Place bananas in a paper bag
Add an apple or ripe avocado to the bag
Fold the bag closed loosely
Keep the bag at room temperature
Check the bananas every 12 hours
Put bananas in a warm spot, not direct sunlight
Separate bananas from each other to speed ripening
Use an oven at low heat for very unripe bananas
Bake unpeeled bananas at 300°F for 15 to 30 minutes
Use a microwave for immediate softening
Pierce the peel before microwaving
Microwave in short 20-second bursts
Store ripened bananas at room temperature until ready to eat