Most fruits are delicate creatures and need to be handled with care. Always wash them individually and with a low flow of water to prevent bruising.

To ripen fruit, be it avocados berries, melons, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, or strawberries simply store them in a well-ventilated place near ripe bananas. The bananas emit ethylene gas that helps ripen other fruits. If you are in a big hurry, place your fruit in a paper bag with a ripe banana or two.

It is best not to put fruits in the refrigerator because the cold temperatures will wreak havoc on their delicate palates. Except in the hottest weather, room temperature will do you just fine.