|
[1] Almost ripe, but not quite. Stick them in the microwave! (photo © Waldemar Brandt | Unsplash).
[2] Hard avocados? The microwave awaits! (photo © Erol Ahmed | Unsplash).
[3] Turn your now-soft avocados into bacon-avocado-tomato crostini, delicious with a glass of wine or with an appetize Here’s the recipe (photo © Calvo Growers).
|
|
February 23rd is National Banana Bread Day.
To ripen bananas or any fruit more quickly, most of us know the trick:
Enclose them in a paper bag with an apple.
Apples give off ethylene gas, which hastens ripening. The fruit could be ready by the next day.
But what if you need to use the bananas now, to bake banana bread or banana cream pie, or whip up a banana pudding with Nilla Wafers?
Ditto when you need to quickly ripen avocados for guacamole or avocado toast.
The answer is: microwave them.
IMMEDIATE RESULTS RIPENING HACKS
To Ripen Bananas
Pierce an unripe banana with a fork (as with with a potato), and microwave for a minute or two.
You’ll have to judge based on the ripeness of the bananas at hand.
Microwave for less time if the bananas are further down the road to ripeness.
The pulp will turn soft and sweet, perfect for mashing.
To Ripen Avocados
Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. Wrap each half in plastic wrap.
Microwave on high for two minutes.
Remove and hold the wrapped avocados under cold water to stop the cooking.
MORE TIPS
How To Ripen Bananas
How To Ripen Fruit
How To Keep Produce Fresher, Longer
KNOW YOUR FOODS
THE HISTORY OF BANANAS
THE HISTORY OF AVOCADOS
|
