The basic mechanism of avocado ripening involves ethylene gas. While it's possible to manipulate this gas and speed up the process, not all tips are backed with strong evidence.

A common method you may have seen is putting unripe avocados in a brown bag with some rice or flour. This way, the gas gets trapped inside and speeds up ripening.

However, flour and rice don't contribute any extra ethylene. You're better off adding fruit like a banana or apple, which will supercharge the space as they emit extra gas.

Some have claimed that the microwave is a quick way to soften avocados, but it just heats the avocado, thereby downgrading its texture and taste.

Instead, set your avocado on a windowsill, where it will absorb sunlight, which turns it buttery soft. You can also just let it sit out on the countertop.