How to Tell if an Avocado is Ripe

Contributor

By Lindsay Champion
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(8 Ratings)

Is it Ripe?

It is incredibly frustrating to go to the store with the intention of buying a nice, ripe avocado, but finding out, once you're home, that the avocado is dry and tasteless inside. With these simple tips, you won't have to worry about finding dry or brown spots in your avocados anymore. Best of all, you don't have to wait to get the avocado home before you start testing to see how ripe it is. You can do all your avocado testing right there in the store, without having to open the avocado. After following these tips, you will never have to eat a dry or hard avocado again.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Avocado

Step 1

Press gently on your forehead. This is an example of how an avocado should not feel when you press on it. This means the avocado is too firm and not ripe.
Step 2

Press gently on your cheek. If your avocado feels this way, do not purchase it. Your avocado is too ripe and possibly rotten.
Step 3

Press gently on your nose. This is how your ideal avocado should feel to your fingertips. Look for avocados with a little bit of give, but not too mushy.
Step 4

Pull off the small stem attached to the avocado. If the underside of the stem is brown, do not purchase the avocado. There will be brown spots inside.
Step 5

Look for an avocado that has the softness and firmness of your nose and has a nice, green spot on the underside of the stem. You have found the perfect avocado. Take it home, cut it open and enjoy.