How to Ripen a Fruit and Vegetable
It is hard to hold a fruit or veggie and know when it is perfect, literally ripe for the (cooking) picking. How to Ripen a Fruit and vegetable Biting into a piece of fruit that bugs too mushy or still hard drives no one. Certain fruits, such as avocados and watermelons, can be difficult to judge whether or not they are good without cutting deep into the thick skin.
YouTube Video:
The Frustration of Overripe or Unripe Produce
Who hasn’t wasted time trying to cut into an overripe watermelon that’s gone way past its prime… or wrestling with the pit of a barely ripe avocado? There are some simple tips for ripening fruit and tricks that you can follow to avoid these all too common issues, ensuring your fresh buys remain perfectly ripe.
How to Ripen a Fruit and Vegetable: Probably the oldest — and simplest — test to know if a watermelon is ripe focuses on your knuckles. It is a habit of people to knock on watermelons with straws from brooms. When you knock on the fruit, it will make a hollow sound if ripe; otherwise, it makes a dull thud that might be overripe or under ripe. This is one of the many ripening fruit techniques you can use.
The Secret to Choosing a Perfect Avocado
If you want to be sure your avocados are ripe, there is a trick—and it has nothing to do with how the fruit looks. This little avocado chip of sorts tells the time spent on its limbs and can reveal whether or not a piece is ripe when unripe. Here’s how:
Check the Stem: Gently pull on the stem. If it doesn’t come off easily, the avocado isn’t ripe yet. Leave it for someone else—it will be ready soon but isn’t quite there yet. Examine the Color Beneath the Stem: If the stem comes off easily, check the color underneath. A brown tint means the avocado is overripe, likely with those unappealing brown patches inside. In this case, it’s best to pass on it. Look for Green: If the area beneath the stem is green, this is a good sign. It indicates that the avocado is perfectly ripe and ready for your guacamole. This is an essential step in how to ripen avocados properly.
What to Do When You Can’t Find a Ripe Avocado
Sometimes you may not have much choice in the supermarket, and not all avocados are overripe or ripe enough. Don’t worry—there’s a simple life hack that will help with accelerate fruit ripening and make the season ripen faster.
Ripening Fruit Techniques: Get a Green Avocado: Choose an unripe avocado. Wrap in Foil: Preheat your oven to 200ºF. Wrap the avocado in foil, ensuring there are no air holes. This is crucial because you want to ripen the fruit, not bake it. Bake for 10 Minutes: Place the wrapped avocado in a ceramic dish and put it in the oven for about 10 minutes.
The heat from the oven helps release ethylene gas, the natural pigment that makes avocados ripen. The foil traps air, speeding up the process, so ripen fruits quickly will be ready for your guacamole sooner. This method is one of the best ways to ripen fruit rapidly.
Enjoy Avocados Year-Round
With this little-known life hack, you can enjoy perfectly ripe avocados any time of year, regardless of season. Say goodbye to the disappointment of an undercooked or overcooked avocado and say hello to perfectly cooked, creamy goodness every time.
If you find this article helpful, please share it with your friends and family, and subscribe to our newsletter for more fruit ripening tips and tricks for choosing and preparing the best fruits and vegetables. Learn more about how to ripen vegetables and quick fruit ripening methods to keep your produce at its best.
