How To Tell If Fruits Are Ripe
Ranked #1,268 in Food & Cooking, #24,531 overall
Have you ever wondered if a fruit is ripe?
Have you ever wondered whether a fruit is ripe? Sometimes it can be tricky and can leave those of us at the grocery store stumped and there is nothing worse than biting into an unripened fruit. The best way to get fresh fruit is straight from the tree, but unfortunately, most people don't have orchards and gardens full of fruit ripe for the picking. Most of the fruit we buy at the grocery store was picked before its prime in order to avoid shipping damage and storage loss. This is why it is so important to understand the ripening process and learn some tricks for telling which fruit is ripe now and which will get ripe once you take it home from the market. This web page will be your guide to how to know if nearly every type of fruit is ripe. So make sure to bookmark it so that you can easily come back to it to reference whether a fruit is ripe or not.
Contents at a Glance
Apples
How To Tell If Apples Are Ripe
Apples are the most popular fruit in the world. There are dozens of variations of apples and in the fall apple picking is a popular activity. Read below for how to determine if an apple is ripe--whether it is on the tree or in the store!On The Tree
These first steps are how to know whether apples on the tree are ripe and ready to be picked.
Color
Look at the color of the the apple, both outside and under the skin, it is a useful indication of maturity. Apples may be yellow, red, green, or combination of these colors at harvest. When yellow apples are almost completely yellow instead of green they are mature. With red blush or striped apples, the area where there is no red color usually changes from green to yellowish at maturity.
Ease of Separation
Unless a "stop-drop" spray has been applied, mature apples are easily separated from the tree. When picking an apple, do not pull the apple down, instead twist it upward with a rotating motion.
Fruit Drop
When a few sound apples drop to the ground, the apples on the tree are nearly mature.
Softness and Flavor
When an apple becomes slightly softer and tastes sweet and juicy, it is mature. Some varieties, such as Delicious, become sweeter in storage.
At The Store
These next steps address whether an apple at the store is ripe and ready to be eaten.
Look
Look at the skin of the apple. Often the shinier the skin, the juicier and crisper the apple.
Touch
Pick up an apple and squeeze it. Hardness is a good indication of crispness with apples. An apple should barely be squishy. An overly squishy or mushy apple will likely be overripe.
Smell
A ripe apple should have a sweet, fresh smell.
Hear
Hold the apple up to your ear and tap the apple with one finger. If you hear a hollow sound, the apple is ripe and crisp. If you hear a flat or thud-like sound, the apple is not crisp.
Apples continue to get sweeter after they have been picked and should be stored in your fridge's crisper.
Apricots
How To Tell If Apricots Are Ripe
Apricots are small, sweet fruits with a golden orange color. Apricots are an excellent source of Vitamins A (beta-carotene) and C as well as a good source of iron, potassium, phosphorus and calcium. Apricots are a stone fruit that are smaller than peaches but softer than plums. They have a delicate aroma and a distinctly delicious flavor when ripe.Ripe Apricots
A ripe apricot will be firm to touch but yield to gentle pressure, plump in appearance, have a deep orange or yellow/orange color, have velvety skin, and a sweet aroma. Look for fruit that is unblemished--apricots bruise easily. Ripe apricots can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week. They must be ripened first and will not ripen in the refrigerator.
Immature or Unripe Apricots
Immature or unripe apricots can be ripened at room temperature or in a paper bag with an apple or a banana. Fold the bag over and keep it at room temperature until the apricots have softened slightly. You should keep the bag out of direct light and the apricots should ripen within 2 - 3 days. Unripened apricots can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Overripe Apricots
Apricots that are no longer firm but have softened and have a deep orange hue should be eaten immediately or used in cooking because they are nearly overripe and may become mouldy or mushy quickly.
What to Avoid
Avoid apricots that are very soft, shrived, or with a green shade.
Avocados
How To Tell If Avocados Are Ripe
An avocado is a delicious fruit (yup that's right, it's a fruit!) that is also an essential and healthy fat with numerous health benefits. However, because avocados only grow in warm climates, it is difficult for those who live in non-warm climates to not only get a perfect, ripe avocado but to also know how to pick out a ripe avocado. This article gives tips on how to pick out a ripe avocado.First, unlike most fruits, avocados only start to ripen after they are picked. In order to avoid bruises from over handled avocados, you should actually buy avocados that are not yet ripe and let them ripen in your kitchen at home.
In order to ripen the avocado, place it in a paper bag and keep it at room temperature. It should ripen in two to five days. You can add an apple to the bag to hurry the process along.
A ripe avocado yields to gentle pressure but is still somewhat firm. An avocado that feels soft may be overripe, brown inside, and therefore, not good to eat.
If your avocado is ripe before you are ready to eat it, you can put it in the refrigerator and it should keep for a few days.
Bananas
How To Tell If Bananas Are Ripe
The key to knowing whether bananas are ripe is color. Look at the color of the bananas and you will know what stage of ripeness the bananas are at.Green
Green bananas are not yet ripe. They should be hard and the peel very thick.
Yellow with a little Green
Yellow bananas with a little green at one end are at the first stage of ripeness. These bananas are not yet fully sweet.
Yellow
Bananas that are entirely yellow are ripe. The peels should have thinned and the bananas should be softer and sweeter.
Yellow with Brown Spots
Yellow bananas with brown spots are full-ripe bananas. They are at the height of sweetness and have the strongest banana flavor.
Brown
Bananas that are entirely brown are overly ripe yet shouldn't be thrown away as they are great for baking. They are incredibly sweet and very soft.
Black
If you store bananas in the fridge they will turn black. They are fine to eat but will stop ripening in the fridge.
Cantaloupes
How To Tell If Cantaloupes Are Ripe
A cantaloupe is a delicious and low calorie fruit, but unlike most other fruits, cantaloupes do not continue to ripen after they are picked. Therefore, it is important that you purchase a cantaloupe that is ripe or else you just waste your money and your cantaloupe will not be as delicious.Smell It
The first way to tell if a cantaloupe is ripe is to pick it up, hold it to your face, and take a good, deep sniff of the cantaloupe. A ripe cantaloupe will have a musky, sweet smell. If a cantaloupe is odorless, it is likely tasteless as well. So when you are picking out a cantaloupe at your local grocery store or farmer's market, make sure that it has that musky, sweet smell.
Touch It
Another way to tell if a cantaloupe is ripe is to press on the end opposite the stem end. (Don't press on the stem end--which has an indent--press on the end on the OPPOSITE side of the stem end.) That side of the cantaloupe should give a little. However, be careful! You don't want a lumpy or mushy melon that means that it is past its prime or over ripe. At that point you will no longer have a flavorful cantaloupe but one that is more water than flavor.
Look At It
Be sure to take a look at the rind of the cantaloupe. Make sure there are no bruises, punctures, or any mold on the cantaloupe. Also, if the cantaloupe's webbing is healthy green it is not ripe, and as mentioned above, it will not ripen on its own. A rind with an orange or gold hue indicates that the cantaloupe is ripe and ready to be enjoyed.
The flavor of a cantaloupe is fullest at room temperature; however, many prefer the juiciness of a cantaloupe when it is chilled.
Grapes
How To Tell If Grapes Are Ripe
Grapes are a delicious, juicy fruit. There are over 50 varieties of table grapes and even more wine grapes. Grapes are an excellent low-calorie snack that are perfect for those on the go. As with all fruits, ripe grapes are the tastiest; whereas, immature or overly ripe grapes may not be so delicious and can be a turn off. It is, therefore, important to know whether grapes are ripe or not.Look
Look for grapes with new, fresh stalks. Dead stalks likely mean over ripe grapes.
Shake
Give a bunch of grapes a good shake. If too many grapes fall off the stalk, it means they are likely too mature and overly ripe.
Unlike many other fruits, grapes will not continue to ripen after picking. They will spoil, but they will never become more sweet or juicy. Therefore, the sooner you eat grapes that you purchase, the better they will taste.
Kiwi Fruits
How To Know If Kiwi Fruits Are Ripe
The kiwi is a delicious green fruit with a fuzzy brown skin. The kiwi is about the size of a hen's egg. It can somewhat be tricky to tell if a kiwi is ripe.Look
Choose a plump kiwi. A ripe kiwi should be free of soft spots, bruises, blemishes, and wrinkled skin.
Touch
To tell if a kiwi is ripe touch it. A ripe kiwi should be soft and yield to gentle pressure. A hard kiwi is not yet ripe and a mushy kiwi is overripe.
Smell
A ripe kiwi should have a slight fragrant smell.
Ripen
Like many fruits, the kiwi will continue to ripen after it has been picked. Not only will it ripen, but it will also continue to get sweeter after it has been picked. To speed up the ripening process you can put the kiwi in a brown paper bag with either an apple or a banana. Once ripe, store the kiwi in the refrigerator away from other fruit.
Mangoes
How To Tell If Mangoes Are Ripe
A mango is a delicious tropical fruit that is indigenous to the Indian Subcontinent and cultivated in tropical regions. It is delicious as a snack, in a smoothie, or as a salsa. However, many do not know how to tell whether or not a mango is ripe.Squeeze
Squeeze or press your thumb to a mango. If the mango gives and is soft, it is ripe. If the mango is hard, it is not ripe.
Smell
A ripe mango will have a sweet smell.
Ripen
In order to ripen a mango, you may store it in a paper bag at room temperature and it will ripen much quicker than if stored other ways.
You may store a ripe mango in the refrigerator for it to last longer. A cold mango is much sweeter and tastes better than one which is room temperature.
Nectarines
How To Tell If Nectarines Are Ripe
The nectarine is a basically a peach that has a smooth skin. Though fuzzy peaches and nectarines are regarded commercially as different fruits, they actually belong to the same species as peaches. Nectarines are often erroneously believed to be a crossbreed between peaches and plums, but they are actually created due to a recessive gene. Fuzzy skin on peaches is a dominant gene and the smooth skin is the recessive gene.Look
A ripe nectarine should be smooth, bright, shiny and unblemished.
Touch
Lightly push your finger into a nectarine. If the fruit is resistant and hard, it is not ripe. If the nectarine gives slightly, it is ripe. If the nectarine is mushy, the fruit is overripe.
Smell
Smell the nectarine. A ripe nectarine should have a sweet, fragrant aroma.
Ripen
Like many fruits, the nectarine continues to ripen after it has been picked. If you have an unripe nectarine, you can put it in a brown paper bag to speed up the ripening process.
Papayas
How To Tell If Papayas Are Ripe
A papaya is an exotic fruit that is sweet, low in calories and aids in digestion. It can be tricky to know whether or not a papaya is ripe.Color
A ripe papaya will be predominantly yellow. Avoid a papaya with too many black spots and bruising.
Feel
A ripe papaya will give to gentle pressure but not be mushy. You should not squeeze a papaya because it bruises easily. A ripe papaya will give at the stem and should feel similar to a ripe avocado. The skin should be pliable but not overly soft.
Smell
A ripe papaya should have a light, sweet smell. A papaya will have the strongest smell when it is the ripest. You should smell the papaya at the base where the stem was once attached.
Shake
When a ripe papaya is shaken, the seeds inside it will bounce around.
Ripen
A papaya will continue to ripen after it was picked if it is kept at room temperature. In determining whether an unripe papaya will ripen well, look at the spot on the papaya where the stem was. If there is a yellow ring there, the papaya will ripen well. If the ring is green, the papaya will not ripen.
Passion Fruits
How To Tell If Passion Fruits Are Ripe
A passion fruit is a delicious, exotic fruit that is not particularly common in the United States. Unlike apples or bananas which many people grew up eating and can tell if they are ripe by second nature, many people do not know how to tell if a passion fruit is ripe.Look at the Skin
If the skin of the passion fruit is wrinkly that is a good sign. A wrinkled passion fruit indicates ripeness and sweetness. A passion fruit with smooth and shiny skin is unripe.
Look at the Color
An immature or unripe passion fruit is green and it will change to shades of purple, red or yellow as it ripens. A passion fruit with deep color, most commonly a deep purple color, is ripe.
Feel the Fruit
A ripe passion fruit will be heavy and full.
Ripen the Passion Fruit
Like many fruits, a passion fruit will continue to ripen after it is picked if left at room temperature. However, unlike many fruits, a passion fruit will NOT get softer as it ripens.
Once ripe, you can store a passion fruit in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Peaches
How To Tell If Peaches Are Ripe
The peach is a delicious, sweet, and juicy fruit. It is a great, healthy snack on a warm summer day. Color
As a peach ripens, the part facing the sun gets a reddish and the part not exposed to sun turns from green to yellow. The best way to tell if a peach is ripe is by looking for the red and yellow color.
Shape
A peach will become round as it ripens.
Feel
If a peach is firm, it is not ripe yet. A ripe peach will be soft to the touch and will yield slightly when gently pressed. If a peach is extremely soft or mushy, it is overripe.
Smell
A ripe peach will have a sweet aroma to it.
Ripen
Like many fruits, peaches will continue to ripen after they have been picked. Therefore, if you buy peaches that are not yet ripe, you can leave them at room temperature and allow them to ripen. Leaving them in a paper bag will speed up the ripening process.
Pears
How To Tell If Pears Are Ripe
Pears are one of a few fruits that do not ripen successfully on the tree. They are picked when they have reached full size but have not started ripening. If they are left on the tree to ripen, they become mealy and unpleasant. Therefore, pears at the grocery store are often not yet ripe, so it is important to be able to identify a ripe pear that is ready to be eaten before taking a bite.Appearance
Pears ripen from the inside out, so you can't judge their ripeness by looking at the skin. However, yellowing at the base is an indication of ripeness.
Feel
A ripe pear is soft. To test if a pear is ripe, apply medium pressure near the stem end and if it gives slightly it is ripe and ready to be eaten.
Scent
A ripe pear should have a sweet aroma.
Ripen
Because pear ripen after they are picked, this allows you to ripen pears as needed. A few days before you plan to eat you pear, place it in a brown paper bag, which will ripen a pear in a couple of days. Once ripe, pears should be stored in the refrigerator and eaten within a day or two.
Pineapples
How To Tell If Pineapples Are Ripe
A pineapple is a delicious, tropical fruit. Many people do not know how to pick out a fresh and ripe pineapple. You want to look for freshness and deterioration. You want a fresh pineapple, not a rotting one.Look At The Pineapple
The pineapple should be a golden yellow color. Never purchase a pineapple that is fully green, it will not ripen well. The higher the yellow color rises up the pineapple, the sweeter it will be. Be aware that some pineapples are considered to be ripe when green; however, this is the claim of those promoting them, so be the judge as to whether they actually taste ripe. The Central American pineapple and some Hawaiian pineapples are the variety that claim to be ripe when green.
Smell The Pineapple
If the pineapple smells sweet, then it is ripe. If it has no scent, it is not ripe. If it smells fermented, it's over ripe and should not be bought!
Touch The Pineapple
A pineapple should be firm to a gentle press and only yield slightly. Avoid pineapples that are soft or contain soft spots.
Examine The Leaves.
Green leaves are a good sign of a fresh pineapple. Leaves that can be easily pulled out of the pineapple is NOT a sign of freshness and ripeness.
Be Aware of Deteriorating Pineapples
A deteriorating pineapple will be a reddish, bronze color or maybe even green. It will smell as if it is fermenting. It will also be mushy when pushed gently and it will likely have wrinkled skin. Other clear indications are mold, oozing sticky juices, cracks in the skin and leaves turning brown and dropping off.
Size of The Pineapple
Make sure to pick the pineapple that is the cleanest and brightest. A larger pineapple will yield a greater quantity of fruit, but will also cost more if sold by weight.
Be sure to buy the pineapple the same day that you intend to use it; pineapples from Hawaii are picked at the height of freshness and will not get any riper over time, they will only deteriorate. If you must store the pineapple, do so in the upper part of the refrigerator at a forty-five degree angle. Do not leave it there for more than 2 - 3 days.
Plums
How To Tell If Plums Are Ripe
The plum is a delicious and juicy fruit that is so popular it is the second most popular fruit in the world after apples. While a ripe plum is sweet, juicy, and delicious, an unripe plum is tart, hard, and not particularly tasty. Before biting into a plum, it's important to know that it is ripe so that you can enjoy this healthy snack.Look
Good quality plums will feature a rich color and may still have a slight whitish "bloom" which shows that they have not been over-handled. A good plum should not have any punctures, bruises or signs of decay.
Touch
Ripe plums are soft to the touch. If you press down lightly on a plum with your finger and the finger can press down on the skin, the plum is ripe. If the plum's skin remains firm and solid, it likely isn't ripe. However, if a plum is very soft, it is overripe and may not taste as delicious as it should.
Smell
Ripe plums give off a sweet plum aroma.
Ripen
Like many fruits, plums continue to ripen after they are picked. You can purchase plums that are firm and let them ripen at home. You should still avoid plums that are excessively hard, they will be immature and will probably not develop into a flavorful plum. Unripe plums can be left at room temperature. Remember that plums tends to mature quickly, so you should check on them in a day or two to ensure that they do not become overripe. Once a plum is ripe it can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days. Plums can also be frozen but you should remove their stone pits before placing them in the freezer to ensure maximum flavor.
Pomegranates
How To Tell If Pomegranates Are Ripe
In recent years, pomegranates have become incredibly popular due to their numerous health benefits. However, due to their relative new popularity, many people do not know how to tell if a pomegranate is ripe. Typically, pomegranates are picked ripe and therefore ready to eat. In the Northern Hemisphere, the pomegranate is typically in season from September to February, and in the Southern Hemisphere, it is in season from March to May. Below you will find tips for knowing whether a pomegranate is ripe or not.Look at the Color
The first step is to look at the pomegranate and check its color. Pomegranates are ripe when the skin is a crimson color.
Look at the Shape
An unripe pomegranate is round in shape. When ripe, the round shape is changed and the sides become slightly square.
Look at the Petals
When the petals on the crown turn inside, it is a stage of maturity and that the pomegranate is ripe and ready to eat.
Hold It
A ripe pomegranate should feel heavy. Furthermore, the heavier the pomegranate, the juicier it will be.
Check the Skin
In order to tell whether a pomegranate is ripe, you should check the skin by scratching it. Usually before ripening, the skin is hard, tight and cannot be easily scratched. When ripe, the outer skin becomes soft. If you are able to scratch the skin using your fingernail and gentle pressure, then it is ripe. You should avoid pomegranates with cracks and splits in their skin. The skin of a pomegranate should also be shiny.
Tap It
When fully ripe, pomegranates will make a metallic sound when tapped.
Watermelons
How To Tell If Watermelons Are Ripe
Watermelons are a delicious summer snack. However, the more ripe the watermelon, the more delicious it is. Not everyone knows how to pick the best watermelon out though. This article gives tips on how to pick out a delicious and ripe watermelon.Size
Avoid smaller watermelons; less ripe watermelons are usually small, because they were picked too early. Pick an average to large sized melon.
Stripes
Examine the stripes on the watermelon. If the stripes on a watermelon stand out, it is most likely not ripe. A ripe watermelon will be a fairly uniform green color, with very little color contrast between the stripes.
Feel
If you press on the rind and it gives, then the watermelon is likely ripe ready to eat.
Look
Look at the bottom of the watermelon; if the bottom is off-white or yellow, it is probably ripe. If the bottom of the melon is white, it is not ripe.
Hear
Finally, try holding the watermelon close to your ear and thumping it. Listen for a hollow sound. If you hear a hollow sound, that a good indication that the watermelon is ripe. If you hear a solid thud, the watermelon is not ripe.
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
What Is Your Favorite Fruit?
Share in the poll below!
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Love Fruit?
Check out these products on Amazon
More Fruit Products on Amazon
Please Check Out My Other Lenses
...and please share your opinion on them!
by vbchica14
I am a big fan of The Real Housewives franchise on Bravo. I love to write articles online, both for fun and to make money. I'm constantly looking for... more »
- 71 featured lenses
- Winner of 19 trophies!
- Top lens » Daily Deal Sites Like Groupon
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Most Popular Drink Recipes (#1-#20) Most Popular Drink Recipes (#1-#20)
- Most Popular Drink Recipes (#21-#40) Most Popular Drink Recipes (#21-#40)
- How to Tell if Diamonds are Real How to Tell if Diamonds are Real
- Top 10 Red Fruits - My Favorites Top 10 Red Fruits - My Favorites
- Sensational Salads Sensational Salads
- Avocado Health Benefits Avocado Health Benefits
Grow Fruit
Amazon Price: $13.35 (as of 06/01/2012)
Just Right Fruit Basket
Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 06/01/2012)
Progressive International Chrome Wire Fruit Bowl
Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 06/01/2012)
