in a burger or wrap, or chop into smaller pieces and add them to salad.
Do avocados ripen faster in the fridge or on the counter? ›
The bottom line: If you need your avocados to ripen sooner rather than later, keep them on the counter. Otherwise, for better quality, you're better off putting them in the fridge and allowing them to ripen slowly. In either case, store the ripened fruit in the fridge to extend shelf life.
Will heating an avocado ripen it? ›
If you want to ripen the fruit fast, there are a number of ways to speed up the process so you can enjoy guacamole or avocado toast. Heat avocados in the oven; place them near other high ethylene-producing fruits and vegetables; put them in a paper bag, in rice, or flour; or coat the inside with lemon or lime juice.
