Garum
Experimentbeginnerdraft

An apple ripens avocados

Also searched as: ripening avocados, ethylene experiment, avocado paper bag

In short: A hard avocado in a paper bag with an apple softens a day or two sooner than one on its own.

Picture it

Like a contagious yawn: one ripe fruit gets the others going.

Before · Afterday 1
with apple in bag
on its own
Schematic
You need · 1–3 days
  • two equally hard avocados
  • an apple
  • a paper bag

How it’s done

Sequence · Step 1 of 3
123

Put one avocado in the paper bag with the apple and close it.

All steps as a list
  1. Put one avocado in the paper bag with the apple and close it.
  2. Leave the other avocado uncovered next to it.
  3. Gently squeeze both each day and compare.

What you see

The avocado in the bag gives noticeably sooner, after one to three days.

Why it happens

The apple gives off the ripening gas . It collects in the bag and starts the avocado ripening sooner.

Related entries
Storing fruit properlyFruit
Sources · 1
  • Harold McGee: On Food and Cooking (2004), Kapitel Früchte: Reifung