Calling all guac aficionados! Have you ever wanted to make your own guacamole at home but didn't know how to pick the right avocados? We've broken down some of the important things to look for when to searching for the perfect avocados!
1. Color matters
a. When walking into the supermarket, you might see green, dark green or black avocados. Most green avocados are not ripe and ready to use. The dark green to black shades are colors you should be approaching and a good sign that they are ripe.Mostgreen avocados aren’t ripe, depending on the brand of avocado but some brands have avocados with a light green tone that are actually ripe. Color is important, but not always reliable.
b. Decide when you would be using the avocados. If you’re making guacamole the same day you’re shopping, a dark green avocado is what you need. However if you’re using the avocados days after you purchase them, it’s best to buy them green so they can ripen perfectly at home and will be ready by the day you need them.
2. Feel the avocado
a. Feeling the firmness of the avocado is an easier tip than staring at the color of its skin. Hold the avocado in the palm of your hand and gently squeeze it. Try not to press with your fingertips because this can cause bruising. If the avocado feels soft but not too squishy, it is ripe and ready to eat. If it feels hard it is not ripe and if it is too squishy is overly ripe.
3. Stem test
a. If the stem is still attached, pull it off. If there is any resistance or the area where the stem was is light green, the avocado is not ready. If it easily comes off and the area around the stem is bright green, it’s perfect. If the area is a brown to dark green color, the avocado is overripe.
b. The stem test is the quickest and most reliable trick for determining the ripeness because you can easily view a part of the inside of the avocado and eliminates the risk of damaging the fruit by poking it with your fingertips.
These steps may be a bit overwhelming to remember all at once when shopping, but that’s okay, practice makes perfect!
OR
You can leave the guacamole making to the professionals and stop by Mad Dog & Beans for our fresh made-to-order guacamole!
JULY 12, 2017
FAQs
If the avocado yields to firm gentle pressure you know it's ripe and ready-to-eat. Ripe, ready to eat avocados may have a darker color but color can vary so it is best to go by feel as well as color. It will feel lightly soft but it will not feel “mushy” to the touch.
How do you pick Mexican avocados? ›
Texture - Ripe avocados will also have skin with a bumpy texture whereas unripe avocados have softer skin. Firmness or ripeness - The riper the avocado, the softer it will feel when gently pressed on the skin. But remember you should never feel dents or a mushy texture inside when picking a good avocado.
How to pick the right avocado for guacamole? ›
Look at the color: A ripe avocado is shiny and dark green, not black and matte or pale green. Avoid very dark and soft avocados. Give it the squeeze test: Hold the avocado in your hand and squeeze gently with your palm, not using your fingertips. If the avocado is ripe, it will give a little while remaining firm.
How to tell if an avocado is good? ›
Here's what to look for:
- Look for a dark green to almost black exterior. Ripe avocados will have a skin that's dark green or nearly black. ...
- Feel for bumpy skin. Avocados that are ready to eat will have a bumpy, not smooth, skin. ...
- Give it a squeeze. Go ahead and give the avocado a gentle squeeze.
Reed avocados are known for their exceptional taste and are often considered a gourmet variety. Fuerte: With its smooth, green skin and pear-like shape, Fuerte avocados have a creamy texture and a delicate, nutty flavor. This variety is excellent for slicing and adding to sandwiches or salads.
Should you refrigerate avocados? ›
Until they're fully ripe, avocados should be stored at room temperature. Placing an unripe avocado in the refrigerator will slow the ripening process, but the same concept applies to ripe avocados: put them in the refrigerator to keep them at their prime ripeness for longer.
When to pick avocados from the tree? ›
Internally, the seed coat turns from ivory to dark brown upon maturity. To determine fruit maturity, pick one of the larger fruits and keep it at room temperature until it softens. It is mature if it softens to good consistency, is not tough and leathery or bitter, does not shrink or shrivel, and is good to eat.
What color is a perfectly ripe avocado? ›
The dark green to black shades are colors you should be approaching and a good sign that they are ripe. Most green avocados aren't ripe, depending on the brand of avocado but some brands have avocados with a light green tone that are actually ripe. Color is important, but not always reliable.
Which avocado is better, green or black? ›
But, did you know that there are differences between black (Hass) and green avocados? Green avocados are known to have a lower fat and calorie content than black ones, as they generally contain less oil and more water content.
How do you pick a creamy avocado? ›
To ensure that the avocado you're choosing is ripe and creamy on the inside, peel back the small stem or cap at the top. If the area underneath is green, the avocado is good to buy. If the area is brown, the avocado is overripe so it's best to avoid it.
An avocado that's ready to eat has light green flesh. A rotten one has brown or black spots throughout the flesh. Yet, an isolated brown spot may be due to bruising, rather than widespread spoilage, and can be cut away. Another possible sign of rotting is dark streaks in the flesh.
How do you get perfect avocados every time? ›
I like to have my avocados reach perfect ripeness on different days. To accomplish this I'll put one or two of them into a paper bag, with the top rolled shut, to speed ripening—they'll then usually ripen a day ahead of the others. You need to look at your avocados twice a day in order to catch each one at its peak.
Do you refrigerate avocados? ›
Until they're fully ripe, avocados should be stored at room temperature. Placing an unripe avocado in the refrigerator will slow the ripening process, but the same concept applies to ripe avocados: put them in the refrigerator to keep them at their prime ripeness for longer.
Which avocado is best, black or green? ›
But, did you know that there are differences between black (Hass) and green avocados? Green avocados are known to have a lower fat and calorie content than black ones, as they generally contain less oil and more water content.
How can you tell if an avocado is creamy? ›
Inside Texture and Appearance
A ripe avocado should have creamy, pale green to light yellowish flesh. Small brown specks in the flesh are usually acceptable and can even be a sign of ripeness. Run your finger or a spoon along the flesh's surface. Fresh, ripe avocados have a smooth, creamy consistency.
