How to Gas Ripen an Avocado

A ripe avocado feels firm in your hand, but if you press your fingers into the skin, you should feel it give slightly to the pressure. If an avocado feels rock hard when you squeeze it, it is not ripe enough to eat. Use the natural occurrence of ethylene gas to ripen an avocado. The process is simple, and within a few days, the avocado will be deliciously ripe and ready to prepare.

Small paper lunch bag
Banana or apple

Instructions

- 1
  Place up to two or three avocados into the paper lunch bag.
- 2
  Add an unpeeled banana or apple to the lunch bag. Adding the fruit increases the amount of ethylene gas that will accumulate in the bag.
- 3
  Roll the top edge of the lunch bag down tightly to seal the bag completely just above the items.
- 4
  Set the bag aside on a counter at room temperature -- between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 5
  Check the avocados after two days to assess them for ripeness. If the avocados yield to a gentle squeeze, they are ready to eat. If they still feel firm, return them to the bag and seal it tightly again.
- 6
  Remove the avocados from the bag when they feel slightly soft -- the ripening process generally takes between two and five days, according to the California Avocado Commission.

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