Is your fruit ripe enough?

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Is your fruit ripe enough?

Nothing beats the taste of perfectly ripe fruit, but figuring out when your favourite fruits are at their peak can sometimes be tricky. Here's a guide to help you know when popular fruits like bananas, avocados, apples, and more are ready to eat.

First up, let’s take a look at bananas.

The signs of ripeness for a banana are firstly the colour: Bananas are ripe when they have a vibrant yellow color with a few brown specks. Completely green bananas are underripe, while bananas that are mostly brown are overripe. A ripe banana should feel firm but yield slightly to gentle pressure. And the aroma: A ripe banana will have a sweet, fruity smell.

For baking, slightly overripe bananas with more brown spots are ideal.

And if your bananas are still green, place them in a paper bag with an apple to speed up the ripening process. Most fruits emit a ripening gas called ethylene which will quicken the ripening process of your banana.

Next up are avocados.

Some sign of ripeness for avocados are the colour: Depending on the variety, ripe avocados can range from dark green to nearly black.

The firmness: A ripe avocado will yield to gentle pressure without feeling mushy.

Stem Test: Flick the small stem at the top. If it comes off easily and reveals green underneath, the avocado is ripe. If it’s brown, the avocado is overripe.

To slow down the ripening process, store avocados in the refrigerator. And to speed up ripening, place avocados in a paper bag with an apple or banana - same process as the avocado.

Speaking of apples, get a load of these apples.

To know if your apple is ripe, look for bright, vibrant colours. The base colour should be consistent without too much green or yellow. A ripe apple will feel firm and not yield to pressure. And aroma: Ripe apples have a sweet, fragrant smell.

Different apple varieties have different ripening cues, so be familiar with the specific type you are buying. And make sure to store apples in a cool place or refrigerator to keep them fresh for longer.

How about strawberries?

Ripe strawberries are uniformly red without green or white spots. They should feel firm but not hard. And aroma: A ripe strawberry will have a strong, sweet fragrance.

Strawberries do not ripen after being picked, so choose the reddest, most fragrant berries available. If you’d like to learn more about fruits that ripen before and after picking - we’ve got a video for that! Store strawberries in the refrigerator and eat them within a few days for the best flavour.

Next up is mangoes!

Ripe mangoes can be red, yellow, or orange, depending on the variety. A ripe mango will give slightly to gentle pressure and feel slightly soft at the stem end. Ripe mangoes have a sweet, fruity smell at the stem end.

To speed up ripening, place mangoes in a paper bag at room temperature. Once ripe, store mangoes in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for longer.

Peaches!

Ripe peaches have a deep yellow or orange color with a red blush. They should feel slightly soft and yield to gentle pressure. And as for the smell: A ripe peach has a strong, sweet fragrance.

Some tips: If peaches are firm, leave them at room temperature to ripen. Once ripe, store peaches in the refrigerator to prevent them from becoming overripe.

And finally, Pineapples!

A ripe pineapple has a golden yellow colour at the base. Firmness: It should feel firm but yield slightly to gentle pressure. There should be a sweet, fragrant smell at the base that indicates ripeness.

Pineapples do not ripen much after being picked, so select the ripest one available. Store pineapples at room temperature if you plan to eat them soon, or in the refrigerator to extend their freshness.

Knowing when your favourite fruits are perfectly ripe can be a delicate dance, but it’s easy when you know what to look for. By paying attention to colour, firmness, and aroma, you can enjoy fruits at their best flavour and texture. Keep these tips in mind the next time you’re selecting produce, and savour the deliciousness of perfectly ripe fruit!

What’s your favorite fruit? Let us know in the comments!