How to Pick a Ripe Avocado at the Store

If you love avocados but are a little unsure of yourself when it comes to picking a ripe one, here are some tips that will help.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. PICK THE RIGHT COLOR. The skin of a ripe avocado should be a very dark green, almost black. Green avocados are pretty to look at, but they have days to go before they'll be ripe enough to eat. So if you need to use the avocados right away, be sure they're the right color when you buy them.

2. RIPEN THE GREEN ONES. If you can't find ripe avocados in the store on the day you need them, go ahead and buy the green ones, but you'll have to let them ripen at home. I keep mine on the window sill or in a paper bag. In a few days, they turn dark green and are ready to eat.

3. FEEL IT FOR RIPENESS. A ripe avocado isn't rock-hard and it isn't mushy. It should have a fleshy feel, like raw meat. So gently squeeze your avocados before buying them. If they don't feel like an uncooked steak, they're not ready to eat.

[Magentaslb]

on 11/12/2009 Good to know. I've been buying them too green all this time...thanks for sharing! 5*s