Q: Is there a way to make an avocado ripen faster?

A: Avocados ripen only after they're picked, so occasionally you may have to give them time to ripen at home.

The California Avocado Commission recommends putting the fruit in a paper bag and storing it at room temperature, usually for 2 to 5 days. You can speed things up by putting an apple in the bag with the avocados. Apples produce ethylene, a gas that, when concentrated in the bag, triggers the ripening process in the avocados. When the avocados yield to gentle pressure in your palm, they’re ripe.

If you can’t use ripe avocados immediately, store them in the refrigerator. They should keep for a week or more.