Guacamole cravings can come unannounced. When they do, the likely obstacle to pleasing your appetites could be unripe avocados. Yes, that’s how they usually arrive at the grocery store.
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But don’t fret, we’ve found a way around it. Ride along and see how you can ripen the hardest avocados in just 10 minutes.
Nature Does It Best
Truth be told, the best way to ripen avocados is naturally. We’ve got to mention that. A number of factors influence the natural ripening of fruits. Two of these are temperature and humidity.
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As fruits develop, they release a gaseous compound called Ethylene which conducts the ripening operation. Artificial ripening only mimics this process with the use of non-natural chemicals.
But Nature Takes Time
While we acknowledge that nature should take its course, we do not always have the luxury of time. Avocados generally take four to seven days to ripen and that’s too long to wait before you can make that sumptuous guacamole.
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However, avocados and other fruits are best harvested before they ripen due to the time it would take to transport them from the farms to the market. Sellers don’t want to risk having the fruits ripen and spoil on the way.
How Do We Identify Ripe Avocados?
There’s still a good chance of spotting ripe avocados in the stores. But that’s if you can tell them apart from the unripe ones. So here’s how.
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Generally, the best indicators of ripeness are color and firmness. Ripe avocados are firm when touched but push back a little under little pressure. They are dark green too. The black and mushy ones are overripe while the dark green but rock-hard ones aren’t yet ripe. But in case you end up with the unripe ones, don’t worry.
How to Ripen Avocados From Your Kitchen Counter
If you are stuck with unripe avocados, there’s a way out. You can get them to ripen faster way on your kitchen counter.
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First, look for a good spot on the counter that’s exposed to sunlight. Then, set the avocado in a bowl and place it to receive direct sun rays. Your avocados will ripen after a few days depending on how ripe they already are.
How to Ripen Avocados in a Paper Bag
Another way to ripen avocados is by using a paper bag. Wrap them in the bag to block out any entrance of air. They will ripen after three to four days or even less.
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Sealing the avocados in the bag helps trap the ethylene gas and consequently causes it to focus on ripening the fruits.
Alternatively, You Can Add Other Fruits
Another idea is to place the avocados in the bag along with other fruits like bananas and apples that produce the ripening gas. The gas from the avocados, in addition to those from the other fruits, will form a stronger alliance and ripen the avocados even faster.
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The fruit should ripen before 2 days, but make sure you check the avocados every 12 hours so as not to be caught unawares.
How to Ripen Avocados in 10 Minutes
Even 2 days can seem like an eternity when you are craving guacamole. So, how about 10 minutes? Awesome right? The oven can get the job done.
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Place your avocados in the oven but after preheating to 200 degrees and wrapping the fruits in foil paper. Then put the avocados on a baking sheet for 4 to 10 minutes depending on how soft it was. Afterward, give the fruit some time to relax before placing it in the fridge to cool better.
Can Microwaves Ripen Avocados?
Yes, they can, but at a great cost. Although microwaves will ripen and soften avocados even faster than ovens, you run the risk of ending up with a bad-smelling and mushy fruit.
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However, some microwave fans have revealed a way to get the avocados ripe without the negative side effects. They say to cut the avocados in halves, wrap them in microwave-safe plastic wraps, and heat them for only two minutes before cooling them under running water. But do you want to risk it?
How to Store Avocados
Sometimes your avocados can get ripe before you need them to. But there’s a way to preserve them. If they are at their prime, you can store them safely in the fridge. In there, the coldness helps slow down their ripening.
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If you want to store an avocado that has been cut, simply retain the pit in the part you want to preserve. You can also apply lemon juice and cover it with a plastic wrap.
What Else Can I Do With Ripe Avocados?
People are usually at a loss about how useful avocados can be in the kitchen. However, contrary to popular belief, avocados can be used for a whole lot.
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Avocados are applicable for salads, especially if you are looking for the right protein contributor, salsa, burger toppings, and party dips. You can also use them in sushi rolls as the Japanese do or added to smoothies.
Get Even More Creative
You can get even more creative by using the fruit in scrambled eggs. Just add diced avocados to your egg while it cooks in the pan for that new flavor and additional color.
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Interestingly, avocados can stand in perfectly for mayo and sour cream. This fruit can serve as bread and pancake ingredients. Feel free to explore.
