What is the fastest and easiest way to ripen kiwifruit? Sharing 4 tips for ripening and storing

Kiwifruit, also known as Chinese gooseberry, has rich nutritional value, especially for women, who are advised to eat more kiwifruit. However, freshly bought kiwifruit may be rather hard and need to sit for a while before eating. But what if you are craving it and want to eat it right away? Today I will teach you the fastest and easiest ways to ripen kiwifruit and how to store them.

1. What is the fastest and easiest way to ripen kiwifruit?

Experts remind us that kiwifruit must be fully ripe before eating. Unripe kiwifruit not only tastes poor and has a bad texture, but also contains a large amount of protease, which breaks down the proteins in the tongue and oral mucosa and causes discomfort. Therefore, kiwifruit must be fully ripe before eating. Here are 4 simple and fast ripening methods:

1. Ripening method one: Ripen with ripe fruit

Take a plastic storage bag and put the kiwifruit together with some already ripe fruits (such as bananas, mangoes, and apples), then close the bag (do not seal it completely), and leave it at room temperature for a few days. If it feels slightly soft when gently squeezed, it is ready to eat. These fruits ripen because ripe fruit releases a natural ripening gas called “ethylene.” Placing kiwifruit together with these ripe fruits allows this natural ripening gas to affect the kiwifruit, thereby helping it become soft and sweet.

2. Ripening method two: Ripen in a sealed container

Prepare a sealed box or plastic bag, with the size chosen according to the number of kiwifruit you want to ripen. Put the kiwifruit to be ripened into the prepared box or plastic bag, then close the opening of the plastic bag (do not seal it completely), and place the sealed kiwifruit in a warmer place.

3. Ripening method three: Ripen with a toothpick

First wash the bought kiwifruit clean with water, then use a clean toothpick to poke a few small holes in the kiwifruit, put them into a plastic bag, tie it up, and leave it for a few days before eating. You can also use a small knife to make a few small cuts on the outside of the kiwifruit, which can also help ripen it. This is because the small wounds cause the kiwifruit to produce ethylene, and ethylene can speed up ripening; in addition, the small wounds increase physiological activity, which also speeds up ripening.

Although this method is good, during the toothpick ripening process, the gaseous ethylene produced by the fruit is not very harmful to the human body, but some microorganisms will grow near the ‘wounds,’ and these microorganisms can easily make the fruit spoil, so it is not recommended to use this method to ripen fruit.

4. Ripening method four: Ripen with ethylene in the environment

Kiwifruit is very sensitive to ethylene. The higher the ethylene concentration in the environment, the faster the kiwifruit ripens. Generally, kiwifruit can be soaked in ethephon at 1000 mg/kg for 2 minutes at room temperature and can be marketed after two weeks. This method is generally suitable for fruit vendors.

2. How should kiwifruit be stored?

Kiwifruit is a fruit that stores very well. Hard kiwifruit can be kept in the refrigerator (1°C-5°C), and can generally be stored fresh for 2-4 months. When you want to eat them, take them out a few days in advance and ripen them according to the methods above. Once the fruit becomes soft, it is ready to eat.

3. The best time to eat kiwifruit

Whether ripened or naturally matured, as long as the kiwifruit feels slightly soft when gently pressed with a finger, but not very soft, that is the best time to eat it. Do not wait until it is completely soft, because then the texture is no longer at its best.

4. How do you eat kiwifruit?

When eating kiwifruit, use a knife to cut it in half from the middle, then use a small spoon to scoop out the flesh and eat it. Besides eating it directly, kiwifruit can also be made into a smoothie. Put the flesh together with yogurt or a lactic acid bacteria drink into a blender and blend it into a smoothie, then enjoy!

Conclusion: These are the quick methods for ripening kiwifruit. From now on, you no longer have to wait a long time for hard kiwifruit to slowly soften. Although kiwifruit is nutritious, it is not suitable for everyone. People with weak and cold spleen and stomach or diarrhea should not eat it, and because it contains a lot of dietary fiber, people with indigestion should eat as little as possible.