Get ripe avocados without having to wait an eternity.

Avocadosare great , right ? They ’re high in levelheaded fats , low in carbs , and stacked withtons of superfood vitamins and mineral , include morehangover - curing potassiumthan a banana . Plus , they ’re delicious when they ’re skilful and good — which , sadly , does n’t always happen .

hope to defy nature ’s slow outgrowth , I test five coarse get - ripe - spry fast one on six innocent , equally unripe Hass avocado purchased from the same market . After subjecting each to a different ripening method , I evaluated   the results in terms of color , texture , and taste to see which skew-whiff theory produced the most perfectly full-blown fruit . Because we want guacamole , and we want it now .

Method 1: Paper bag it

Wait time:2.5 daysThe possibility : turn out brown paper grip are n’t just for disguising 40s . Since avocado course free a ripen agent called ethene gas , trapping the small green guy wire in a theme pocketbook speeds up maturation by essentially hotboxing it . This should take about two days , which is true kind of slow but worth a effort . The verdict : When test , the bagged avocado was just slightly tart than a normal advanced avocado pear but , on the upside , had a pleasant , buttery relish and smooth , even consistence throughout . If you ’ve got the time , this seems to be a moderately foolproof method acting .

Method 2: Add fruit

await time:2.5 daysThe possibility : Apparently orchard apple tree and bananas also emit lots of ethene , so toss off one of them into the Persea Americana ’s bag is say to expedite the ripening unconscious process even further . I let each bag , one with a banana tree and one with an apple ,   sit for the same amount of time as the Persea Americana - only translation ( about two and a half day ) so I could well compare their comparative ripeness . The finding of fact : Unfortunately , these two were a act paler and less flavorful than I ’d hoped , with a little vegetal bitterness and a more spoonful - resistant texture . Given the postponement clock time , neither the apple nor the banana tree appear to make much of a conflict here , besides turn the skin a cool , occult cherry-red hue ( because science = magic ) .

Method 3: Add flour

Wait time:2.5 daysThe theory : Burying an alligator pear in flour sounds flakey , certain , but the estimate seems to hold back out . The flour + paper bag combo work to both concentrate the Persea Americana ’s own ethene gas and hook up any residual moisture , keep the yield free of cast and from bruising while it ripen . The verdict : A surprisingly great manoeuvre ! Though the two - daytime waiting period is n’t idealistic ( and also is kind of how long it takes for an avocado to ripen on the retort ? )   the flour - method avocado descend out rich , creamy , and observably tasty than all the rest ( albeit a spot dusty ) .

Method 4: Nuke it

Wait time : About 45 secondsThe theory : According to microwave enthusiasts , a 30- to 60 - second spin in the zapper is the fastest mode to soften up an unripe Persea Americana . This seemed like a terrible theme when I first came across it — mostly because everyone else who tried it also guess it was a terrible idea . But , in the name of news media , I gave it a shot . The finding of fact : Forty - five   seconds in the microwave oven grow a strange - smelling yield with contuse frame and a noticeably inconsistent steadiness . While easier to take up and not quite as foul - degustation as I ’d expected , the spotty texture and gnarly olfactory property were more than enough to govern out this method acting . On to the next one .

Method 5: Bake it

Wait time : About 10 minutesThe theory : The oven method has a hard following amongst kitchen - hacking YouTubers , so I work out there must be some merit to it ( or , at the very least , it would kick the microwave ’s shag ) . The illusion involves wrapping the avo in tin foil then baking it for 10 minutes at 200 degrees . Chemistry - wise , it ’s similar to the gas - catch report bag / hotbox method , just accelerated by a hint of heat . The verdict : This was by far the least good measure . After 10 minutes , the avocado was still immature and almost sharply immature , with abysmal soap - ability and a blindingly bright , tangy perceptiveness . Nope .

Conclusion

The flour method acting produced the best - tasting , creamy , and perfectly advanced avocado . However , the difference between all the paper - bag avocados was negligible at safe and none of them drift importantly from the medium avocado ’s natural , old bag - free ripening process over the same span . And heating up an avocado is straight filthy , not to mention inefficient . The takeaway ? Nature prevails yet again and good things come in to those who wait , etc . etc .

freshly opened avocado

Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist

opened ripened avocado

Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist

apple ripened avocado in a bag

Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist

flour ripened avocado in a bag

Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist

what happens to avocado ripened in microwave

Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist

oven ripened avocado ripened in an oven

Cole Saladino/Thrillist