How to Tell When an Avocado Is Ripe

Avocado's can be used for many dishes from gucamoli to Avocado pie to even facial treatments.

Avocados are loaded with nutrients such as fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, and folate. Avocado's are also cholesterol and sodium free making them an excellent choice for those people watching their cholesterol and sodium intake.

When choosing avocado's at your grocery store the task may seem daunting, I personally find my self wondering with some fruits and veggies how to tell if some are ripe, green or over ripe.

In this article you are going to see how easy it is to tell whether an avocado is ripe.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Avocado

1. If you are going to use the avocado at a later time, for instance 4 to 5 days choose an avocado that is firm to the touch. A firm to the touch avocado will tell you it is a little on the green side and will ripen nicely within a few days.

2. If however you intend to use your avocado the same day or even the next day try choosing one that is slightly soft to the touch but not too soft. An avocado that is too soft is over ripe.

3. If however you choose an avocado that is firm and you wish to speed up the ripening process, place the avocado in a brown paper bag, store the bag/avocado at room temperature until ready to use, this ripening process will usually take two to five days. Place an apple in the bag with the avocado will speed up the ripening process even more.

4. 
    

   Now that you have chose your avocado at the grocery store and if necessary have let it ripen, one might wonder, How do you cut the avocado?
   
   Place the avocado on a cutting board and with a sharp knife, cut the avocado in half moving the knife all the way around the avocado, separate slightly twist the two halves, and remove the seed. Starting with the small end of one half of the avocado, remove the skin with your knife or you can easily scoop the flesh out with a spoon.

5. 
    

   To keep the beautiful green color and freshness of the avocado you should serve and eat it right away or you can sprinkle the avocado with lemon or lime juice without changing the taste too much.

6. 
    

   Avocado's have a very nice large seed, why let it go to waste? Take the Avocado seed and soak it for 24 hours, plant the seed in regular potting soil and in about 4 to 6 weeks you will have the start of your own avocado plant.

[breeze7]

on 8/6/2009 Thanks for this excellent article - I love avocados and I like the tip on planting the seed! Cheers - Brenda