Ingredient Spotlight: How to Choose and Store Avocados
Posted by
The OVEN350 TeamRelated reading
The 5 Knives Every Home Cook Needs (And How to Use Them)
Master the essential knives every home cook should own, learn their uses, and improve your cooking efficiency and safety.
How to Perfectly Roast Any Vegetable: A Simple Chart
Master the art of roasting vegetables with our simple chart, golden rules, and tips for perfectly caramelized, crispy, and flavorful veggies every time.
Understanding Cooking Times: A Guide to Doneness
Learn how to cook with confidence by mastering doneness. Understand visual cues, internal temperatures, and use an instant-read thermometer for perfect results every time.
The avocado: a creamy superfood that stars on toast, tacos, and salads—but can also be a source of kitchen anxiety. With a little knowledge, you can confidently select, ripen, and store avocados perfectly.
Keywords: how to choose an avocado, when is an avocado ripe, how to store avocados, how to ripen an avocado, prevent avocado from browning
How to Choose a Ripe Avocado at the Store
Forget color—focus on feel and the stem trick.
- The Palm Test: Cradle the avocado in your palm and gently squeeze. Rock-hard = unripe, mushy = overripe, yields to gentle pressure = ripe.
- The Stem Trick: Flick off the small stem. Green underneath = perfect, brown underneath = overripe, won’t budge = not ripe yet.
How to Ripen and Store Avocados
To Ripen a Hard Avocado Faster
Place the avocado in a paper bag with a banana or apple. Close the bag and leave on the counter for 1-2 days. Ethylene gas from the fruits speeds ripening.
To Store a Whole, Ripe Avocado
Keep the ripe, uncut avocado in the refrigerator. Cold slows ripening and extends its life by 3-5 days.
To Store a Cut Avocado and Prevent Browning
- Leave the Pit In: Blocks part of the flesh from air exposure.
- Citrus Juice: Rub lemon or lime juice on the exposed flesh to prevent oxidation.
- Plastic Wrap: Press wrap directly onto the flesh surface to eliminate air bubbles.
- Water Method: Place the cut avocado face down in a container with ½-inch water and seal. Creates a perfect air barrier.
Now that you're an avocado expert, put your knowledge to work. OVEN350 offers countless recipes, from guacamole to creamy avocado pasta, to use your perfectly ripe fruit.
Sign up for free and find your next favorite avocado recipe!