How to Ripen Avocado Fast: Quick Tips You Need to Know

How to ripen an avocado fast.
We like avocados for their creamy texture, but when we get them from the store, they are often rock-hard. A rock-hard avocado is nothing but kind of a useless fruit. To make guacamole or avocado toast, or any other recipes, we need to have a properly ripened avocado, and it’s hard to find the perfect one at the store every time.

Avocados only begin to ripen after they’re picked from the tree, so we often need to wait for them to soften before they can be used. We have tried a lot of techniques as a test to find the best methods to ripen the avocado fast, and we have found four proven methods.

Rather than turning to one of these four tried-and-true tricks to ripen an avocado, some social media users are taking matters into their own hands to try to speed up the process.

One TikTok user claims, “This tip has saved me countless times.” Another enthusiastically declares that this hack to make avocados “officially ripe… is perfect for the ultimate procrastinators.”

And what’s the so-called secret? Let’s find out together.

How avocados ripen.

Avocados don’t ripen on the tree. Only after being picked from the tree do avocados start to ripen. Some research shows that avocados can hang on the tree without ripening.

The most effective way to ripen an avocado is simply by allowing time and patience to do the work. Placing the avocado in a warm, room-temperature area, away from direct sunlight, is the most natural method. However, there are times when you need a ripe avocado sooner than it would be ready on its own.

Avocados are classified as climacteric fruits, meaning they release a surge of ethylene gas and experience a spike in respiration when it’s time to ripen. Other climacteric fruits include bananas, pears, and tomatoes.

Ethylene is the key hormone that triggers the ripening process in climacteric fruits. To slow down ripening during shipping, avocado producers often apply a wax coating to reduce water loss, store them in cold environments, or use an ethylene-blocking agent like 1-methylcyclopropane (1-MCP).

(1-MCP) effects last for around 20 days. After that, ethylene production resumes, and avocados start ripening naturally.

4 simple ways to ripen your avocado fast.

1. Store your avocado with a banana.
   Storing an avocado with a banana can help speed up the ripening process. When you store an avocado with a banana, the banana releases ethylene gas, which is a natural plant hormone that triggers ripening. This gas accelerates the ripening process in avocados, allowing them to soften more quickly. The proximity enhances the concentration of ethylene around the avocado, making it ripen faster.

It takes 1–3 days to ripen an avocado, depending on the temperature and firmness of the environment.

2. Place it in the pantry or a warm spot.
   Refrigeration slows down the ripening process of avocados. According to research, storing avocados at 20°C (68°F) dramatically reduces ripening time compared to lower temperatures, such as 13°C (55°F), because higher temperatures encourage enhanced ethylene production. Warm conditions increase the production of this essential gas, hastening the ripening process.

Avocados are best stored in the pantry, where temperatures normally range from 10–21°C (50–70°F). Storing them in a paper bag or another warm material helps accelerate the ripening process by speeding up the conversion of starches into sugars, resulting in softer, riper fruit faster.

3. After cutting, apply cling wrap.
   If you cut an underripe avocado, press the pieces back together and wrap them in cling film before storing them in the refrigerator. According to research, coating an avocado with low-density polyethylene wax is the most effective way to reduce moisture loss, but cling wrap can also provide similar benefits. Additionally, a cut avocado continues to release ethylene and will ripen, albeit at a slower rate under cold storage.

But the best way to ripen an avocado is to keep the whole avocado uncut in a warm place.

4. Put it in a newspaper or brown bag.
   Avocados emit ethylene gas, and studies show that surrounding the fruit with ethylene-rich air increases ethylene production, which speeds up ripening. Wrapping an avocado in a newspaper or placing it in a brown paper bag helps retain this gas, creating an environment that promotes the natural chemical reactions that soften the fruit and convert starches to sugars. This process can achieve full ripening in 3–4 days.

Plastic bags, which are not as breathable as paper, may not have the same effect unless they are slightly opened to allow the avocado to “breathe.” The enclosed yet ventilated atmosphere of paper helps maintain warmth, which promotes the ripening process.

Myth debunked: Microwaving an avocado helps it ripen.

Microwaving an avocado softens it but does not help it ripen. While heat treatment can synchronize ripening in industrial settings, there is no scientific evidence to support its use at home. Ripening involves breaking down starches into sugars and releasing ethylene gas, a process disrupted by heating. As a result, a microwaved avocado is cooked, losing its creamy texture and rich flavor, and it retains fewer nutrients than a naturally ripened fruit. So, while it may seem like a quick solution for a guacamole emergency, it will not provide the same quality as a properly ripened avocado.

Bottom Line

Ripening avocados quickly can be a challenge, but with the right techniques, you can enjoy the creamy texture and rich flavor you crave. Remember that avocados only ripen after being picked, so patience is key. Effective methods include storing them with a banana to harness ethylene gas, keeping them in a warm spot or pantry, and wrapping cut pieces in cling film to maintain freshness. Using a brown paper bag or newspaper can also create an ideal environment for ripening. You can check the 12 health benefits of avocado.

Avoid the myth that microwaving will help ripen your avocado; while it may soften the fruit, it won’t replicate the natural ripening process, resulting in a subpar avocado. By following these proven methods, you can ensure that your avocados reach their optimal ripeness for guacamole, toast, or any dish you desire.