Sometimes you need to know How to soften Avocado fast! It can be tough to find perfectly ripe avocados at the grocery store. It seems like it’s only when you need them the most that all you can find are hard, unripe avocados. Planning your menu or party food around the availability of perfect avocados is inconvenient, and sometimes, when you need guacamole, you need guacamole!
We found the best ways to soften an avocado, so that you can whip up your fan-favorite chip dip whenever the mood strikes or slice a delicious, creamy avocado into your meal prep any day of the week. Here are the best ways to soften avocado:
Methods to Soften Avocado Fast
1) How To Soften Avocado In the Oven
This is the quickest way to soften and ripen your hard avocado. In just ten minutes, you can be pulling out a rich, velvety, smooth avocado perfect for smoothies, guacamole, or spreading on toast!
First, preheat your oven to 200°F. Take a whole avocado, wrap in tinfoil, and place it on a baking sheet in the oven. This method is also great because you can do as many avocados as you want, just wrap them each individually and place them on the baking sheet. Leave the avocados in the oven at 200 degrees for 10 minutes, then check. Continue to check every 3 minutes until the avocados are soft and springy when squeezed. How long they need will depend on how hard the avocados were to start with. When desired ripeness is reached, place your avocados in the fridge to cool!
Don’t worry, you are not baking the fruit, the low heat causes the avocado to release ethylene gas, which is the gas avocados produce as they ripen naturally. The tin foil traps the gas, causing the avocado to soften and ripen. Once cooled in the fridge or at room temperature, the avocado is ready to serve, slice or mash into your favorite dish.
2) Soften Avocado In a Brown Paper Bag
A classic fruit ripening technique, the brown paper bag method works especially well on avocados. Just take your avocado, place it in a paper bag, roll the bag shut and you’re done! The ethylene gas that causes avocados to ripen naturally will accumulate in the bag, concentrating the gas and speeding the softening process.
Store the bag on the counter or in a cool, dark place. This method will take your avocado from rock hard to soft, spreadable deliciousness in about four days, but keep checking back every day to see if it’s ready!
3) Soften Avocado With Another Piece of Fruit
The ethylene gas that causes avocados to soften is also produced by many other kinds of fruit as part of the ripening process, so doubling up your fruit will concentrate the gas and help your avocado soften faster. You can double up avocados, but we recommend using an apple or banana, as these fruits tend to produce a lot of ethylene gas.
Take the brown paper bag method, add a banana or apple to your paper bag with your avocado, and seal and store in the same way as above. The extra fruit will help the avocado ripen quicker, and as a bonus, your apple or banana will also ripen in the process!
4) Soften Avocado In a Bag of Flour
Take a brown paper bag and fill the bottom with a layer of flour. Then put your avocado in the paper bag and cover the avocado in flour. Roll the bag shut and store it on the counter, checking every day for softness.
Burying the avocado in flour like this will help speed the softening process. The process helps by concentrating the amount of ethylene gas, as well as protecting the avocado from bruises and mold. The flour will absorb moisture as the avocado softens, preventing bruises, dark spots, and mold for a rich, creamy, soft avocado!
5) How to Soften Avocado In the Microwave
Try the microwave method for quick results when you need to use your avocado ASAP. Whether you forgot to make the guac for that party you promised to go to, or your meal prep just won’t be the same without delicious avocado on your salad, this is the method for you!
First, cut the avocado in half lengthwise and remove the pit. Take microwave-safe plastic wrap and wrap each half of the avocado loosely but securely. Microwave on medium-high for 30-second intervals, until desired softness is achieved. Check after each 30-second interval and rotate to distribute heat. Once they’re done, stick them in the fridge to cool before serving or adding to recipes.
6) Soften Avocado In a Blender
If your avocado has that creamy flavor but is not quite the right texture, try throwing it in the blender or food processor. Take your avocado, cut it in half, scoop out the pit, and add the flesh to a blender. Blitz or blend until your avocado is the desired texture. You can get a smooth or chunky result from blending, depending on how long you leave your avocado in the blender or food processor.
Your newly creamy avocado is now ready to use! You can add it to a smoothie, salad dressing, or make a decadent avocado dessert in the blender! Add tomatoes and onions to make guacamole or spread on toast with a little salt for quick, easy avocado toast.
