How to Buy and Store Avocados
Avocados from Mexico are the Hass variety which have pebbly skin that darkens from green to almost black as they ripen and the flesh inside becomes softer. You know you are buying what chefs consider the world’s finest avocado when you see “Mexico” on the sticker.
Buying Ripe Avocados:
As an avocado ripens its skin becomes darker and they become softer. To judge ripeness, ever so gently press the broader “blossom” end with your thumb, if the fruit yields to the touch, it’s ready to use.
If you are not using a ripe avocado within a day, refrigerate it and it will keep for up to two days.
Buying Unripe Avocados:
So you always have a delicious Mexican avocado on hand, you can easily store unripe avocados at home. If your avocados are hard when purchased, you can simply leave them on your kitchen counter to ripen naturally in a few days.
You can also speed up the ripening process by placing them in a brown paper bag (never plastic) and loosely closing the top. Adding a banana with the avocados will speed up the ripening even further. Once ripe you can refrigerate until you’re ready to use.
How to Store Avocados
You can keep your ripe avocados in the fridge for up to three to five days. Cut avocado, however, turns brown quickly. But don’t fret!
Here are two great ways to save your leftover avocado:
Squeeze lemon or limejuice over the exposed flesh and cover with plastic wrap. Avocado should stay fresh for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.
Fill an ice cube tray with mashed or pureed avocado and cover with foil before freezing. Thawed, it’s a perfect portion for a baby!
Note these tips!
| 1 | Store unused avocado by smearing the flesh with lemon or lime juice or olive oil, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate. The exposed flesh turns brown due to a chemical reaction to the oxygen in the air; a process known as “oxidization” (as do other fruits like bananas and apples), therefore by creating a barrier between the flesh and air can prevent this discoloration. |
| 2 | Putting the avocado seed into a bowl of freshly made guacamole to prevent the dish from turning brown is a myth. The seed has no magic powers. The browning occurs due to the exposure of avocado flesh to the oxygen in the air. |
| 3 | Have an over-ripe avocado? Don’t despair, use it on your hair! The use of avocados as a beauty regimen dates back to the Aztecs where women used avocado slices under their eyes to reduce puffiness and even rubbed it straight onto their faces to protect their skin from the heat. The oils found in avocados are also great for hair because they act as a humectant which traps moisture. |
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