Regardless of how delectable avocados are, something occurs along the way that makes it less than ideal. It may have been great while it was hanging on the tree, however it may get bruised along the way along with other things that can directly or indirectly change its taste.
When compared with other fruits, finding the right avocado in the grocery could be a little challenging. For one, it's hard to determine if it is ripe or when it is not. The skin of some avocado types may change color when ripe, from green to dark purple, but some remains green even when it becomes overly ripe to be consumed. To prevent yourself from making such a mistake when going avocado-shopping, here's a few guidelines you may follow which can help lead you to the perfect avocado.
If you will not be using it until after a number of days, pick an avocado that stays firm once you cup it in your hand. Avocados do not ripen until it's been harvested from the tree, so if you find one that's too soft, this implies it's been on the shelf for a long time. You can place the avocado in a paper bag for a day or two if you want to accelerate the ripening process.
Ripe avocados, though still firm, are a bit soft when held. Do take note though, that the word here is held, not press. Unless you are certain you will purchase it, making a dent on the avocado while checking if it's ripe enough can leave the fruit damaged, particularly if lots of people are doing the same thing.
The skin of over ripe avocados seem like it's already separated from the meat and definitely will taste rancid. The secret is picking a soft but not mushy avocado. A white-colored powder growing near the stem may be a signal that the fruit is over ripe.
The shape of the avocado won't really affect its quality, irrespective of how crooked it may look like. So does its size. It might look big and beautiful, but it doesn't automatically mean that it's better.
Brown scaly markings on the skin of the fruit does not necessarily indicate decaying flesh, but dark blemishes, sunken spots and cracks are generally sure signs of decaying. Pick ones with a deep and even glossy color. If you notice that the stem is starting to somewhat pull off from the skin of the avocado, then this means it is just about ripe.
Another helpful tip in finding out how ripe an avocado is to pick off its stem. Pay attention to the color of the small circle under it. If it's brown, that means the avocado is too ripe. In case it is yellow-green, it signifies it is not yet ready to be used and when the color is bright green, regardless of the brown flecks on it, it means that it's the ideal avocado for you.
The author is a nutritionist and is currently working for a non-profit health care corporation. For more information about the topic, visit the following link: Avocado Recipes
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