Avocados:These deliciously creamy yet healthy superfoods have made their way into many of our favorite breakfast and lunch recipes. But it can be frustrating to cut into an avocado only to find that the insides are too ripe – or rock hard! Here are some simple tips for buying and ripening a perfect avocado so you can enjoy a perfectly ripe avocado every time.
Avocados are now available all year round in the Netherlands, so you know you're getting fresh avocados on your plate. Rich in vitamin B to fight fatigue and monounsaturated fats to support heart health, avocados are a true superfood to always have in your kitchen.
You can easily tell if your avocado is ready to eat by looking at the color and feeling the firmness of the fruit. The two questions to ask yourself are:
Is the skin purple-black? Avocados change color from green when unripe, to purplish-black when ripe, so it should be easy to tell which avocado to take out of your fruit bowl first.
Is the top of the avocado soft? Gently press the top of the avocado near the stem to make sure it is soft. When the avocado is soft with a purplish-black exterior, it is ready to eat. If it feels firm and the skin is greenish-black, wait one to two days. If it is hard and olive green in color, it is best to wait two to three days.
The best way to store your avocados is in a fruit bowl on your kitchen bench. They will mature over time, but you can speed things up; simply put unripe avocados in a brown paper bag with a ripe banana or apple for two to three days. The plant hormone ethylene, which occurs naturally in fruits such as apples and bananas, activates the ripening process. Once ripe, you can place the whole avocado in the refrigerator to maintain optimal ripeness for two to three days until you are ready to use it.
Are you only using half an avocado? No problem. Wrap the other half in cling film to remove all air and store in the refrigerator to extend the shelf life. To prevent the flesh from browning, sprinkle lemon juice or vinegar over the sliced avocado before sealing and refrigerating.
