# Ripe/Unripe/Overripe Fruit **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 15, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980 "2013-03-15T04:06:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980/1 "2013-03-15T04:06:18Z")
I remember my grandparents making “stewed fruit” with anything that got soft in the fridge - apples, plums, peaches, etc. We’re not that frugal these days…soft usually means time-to-toss, except bananas which (if Mrs Mix is in the mood) as everyone knows, make the best banana bread, and avocados, which are a nearly inedible when they’re firm, IMHO. For straight eating, I like my bananas a bit on the green side, actually. Peaches & plums, have to have more than a little give, and some slightly darker coloring is preferred - but not mushy. Apples should be crisp, never soft (or mealy) - same for grapes, cherries, berries, citrus, etc. And mold is right out. On the other hand, I’ve been lucky with some cantaloupes that have over-ripened - after cutting away the soft spots, they’re better than under-ripe; the rubbing alcohol taste seems to fade in the refrigerator after a day. I’ll stop here…what say you? ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980/2 "2013-03-15T22:00:30Z")
I usually just chuck over-ripe to the point of unusable fruit into the freezer and make smoothies with leftover vegetables such as celery, spinach, broccoli, etc. Tastes pretty good and I get my vegetable quota filled. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980/3 "2013-03-15T22:15:39Z")
Bananas: have to be exactly right, yellow skin with a few spots. Don’t like them green nor overripe. Blueberries: I really dislike farmed blueberries, as they’re nearly tasteless. Strawberries: full-on ripe, none of that woody tasteless crap you get in off season, preferably Hood River variety. Peaches: peeled, please Pears: finicky, precious little bastards. Not ripe yet. . .not ripe yet. . .not. . .shit, I’m rotten. Avocados: only in season, must be perfectly ripe. Under ripe, they’re tasteless, over ripe they’re soapy or nasty. Don’t like plums, so sue me. Nectarines: god’s fruit unless under ripe. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980/4 "2013-03-15T22:22:14Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > …Pears: finicky, precious little bastards. Not ripe yet. . .not ripe yet. . .not. . .shit, I’m rotten… Truer words were never typed. > [@Chefguy](#): > > …Avocados: only in season, must be perfectly ripe. Under ripe, they’re tasteless, over ripe they’re soapy or nasty… What’s their season? ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980/5 "2013-03-16T04:19:59Z")
Bananas are best when yellow with many freckles. Plain yellow, or worse, green ones, make my mouth itch. Same with under ripe melons, particularly cantaloupes. Some red-skinned apple varieties are best when they’re still about half green. Cortlands are maybe the best example. It’s really hard to find an orchard where any are available any more, at least in the areas I frequent. They leave them on the tree far too long and they get too mealy and mushy. ---
**Author:** ![Private\_Bin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c0e974/32.png) [@Private\_Bin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Private_Bin)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980/6 "2013-03-16T04:44:47Z")
> [@medstar](#): > > I usually just chuck over-ripe to the point of unusable fruit into the freezer and make smoothies with leftover vegetables such as celery, spinach, broccoli, etc. Tastes pretty good and I get my vegetable quota filled. Good god man, that’s disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980/7 "2013-03-16T12:52:58Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > For straight eating, I like my bananas a bit on the green side, actually. Me too. A ripe banana is soft-n-mushy-n-gross. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980/8 "2013-03-16T13:05:48Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > What’s their season? Spring to fall. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980/9 "2013-03-16T13:17:28Z")
I left some bananas in the car this winter and they froze, turned completely black, but they were just fine inside. I love bosc pears, but keep them a day too long and the insides get brown and mushy, requiring a scoop-out with a spoon. And I don’t know how to get pears home from the store without their sustaining ghastly weeping wounds. Peaches I’ve given up on, sour and hard as rocks, one out of a hundred is ready for eating. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980/10 "2013-03-16T15:52:21Z")
Looks like bananas are getting most of the love. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… if you like bananas, those hanger dealies are awesome! They ripen faster and stay firm longer. In a dif direction… how does ripeness affect nutrients? Is there a general rule that can be applied to most fruits or vegetables? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980/11 "2013-03-16T17:03:24Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Peaches I’ve given up on, sour and hard as rocks, one out of a hundred is ready for eating. We buy freestones in season and can them. Nothing like peaches for a winter breakfast to give you hope of spring. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripe-unripe-overripe-fruit/652980/12 "2013-03-16T17:17:58Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I left some bananas in the car this winter and they froze, turned completely black, but they were just fine inside. When my bananas reach perfect ripeness I pop them in the fridge where they stop ripening and can be held for a week or more. The skin will blacken but the fruit will be fine.