HELP! How does one ripen apples?
Apples ripen more quickly in the presence of ethylene gas (a naturally occurring plant hormone). Apples also, conveniently, produce ethylene gas as they ripen. So, the trick is just not to let the gas disperse. Put all of the apples in a paper bag, and keep it closed. The apples will ripen faster, since the ethylene gas is not dispersing. This is the source of the saying “One bad apple can ruin the barrel.” Rotten, over-ripe apples produce a lot more ethylene gas. In a confined space like a barrel, a rotten apple can radically accelerate the ripening of other apples, causing them to over-ripen. Some other fruits also react to ethylene. I put green bananas in a bag with an apple to ripen them quickly. Hope this helps!
