Avocado lovers across the UK have been given a definitive guide to achieving the perfect, creamy texture at home, as food specialists reveal a surprisingly simple storage technique.
The Science Behind the Perfect Avocado
Finding a ready-to-eat avocado in the supermarket is a notoriously difficult task. Most are sold firm and underripe, requiring patience at home. Unlike many other fruits, avocados do not ripen on the tree and must be picked first. Even then, they can stubbornly remain hard for days.
The key to speeding up this process lies in a natural plant hormone called ethylene gas. According to the experts at Good Food, avocados produce this gas themselves, which stimulates the ripening process. While bananas and apples also release ethylene, simply placing them next to an avocado isn't the most effective method.
The 'Best Way' to Ripen Your Fruit
So, what is the most reliable technique? The specialists advise that the 'best way' to ripen an avocado is to place the fruit inside a paper bag or a cloth bag alongside a banana.
This clever hack works by trapping the ethylene gas that both fruits emit, creating a concentrated environment that encourages the avocado to soften. Once ripe, the avocado will keep for approximately two days on the countertop, or up to four days in the refrigerator before it begins to spoil.
The team at Good Food issued a clear warning against seeking shortcuts, stating: "There's no quick fix, you can't ripen them in the microwave or oven. Nothing will ripen an avocado at home except ethylene."
How to Salvage an Underripe Avocado
If you've already cut into an avocado only to find it's disappointingly firm, all is not lost. The experts outline three practical ways to salvage your meal.
The first method is to simply reassemble the two halves and leave them to continue ripening on your kitchen counter. Alternatively, you can blend the firm flesh into a smoothie, ideally with a little added liquid. Using it in cooked dishes, such as frying or baking, is another excellent option.
They also addressed a common concern: if your avocado flesh has unappealing brown streaks, this is typically not due to mishandling. This discolouration is often caused by problems with storage temperatures before the fruit reached your home.
