People around the globe love avocados for their creamy texture, rich flavor, and incredible health benefits. But the key to enjoying your favorite type of avocado is knowing how to pick them. Here’s a foolproof guide to make every avocado you buy the perfect avocado.
What is an Avocado?
Believe it or not, avocados are technically a fruit—more specifically, a berry with a large seed. They come in many varieties (there are over 500 varieties worldwide), but the Hass avocado is the most popular due to its creamy texture and rich taste.
Health Benefits
Even if they weren’t a super healthy superfood, people would probably still love them. But the fact is avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats, the kind of fats that support heart health and help lower bad cholesterol. They are a nutrient dense powerhouse containing fiber, potassium, folate, and vitamins C, E, K, and B6. They are great for glowing skin and strong, shiny hair. And because of their fiber and healthy fats avocados help regulate blood sugar levels. They’re all good for you with no guilt required!
Picking Perfection
Choosing the perfect avocado can be tricky. Basically, it depends on when you plan to eat it. Here’s what you need to know:
1: Check the Color
- Unripe: Bright green
- Ripe and Ready: Dark green to almost black with a slightly bumpy texture
- Overripe: Very dark, almost black, and mushy
2: Give It a Gentle Squeeze
- Too Hard? It’s not ripe yet—wait a few days.
- Slightly Soft, with a Bit of Give? Perfectly ripe!
- Too Mushy? It’s overripe and may be brown inside.
3: Peek Under the Stem
- Bright Green? The avocado is just right!
- Brown? It’s likely overripe inside.
- Difficult to Remove? It needs more ripening.
Pro Tip: Need to ripen an avocado quickly? Place it in a brown paper bag with a banana or apple. The ethylene gas speeds up the ripening process.
The Perfect Guacamole Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 ripe Hass avocados
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 1 jalapeño, minced (optional for spice)
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- Juice of 1 lime
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon cumin (optional, for depth of flavor)
Instructions
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cut the avocados in half, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh into a bowl.
Then mash the avocados with a fork, leaving some chunks for texture.
Stir in the onion, tomato, jalapeño, and cilantro.
Add the lime juice, salt, and cumin (if using). Mix well.
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately! Enjoy for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Nutritional Information (Per Serving, ~2 Tablespoons):
Calories: 80; Fat: 7g (Healthy Monounsaturated Fats); Carbs: 4g; Fiber: 2g; Protein: 1g
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