There is nothing quite like a creamy, dreamy avocado to enhance your favorite dishes. As the most popular avocado, the Hass Avocado provides a mega dose of monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and Beta-sitosterol, which is a natural plant sterol which may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Few fruits are as versatile as the mighty avocado, but making sure you have selected the most flavorful fruit can be a challenge.
Here are three expert tips be make sure the avocado you pick is a good one.
1. Check out the source.
Look for the growers label to determine how far your avocado traveled from the grower to store. This time of year, it’s easier than ever to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables, so take advantage of the season to enjoy the freshest. most flavorful produce.
2. When are you eating it?
The best avocado depends largely on when you plan on using it. If you are using it for dinner tonight, the California Avocado Commission says to gently squeeze the fruit. A ripe fruit will be firm yet will yield to gentle pressure.
If you plan on storing your avocados for a few days, select fruit that is firm, brightly colored, and doesn’t have any dark blemishes. Ripening fruit at home is surprisingly easy. Just place it in a plain brown paper bag and store in a mildly tempered room (65 to 75 degrees) until you are ready to use it. If you want to speed up the ripening process, the California Avocado Commission suggests adding an apple or kiwifruit to the bag. “Both of these fruits emit ethylene gas, which helps ripen your avocados organically,” they said.
3. Look at the color.
Although it’s not a guaranteed indicator, the coloring of an avocado (along with the firmness) can help you gauge the ripened state of the fruit. A bright uniform green indicates an unripened fruit that won’t be ready to eat for a few days. When the shading is a mixture of green and brown, the fruit is ready to use. If the fruit is dark brown and soft, it’s overripe and likely discolored inside. Just back away and select another fruit.
From breakfast to dinner and some tasty snacks in between, a few fruits are as versatile as the mighty avocado. These tips will ensure your next avocado purchase is as fresh and delicious as the recipe you are making.
A version of this article was published by Good Day Orange County. It has been republished here with permission.
