Avocados- How do you know when it's ripe or over ripe?

[LisaAC]

When I went shopping today I saw Avocados that were brown as well as green. Which kinda is the best to get? How do you know when it's ripe enough or over ripe? I wanted to get more, but all the ones in the batch were brown.

[Richt]

I'm not that much of an expert on Avo's

But for me I will only buy the totally green ones that you can squeeze slightly. That generally means to me that they are ripe. I dont think I would ever buy one that had gone brown.

[Gstfox]

The seed should still be attached inside. If you shake the avocado and you feel the seed rattle, it is too ripe. If the skin is green and firm, it isn't ripe enough. If the skin has that nice dark color and is less mushy than when you press on the skin on the back of your hand, it should be just right.

Use your avocado within a day of buying and make sure it is stored in an airy place like a basket.

[boonie stomper]

The skin, which you don't eat, can vary in color from light green to black. The firmer are less ripe ones; the flesh will bruise and darken from green to brown with pressure, exposure to air, and refrigeration, much like bananas. (t's still yummy though).

Just don't buy one that's cracked - it could get a mouldy spot inside you'd have to throw away...

Some are bigger than the others and considered "lite" - they have much bigger seeds in them, and 1/2 that avocado is as much as a whole regular one, volume wise.

Aesthetically speaking, green flesh looks better, so add leon juice to it if you make dip to keep it green. I've never tasted one too green or too ripe!

[LisaAC]

Thank you all. The one I got the other day then was not ripe. It was green. Still ate it. lol. It wasn't very soft though like it is in the sushi, so I had to wonder if it was not quite yet ripe enough. Though, it was still very tasty. Reminded me of the chestnuts I use to eat when I was a kid. Kinda had that flavor.

[gazaleh]

How come my threads related to food in any way always get moved but others' don't?Not complaining, just evaluating...

[LisaAC]

Hmm......I'm guessing mine will probably be moved soon then. LOL. Didn't realize it needed to be in the food section. Sounds like I snuck in.

[boonie stomper]

What?! Never have I seen a thread get moved just because it's about food! is all about food! What got moved, gazaleh?


Interesting - never heard of the avocado shaking test. I like them green or as ripe as they can get or anywhere in between. I'll scrape them right outta the shell with salt & pepper!

Don't squeeze the ones in the store - you'll just bruise them for whoever buys them! Don't refrigerate - they can be set for a number of days to ripen, like 'maters & 'naners, on the counter. There are over 150 different varieties, with various skin colors, textures, shapes & sizes.

[Richt]

The thread in which Gaz is talking about was just a discussion about how nice avacodos were.

For that reason, it was moved to food chit chat, mainly because it wasnt a question as such (from memory) more of a praise to avocados.

Rich

[sadie147]

A trick to ripen an avocado quickly (i don't like them green..i find them bitter): put the avocado in a brown paper bag with 1 apple, and leae on the counter. it will ripen in a few hours.