Avocados' short peak ripeness window means they are underripe one day but overripe the next. By understanding how avocados ripen, we can find ways to hurry up the process.
By placing the avocados in a bag alongside another ripe fruit, the trapped ethylene gas can quicken the ripening process, allowing you to enjoy your avocado as soon as possible.
Place avocados and one or two ripe bananas into a paper bag. Close the bag, fold the top, and leave it on the kitchen counter. The avocado should become ripe in a day or two.
Ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone, plays a significant role in ripening. Some fruits release more ethylene gas as they ripen, but most fruits release specific amounts.
A group of fruits called climacteric fruits will ripen faster if exposed to an external source of ethylene. Avocados, along with apples, kiwis, and bananas, are part of this group.