Secrets of the Perfect Avocado: How to Choose a Fruit That Won't Let You Down
Avocado is a fruit that can be either a culinary masterpiece or a disappointment.
How many times have you bought an avocado that was hard as a rock or, on the contrary, found a brown mush inside?
We reveal secrets that will help you always choose the perfect fruit.
The first thing to look at is the color and texture of the skin. A ripe avocado will have dark green skin, almost black in some varieties, and slightly rough to the touch.
If the skin is bright green and smooth, the fruit is likely underripe. But there is a nuance: some varieties, such as "Hass", change color from green to dark as they ripen, and "green" varieties remain light even when ripe.
Therefore, it is better to check the avocado for softness.
Take the fruit in your palm and press gently with your finger. A ripe avocado will yield slightly to pressure, but will not leave a dent. If it is hard, like an apple, it needs to sit for a while longer.
If your finger sinks in like plasticine, the fruit is overripe. But don't confuse softness with looseness: sometimes an avocado with dark spots on the skin is rotten inside.
Another life hack is to inspect the place where the stalk is attached. Carefully tear off the dry tail: if there is bright green skin underneath, the avocado is ready to eat. Brown color indicates overripeness, and yellow indicates that the fruit is not ripe yet.
What to do if you buy an unripe avocado? Wrap it in a paper bag with a banana or apple — these fruits emit ethylene, which accelerates ripening. In just 1-2 days, the avocado will become soft.
If you need to keep a ripe fruit longer, put it in the refrigerator - the cold will slow down the ripening process.
And remember: a cut avocado quickly darkens due to oxidation. To avoid this, sprinkle the flesh with lemon juice and wrap it in cling film, pressing it tightly to the surface. This will keep it fresh in the refrigerator for up to two days.
By choosing an avocado, you learn to understand its "language." Over time, these tricks will become a habit, and you will no longer get into trouble.
