Ripening an avocado faster
Difficulty: Easy · Time: approx. 5 minutes
A rock-hard avocado is no disaster – you can ripen it at home. Avocados only ripen AFTER harvest, and you can deliberately speed the process up or slow it down.
The trick is the ripening gas ethylene that other fruits (apple, banana) release. Packed together in a bag, the avocado is often soft in 1–2 days.
What you'll need
- A paper bag (or newspaper)
- A ripe apple or banana
- Optional: a warm corner of the kitchen
Step by step
- 1
Check ripeness
Press gently at the stem end: if it gives slightly, it's ripe. Rock-hard = needs to ripen more.
- 2
Into the bag
Put the avocado in a paper bag with a ripe apple or banana and fold it loosely shut. The fruits' ethylene speeds up ripening.
- 3
Store warm
Keep the bag at room temperature in a warm spot (not the fridge). Check after one day.
- 4
Stop ripening
Once soft enough, put it in the FRIDGE – cold slows ripening and it keeps 2–3 days longer.
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Upload a photo →Frequently asked questions
- How fast does a hard avocado ripen?
- With the paper-bag-plus-apple/banana trick usually 1–2 days, without a ripening helper 3–5 days. Warmth speeds it up, the fridge slows it down.
- Can I save a cut avocado?
- It browns from air exposure. Drizzle with a little lemon juice, leave the stone in and store airtight in the fridge – the cut surface stays green longer.