How to Ripen an Avocado Fast

Last week was my dad's birthday and since he always seems to be on a health kick when I want to bake him stuff, I decided to make the most amazing fat-free chocolate cake ever - don't worry, I'll be sharing the recipe with you soon! The fat-free cake was easy enough to make, but I was struggling to come up with a solution for a healthy frosting recipe.

How to Ripen Avocados in the Oven Fast - super-simple tutorial that shows you how to fully ripen avocados in the oven in less than one hour! Perfect for mashed avocado on toast for breakfast or guacamole for lunch or dinner!

Then it came to me. I've made the best ever skinny chocolate mousse before by combining blended avocado with melted chocolate and decided to base the frosting on that - this time by combining blended avocado, simple syrup and cocoa powder. The only problem was my avocados were rock solid. I didn't have time to let the avocados ripen naturally, so I needed a quick fix.

After asking Google "can you ripen avocados in the oven?" I found out you can! The results were way better than I had hoped for - perfectly ripened avocados in less than one hour. I had to let the avocados cool down, but after that I had perfectly ripe avocados to throw into my food processor and blend to make the most gorgeous silky smooth (and healthy!) chocolate frosting.

How to ripen an avocado in the oven

So if you ever need to ripen avocados fast, here is what you need to do:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400F/200C.
  2. Wrap each of the avocados individually in tin foil.
  3. Place the avocados into the preheated oven and leave them for around 15 minutes for small avocados, 30 minutes for medium avocados and 45 minutes for large avocados. Prod the avocados when you think they're done. If they're fairly soft and squidgy, they're ready.
  4. Remove the avocados from the oven and leave them to cool to room temperature before peeling and using. Alternatively, if you need the avocados hot, use them straight away! But be careful and don't burn yourself opening the foil.

The question"can you ripen avocados in the microwave?" also came up when I was searching and although I can't say for sure, I've never had any luck with this method. Instead of ripening the avocados, the microwave just seemed to turn the room temperature hard avocado flesh into hot hard avocado flesh, which is of no use to anyone.

If you've got any other methods of how to ripen avocados fast, I'd love to hear them! Let me know in the comments below.

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About Nicola

I’m Nicola, the face behind Happy Healthy Motivated – your go-to guide to becoming your best you!
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  1. Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg

    Nicola - What a great tip! My boyfriend is the guacamole expert in my life, so he's always very particular about what avocados he buys from the store. I'll have to let him know about this trick. He'll be happy!

    • Nicola Quinn

      Thank you so much, Erin. I've previously ripened up hard avocados by leaving them out in the sun, but this has taken me up to a whole week before. I was so happy when I came across this quick method that I just had to share it!

  2. Melissa

    Wow! I have never heard of this method before! I will definitely have to try it!

    • Nicola Quinn

      It works so well and so quickly - it's my go-to ripening method now, Melissa! 🙂

  3. Darlene Nemeth

    Hi Nicola,Thanks for the great tip. I'll definitely let my daughter know about it. She loves avocados. Also pinning. Best wishes, Darlene

    • Nicola Quinn

      Thank you so much, Darlene! I hope your daughter finds it useful 🙂

  4. Denise Wright

    This may be the best tip ever! I have a recipe that I need avocado for today and I dreaded the thought of running to different stores looking for a ripe one...so cool! (found you on creative ways)

    • Nicola Quinn

      Thank you so much, Denise! This tip really will save you loads of time 🙂

  5. Diana Rambles

    I had no idea!! I will definitely be doing this!

    • Nicola Quinn

      It really is an awesome trick, Diana.

  6. Krissy @ Pretty Wee Things

    This is such a great idea! I am always trying to ripen avocados quickly as I use them instead of butter for my son. Thank you!!!

    • Nicola Quinn

      Thanks so much, Krissy! This tip has helped me so much since I discovered it. I hope it helps you, too!

  7. All that's Jas

    Very useful tip! I can't wait to see what you'll share next at Thursday Favorite Things. Hugs!

  8. Miz Helen

    What great information to have! Your post is awesome and thank you so much for sharing it with Full Plate Thursday.
    Happy Spring!
    Miz Helen

  9. Kyra

    This is a really handy tip to know, thanks Nicola! I usually place hard avocadoes in the fruit bowl with bananas and within a day or two they are pretty ripe 🙂 but if I don't have that long to wait, next time I'll follow your oven instructions!

    • Nicola Quinn

      What a coincidence - my mother-in-law was just wondering whether putting unripe avocados next to bananas would work! Thanks for letting me know, Kyra 🙂

  10. Lara

    Wow! Good to know! I always have a hard time picking and buying avocados for my specific needs. I usually guess wrong. ha

    • Nicola Quinn

      You're not the only one who guesses wrong, Lara. That's how I came across this tip!

  11. Nikki Frank-Hamilton

    This is great! Seems that avocados in the grocery are either too ripe or too hard, way too hard. I have a few on my counter ripening now! Thanks for sharing this, pinning so I don't forget.

    • Nicola Quinn

      Thanks, Nikki! I hope this tip helps you as much as it helped me 🙂

  12. Maple Sugar

    Usually the avocados I find in Canada where I live to be pretty hard at the store. This is such a great tip for those times where you don't buy them three days in advance of when you want to use them!!
    Maple Sugar from sisterswives.com

    • Nicola Quinn

      Thanks so much, Maple Sugar! It would definitely speed up the three-day ripening process!

  13. Theresa

    I tried this today. Total fail!! The avocados looked amazing. Good color and easy to cut open and scoop out. But they tasted horrible. They were rubbery and tasted like rubber tires smell!! Ruined 3 avocados!!!

    • Nicola Quinn

      Hi Theresa,
      So sorry to hear this didn't work out for you!
      I've tried this ripening method loads of times and was inspired to share it by the huge success people have had with it online. Next time, maybe try what one of my readers suggested - placing hard avocados in the fruit bowl with bananas.

  14. Cathy

    You can also put the avocado in a sealed brown paper bag overnight. It is not as quick as the oven method, but you will have a ripe avocado quicker this way than allowing them to ripen on their own.

  15. kelly

    Do you have to use them right away or can you put them in the fridge until the next day to make guacamole?

    • Nicola

      You can do either - I've used them straight away whilst warm and popped them in the fridge to chill for a couple of days before using. Enjoy your guacamole!

  16. Lisa | Garlic + Zest

    Why have I never heard of this? I'm constantly wanting avocado, but the dang things are NEVER ready when I am! I'm trying this today!

  17. Platter Talk

    Thanks for this advice. I have had many moments when I could have used this method!

    • Nicola

      Glad I could help! 🙂

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