Avocados that are still green on the tree do not ripen until after they have been picked, at which point they are referred to as “softening.” When fully ripe, fresh avocados go from a dark green color to a tint that is deep purplish and almost black in tone. This trait sets them apart from some of the other varieties of avocados.
Although the color of the avocado’s skin can be used as a guide when initially selecting fresh avocados, it is not necessarily the most reliable predictor of whether or not the avocado is ripe. Consistency is the final criterion that establishes ripeness.
The “softening” of avocados can take place at varied rates, regardless of the hue, therefore the color alone is not always reliable as a guide. The following is a reliable guide that will assist you in determining whether or not an avocado is ripe and ready to be consumed.
How to Tell When an Avocado Is Ripe.
Take note of the shade that the avocado’s skin has. Is it green? From a very dark green to almost black? Do you see the black specks on the dark green? When an avocado is ripe, the skin will have a color that ranges from a dark green to almost a black.
Put your hand on the avocado. Is the texture of the skin smooth? Or does it have bumps? Ripe avocados, in addition to having a skin that is a dark green color, will also have a skin that has a rough texture.
Squeeze the avocado in a mild manner. Is the avocado hard and ripe? Does it give way when subjected to somewhat intense pressure? Does it have a mushy texture? When ripe, avocados should give slightly when gently pressed, but they shouldn’t leave any impressions or feel mushy.
One thing is to be aware of how to select an avocado that can be consumed immediately, but what about selecting avocados that can be consumed at various times throughout the week? Don’t be concerned! We’ve got you covered: here are some pointers for selecting avocados that will be ready to eat in one to two days and those that will be ripe in three to four days.
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How should avocados, both chopped and uncut, be stored?
When you buy avocados in their natural state, you can store them on the kitchen counter or in a colorful fruit bowl without any problems. However, if you feel the avocado and determine that it is ripe, placing the entire piece of fruit in the refrigerator if you expect to consume it within the next day or two. This will prevent the avocado from becoming overly ripe.
Because the procedure for keeping chopped avocados is a little bit different, and because we aren’t always in the mood to consume both halves of an avocado at once, it’s vital to keep in mind that these storage methods will extend the shelf life of the avocados by one more day.
“Avocados that have already been sliced will naturally begin to oxidize if left untreated,” she says, referring to the brown coloring that appears on avocados after they have been cut. “Add an acidic aid such as vinegar, lemon juice, or lime juice, and reduce the amount of time the substance is exposed to air. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and either place in an airtight container or cover tightly with plastic wrap.”
A teeny-tiny bit of advice? If you want it to keep for a longer period of time, keep the pit or seed in it. Don’t forget to check out The Simple Trick That Keeps Avocados Fresh for more more useful information about this fruit.