Avocado is a tasty and healthy fruit. It appeared on the shelves of Russian stores relatively recently, but has already gained popularity among adherents of proper nutrition. It contains many vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. In terms of nutritional properties, it is not inferior to nuts and red fish. Its taste is ideal for salads, appetizers, sauces and main courses.
Ripe avocado has oily flesh with a delicate nutty taste and rich aroma. The unripe product is hard, crunchy and similar to raw pumpkin. A fully ripened avocado quickly deteriorates and is easily wrinkled during transportation, so it ends up green on the shelves. The fruit does not always have time to reach the desired consistency in the store. What to do if the avocado is hard, and how to ripen it at home, read the article.
Signs of a ripe avocado
Unripe avocados are not harmful to human health. It is no less healthy than ripe fruit, but less pleasant to the taste.
Ripeness is determined by:
- Blossom. In a ripe avocado, it is bright green, closer to emerald. If the fruit has a brownish tint, it means it is overripe; if it is light green, it is not ripe. It is worth considering that there are varieties that are characterized by a dark green, almost black tint.
- The peduncle. The hole under the stalk of a ripe fruit is light green, that of an unripe fruit is yellow, and that of an overripe fruit is brownish.
- The bone. It should separate easily from the pulp. If this is not the case, it means the fruit is not ripe.
- Softness. The ripe fruit is soft to the touch. If you press on it, the dents left by your fingers will quickly straighten out. Green avocado will not squash when pressed. Overripe is too soft and easily deformed.
- Aroma. If you smell the ripe fruit, you can feel a light characteristic aroma. An unripe avocado has no distinct odor.
In the oven
Before placing the avocado in the oven, it is wrapped in aluminum foil - tightly and without gaps. The temperature should be 180–200 degrees. Five minutes - and everything is ready. Don't keep it for 10-15 minutes, as some people advise, you'll just bake it! Remove the foil after cooling to avoid burning your hands.
Accelerated methods have a significant disadvantage: after heat treatment, the fruit somewhat changes its natural taste and aroma. Not everyone is happy with this turn of events. But there is no need to be afraid. Despite this, the fruit remains quite suitable for making salads, cocktails, and guacamole.
Sources used:
- https://alltravnik.ru/derevya/dozrevanie-avokado
- https://www.sympaty.net/20190519/kak-dozret-i-xranit-avokado-v-domashnix-usloviyax/
- https://kakxranit.ru/produkti/kak-xranit-avokado.html
- https://alltravnik.ru/derevya/razmyagchaem-avokado
- https://ru.m.wikihow.com/accelerate-ripening-avocado
- https://jlady.ru/domashnee-xozyajstvo/kak-hranit-avocado.html
- https://eda-land.ru/avokado/kak-dozrevaet/
- https://mschistota.ru/storage/xranit-razrezannyj-avokado.html
- https://dachamechty.ru/frukty/kak-dozret-avokado.html
- https://mschistota.ru/ovoshhi-i-frukty/kak-dozret-avokado.html
Is it possible to ripen avocados at home?
If you bought an unripe avocado, don't worry. The fruit will ripen quickly at home. Even if you just put it in the refrigerator, it will become soft and fragrant within a few days. However, there are ways that allow you to achieve the desired result much earlier.
Note! The most beneficial substances are retained in avocados that have ripened without exposure to elevated temperatures.
In a paper bag with bananas
Avocados are placed in a craft packaging bag along with ripe bananas (you can also put apples and pears). The latter emit ethylene vapors, which accelerate ripening. And craft paper holds ethylene well. You can use a plastic bag, but check the contents often. At a temperature of +22–24 degrees, the avocado can ripen in a couple of days.
Methods for ripening avocados
There are many ways to quickly achieve full ripening of avocados. Some of them require more than a day, while others allow you to get ripe and soft fruit in a few minutes.
In the microwave
It only takes 1-2 minutes to ripen the fruit in the microwave. During this time, it will become soft and acquire a creamy consistency, but the amount of nutrients in the composition will decrease.
How to speed up the ripening of avocados using the microwave:
- The fruit is washed and several holes are made in it using a fork.
- Then placed in a plastic tray. The lid is not covered.
- The container with the product is placed in a microwave oven, which is turned on for 1 minute.
- After turning off the device, the avocado is taken out and checked. If it has not reached the desired consistency, place it in the microwave for another 30 seconds. If necessary, time is added.
In the microwave, the fruit can ripen in a minute. However, in this case there is a high risk that its taste will deteriorate.
In the oven
You can soften the product using the oven. As in the case of a microwave, this exposure destroys some of the beneficial substances.
How to soften an avocado in the oven:
- The fruit is washed and several punctures are made in it with a fork.
- Wrap in foil and place in the oven. The device is set to a temperature of +200…+210°C.
- In 10 minutes. the fruit is taken out of the oven. This time is enough for it to soften.
In paper
To make avocados ripen faster at home, use a proven method. The fruit is wrapped in newspaper or paper as tightly as possible so that there is no free space left, and kept at room temperature.
Using this method, the fruit will ripen within 2-4 days. At the same time, it will retain the maximum amount of nutrients and acquire a pleasant taste and rich aroma.
In foil
You can help the fruit ripen by wrapping it in foil. In this form, it is placed in a warm place, for example, in the bottom cabinet of a kitchen unit.
Under such conditions, the fruit will ripen within 2-4 days. At the same time, its taste and composition will not change for the worse.
Advice. In winter, to speed up ripening, avocados in foil are placed near the radiator.
In boiling water
One option is to use boiling water. This method, like other heat treatment options, negatively affects the taste and healthiness of the product, but makes it ready for consumption in a few minutes.
What to do if the avocado is unripe and hard:
- Several holes or a cross-shaped incision is made in the fruit at the base.
- Place in boiling water and leave there for 5 minutes.
- Remove from boiling water and check. If it is not soft enough, boil for a few more minutes.
"Warming up" in the microwave
The method is most relevant if you need to make a ripe avocado urgently. The process takes from 20-30 seconds to 2-3 minutes, depending on the initial degree of ripeness and varietal characteristics (in particular, skin density).
The procedure is extremely simple:
- Pierce the peel in 2-3 places with a fork. If this is not done, the fruit may simply explode during “warming”, even for a short time.
- Place the fruit on a metal or glass “tray” and cover with a lid.
- Microwave on medium power for 30 seconds.
- Evaluate the result by lightly squeezing the fruit. If the flesh comes under your fingers but there is no dent in the skin when they are removed, it is ready to eat.
- Continue “warming” in the microwave in short bursts of 10-15 seconds, each time assessing the condition of the pulp.
- Allow the fruit to cool to room temperature. Peel and cut as required by recipe.
You must immediately take into account that the taste of fruits processed in this way will not be ideal, even if everything is done correctly. Many nuances and shades are lost, the “herbaceous”, “nutty”, “coniferous” and “fresh” notes for which gourmets value them.
However, for “multi-component” salads, sauces, smoothies, sushi, and sandwiches, avocados “warmed up” in the microwave are quite suitable. It’s even better if the recipe includes additives that “mask” and “complement” the main taste:
- salt;
- pepper;
- fresh herbs;
- any spices;
- vegetable oils.
The benefit practically disappears after “warming up” in the microwave. Vitamins, macro- and microelements are inevitably destroyed during heat treatment.
Storage for ripening
If there is no need to soften the fruit as quickly as possible, it is better to do it gradually. In this case, it will retain maximum nutrients and acquire a pleasant taste.
There are a few simple tricks that will help speed up the ripening of the fruit a little.
How to store an avocado so that it ripens:
- Place on the windowsill near the south window. Turn occasionally on different sides so that it softens evenly.
- Place the fruit in the same basket with apples and bananas. Store at room temperature.
- Place it near a working heating device, for example, on a newspaper under the radiator.
"Waiting" on paper
The method is sometimes called “grandfather’s” or “grandmother’s”. Although the fact that grandparents living in the USSR were familiar with avocados raises reasonable doubts.
The procedure allows you to preserve all the nuances of taste and nutrients to the maximum, but it takes time. The process takes from 2-3 to 5-7 days, depending on the initial ripeness of the fruit.
The main thing is that the paper is not glossy or waxed. A regular piece of paper or an old newspaper will do.
The washed and dried fruits, one at a time, are tightly wrapped in 2-3 layers of paper and simply left warm, for example, near a radiator, on a kitchen cabinet, or in the summer - on a south or east windowsill (but not in direct sunlight).
The change in the condition of the fruits is monitored once a day, periodically turning them from one side to the other so that the “processing” proceeds evenly. Once the flesh has softened enough, they are ready to eat.
It is necessary to think about “protection” from “encroachments” by domestic animals. Unripe fruits contain persin. This substance will not harm human health, but for pets it can be dangerous, and in large doses it can even be “deadly.”
How to ripen a cut avocado
If an already cut avocado turns out to be unripe, it can be preserved until softened without using high temperatures. To do this, the halves are smeared with lemon juice and pressed as tightly as possible against each other. Then wrap it in cling film, leaving no free areas.
In this form, the product lies at room temperature or in the refrigerator until it reaches the desired consistency.
Important! If, when wrapping the fruit in film, you leave open areas through which oxygen enters the pulp, it will spoil.
Adviсe
Despite the fact that the refrigerator is not the most suitable place for avocados, you can still store the fruit in it for a short time. Exactly as much as it takes to bring the fruit to maturity. In order for an avocado to ripen quickly, it is necessary to cut out the pit, connect the halves of the fruit together and wrap them in cling film. The fruit feels best in the vegetable compartment. But you won’t be able to store it there for too long - a maximum of two days.
If necessary, the alligator pear can even be frozen. To do this, you need to remove the skin from the unripe fruit, cut the pulp into slices and puree with a blender. The resulting puree is placed in plastic containers, sprinkled with lemon juice and frozen. They can be stored in the freezer for about three to four days without loss of taste.
So, all the secrets of how to make an avocado ripe have been revealed. But still, the alligator pear is a rather capricious fruit that does not like artificial ripening. Therefore, if possible, it is better to check the ripeness already in the store than to rack your brains about how to make an avocado ripe and not spoil it. Boiling water, cooking, roasting avocado in the oven - all these tricks can lead to the opposite effect and completely ruin the table and the mood of the eaters.
We accelerate the ripening of cut fruits
If, when choosing exotic products in the store, it was not immediately discovered that the fruit was unripe, then there is a way to speed up ripening when cut. To soften the pulp you need to remove the bone. A knife or spoon can help with this. Wrap the fruit in cling film. Place on the refrigerator shelf or take it out to the balcony (the main thing is that the temperature is not below 2°C). Leave for 2-3 days.
What to do with an unripe avocado
If the purchased specimen turns out to be unripe, do not worry. You can help him acquire the necessary appearance and taste. There are several simple ways to save the product.
Warming up in the oven
Unripe fruits must be washed, wiped, pricked with a fork in several places and wrapped in food foil. The blanks are placed in an oven preheated to 200-210 °C and left for 10-12 minutes. This method allows you to quickly soften an avocado, even if you get an unripe fruit.
Ripening with boiling water
Boiling water can quickly bring green fruit to a state suitable for consumption. The avocado needs to be peeled, cut into slices and blanched in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. After this, the liquid is allowed to drain; the fruit pulp should cool. This fruit can be used to make salads and sandwich fillings.
In the microwave
Ripening avocados in the microwave is quick and easy. The finished fruit is suitable for salad. It needs to be pricked in several places with a fork and placed in the microwave for 30 seconds. After this, lightly press on the fruit and, if the avocado needs to be softened further, repeat the procedure.
Important: high temperature processing methods are effective, but they can change the aroma and taste of the product - it will become much less pronounced.
After heating, the fruits should be allowed to cool, after which they are cut into pieces.
In polyethylene
This method of ripening is used if the fruit has already been cut, but it is impossible to use it due to insufficient ripeness.
See also: The best means to feed cherries after harvest and during ripeningRead
In this case, the stone is not removed, the halves of the fruit are sprinkled with lemon juice (so as not to darken from a large amount of iron), folded to form a whole fruit, and tightly wrapped in polyethylene. After this, it can ripen in 2-3 days. The fruit must be checked periodically; once it becomes soft, it is ready to use.
Aluminium foil
It will also help speed up the ripening of the avocado if you suddenly bought an unripe fruit. It just needs to be wrapped in foil, tightly and without open areas, and placed in a heated oven.
On the windowsill
If you have a few days left, you can ripen an avocado wrapped in foil or paper on a warm windowsill. To make the avocado soft, it should be carefully wrapped and left for several days to ripen.
Using newspaper or paper bag
Another old way to get ripe fruit. Avocados should be tightly packed in a newspaper or paper bag. In such conditions it ripens quickly, retaining its taste.
