Buzz
If you adore guacamole or enjoy crispy toast topped with slices of delicious avocado, you probably know what a perfect avocado looks like. Picking the right one at the grocery store or farmers' market might seem tricky, but once you know what to look for and how to determine the ideal ripeness for your needs, you can easily bring home avocados that meet your expectations.
Steps
Check the Avocado's Ripeness
Examine the avocado's color. Color is often the first thing you notice when selecting an avocado at the store. A ripe avocado typically has a dark, almost black hue with a slight green tint. If you plan to eat the avocado immediately, opt for one with a darker color. If you intend to wait a few days, choose a greener one.
- Some avocado varieties, such as Fuerte, Ettinger, Reed, and Sharwill, retain a green skin even when ripe, so it's essential to know the type of avocado you're selecting.
- Remember, color isn't the only factor to consider when choosing a ripe avocado. You should also feel the avocado to assess its ripeness.
Feel the avocado. When you spot an avocado that appears ripe, it's still wise to check its firmness. Hold the avocado in your palm and gently squeeze. A ripe avocado will yield slightly to pressure but shouldn't feel overly soft or mushy.
- If the avocado feels firm or hard when pressed, it's not yet ripe. Only purchase this if you plan to eat it in a few days.
- Avoid avocados that feel too soft, as they are likely overripe.
- The firmer the avocado, the longer it will take to ripen.
- If buying multiple avocados, consider selecting ones at different stages of ripeness. This way, you'll have some ready to eat immediately, others in 2-3 days, and a few that will last 4-5 days.
Inspect the avocado's skin. Beyond checking the color of the avocado's skin, you should also examine its texture. The skin may be slightly bumpy, but ensure there are no large dents, as these could indicate bruising.
Examine the avocado's stem. To ensure the avocado you're choosing is ripe and creamy inside, remove the small stem at the top. If the area underneath is green, the avocado is good to buy. If it's brown, the avocado is overripe and best avoided.
- While checking the stem area, also look for mold. If it appears black or dark brown, the avocado may be moldy.
Select the Right Type of Avocado
Choose avocados based on your preferred flavor. While all avocados share a similar taste, their flavors can vary slightly, and you might prefer one type over another. Some have a nutty flavor, while others are milder. Select the avocado variety that best suits your recipe or personal preference.
- Hass, Lamb Hass, Gwen, Reed, or Sharwil avocados are rich and nutty.
- Bacon and Zutano varieties have a milder flavor.
Select avocados based on peeling characteristics. Some avocados are easier to peel, while others require a bit more effort. If you're in a hurry, opt for varieties that peel quickly to save time. If peeling isn't an issue, feel free to choose any type.
- Pinkerton avocados are the easiest to peel, but Bacon, Fuerte, Hass, and Gwen varieties are also relatively simple.
- Zutano avocados are also fairly easy to peel.
- Ettinger avocados are the most challenging to peel.
Choose avocados based on oil content. Some avocado varieties contain more oil than others, meaning they have a higher fat content. If you're aiming for a low-fat diet, select varieties with lower fat levels.
- The avocado varieties with the highest oil content are Hass, Pinkerton, Sharwil, and Fuerte.
Storing and Ripening Avocados at Home
Store unripe avocados in a paper bag. When you bring home unripe avocados, you can leave them on the kitchen counter, and they'll ripen in 4-5 days. To speed up the process, place them in a brown paper bag with an apple or banana. These fruits release ethylene gas, which helps ripen the avocados in 2-3 days.
- Keep the paper bag away from direct sunlight to prevent overripening.
- When removing the avocados from the bag, check their ripeness by gently pressing the skin. They should be soft but not mushy.
Store ripe whole avocados in the refrigerator. If you've purchased ripe avocados from the store or ripened them in a paper bag but aren't ready to eat them, you can store the whole avocados in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Since cold temperatures slow ripening, never store unripe avocados in the refrigerator.
Squeeze lemon juice over cut ripe avocados before refrigerating. If you've eaten or used half of a ripe avocado, you can store the remaining portion in the fridge. However, remember to squeeze fresh lemon juice over the cut surface to prevent browning. Wrap the avocado in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for no more than a day.
- Leaving the pit in the avocado after cutting can also help reduce browning.
Tips
- Buying a whole bag of avocados might seem cost-effective, but all the avocados in the bag often ripen at the same rate, and you might not finish them before they spoil. It's better to buy avocados individually. Choose ripe ones for immediate use, semi-ripe ones for the next few days, and unripe ones for 4-5 days later.
- Ripe avocados tend to have a stronger aroma than those just ripening, so consider smelling the avocado when selecting.
