Why Does Fruit Ripen Faster in a Paper Bag?

It’s all about the ethylene gas.

Boozy Campfire Cheese

Doused with liquor, wrapped in foil, and baked in campfire ashes.

to ripen them up? I can place outside on my patio table (in the 80’s-90’s here), or place in a paper bag in the kitchen. Or, are they just a lost cause?

I read somewhere—probably here—that one could hasten the ripening of an avocado by microwaving it BRIEFLY. Is this true? Or is the best way still the old apple-in-the-paper-bag trick?

them in a brown paper bag along with 1 ripe banana, cause I heard that bananas release a chemical that helps other fruits ripen...is that true? is this a good strategy and will it work? Any advice? Dave M.P.

ones hoping they would get better... I stuck them on a windowsill but so far only one of four has any aroma. I know Irwin was trying to ripen some quincey-type fruit a few days ago in a paper bag with a banana. Were you...

Forgive my ignorance but how does one tell when a cheese is “ripe”? I assume that different cheeses ripen at different times and there is much to this scientific process. But, can I tell from looking at it at the...

a uniform bright orange appearance...a few small black spots or even streaks are OK, not however if they are holes. Just a hint of yielding to gentle pressure is preferable, a clue that the persimmon is closer to or even capable...

A Cheese Primer

CHOW’s guide to the major cheese types.

Peach Upside-Down Polenta Cake with Peach Syrup

A heavenly dessert that’s the essence of summer.

I was told that apples emit some kind of ripening (gas) agent? I place them next to avocados and it seems to do the trick. Maybe they would have ripened at the same rate...

I bought a couple on sale and they are still too hard and a little green on the end. Anything I can do to ripen them? Thanks!

any tips on quickening the ripening process?

I’ve got two that are still hard as a rock. Any ideas on what to do to speed up the ripening process? Can’t wait til fall when the domestic ones come in season – they ripen a whole lot better.

So I bought a case of mangoes from Costco (9 for $5.99), and left several of them out to ripen. As the days passed, they softened but never became more fragrant or changed color. When I finally cut one up I found that the...