Ripen hard avocados to make them soft and creamy with 10-minute hack chef loves

Tracking down that perfectly ripened avocado at the supermarket can feel like a near-impossible task. More often than not, they're either so overripe they're beginning to collapse or so underripe they could double as a doorstop. The former is clearly a lost cause - just picture those dreadful dark patches lurking beneath the skin. The latter, however, are salvageable. You simply need to know the best method to ripen them.

So don't despair; if you're desperately in need of an avocado, HelloFresh has come to the rescue. Chef and senior recipe developer at HelloFresh Mimi Morley advised, "If you've gone to knock up your tea to realise your avocados are solid, don't worry. There's a 10-minute hack that'll result in a ripe avocado."

Mimi said, "Dubbed the 'fake ripening tip' this hack is made for people in a pinch. You simply boil the kettle, fill a bowl, and then add an avocado that's tightly wrapped in foil."

One handy tip is to pierce the avocado with a sharp knife before submerging it and ensure it's wrapped snugly so no water can seep through.

After just 10 minutes, a rock-hard avocado will turn delightfully soft, perfect for use in all your favourite dishes. Whether you fancy mashing or slicing, it's ready to go.

Mimi continued, "This hack is ideal if you need a 'ripe' avocado straight away. But if you're not, it's not recommended."

Once the avocado cools, the texture can turn somewhat chewy, and the taste isn't as nutty and delicious as a naturally ripened one. If you have a little more time, ripen your avocado in a paper bag with a banana or apple.

Both release ethylene gas, which acts as a ripening agent to accelerate the process. Mimi advised, "If you can wait a day or two, popping your avocado in a bag with a fruit that releases ethylene really speeds up the ripening. It also doesn't impact the texture or flavour, as it's an all-natural technique."

When purchasing avocados at the supermarket, keep an eye out for signs they're close to being ripe, such as a dark green or nearly black colour, a green nub beneath the stem and a slightly squishy feel.