How to Select and Prep the Perfect Avocado

Unlike other fruits, avocados do not ripen on the tree, they begin their ripening process after they are harvested. Selecting the perfect avocado is simple, deciding what your going to use it for isn't.

Step 1: Decide when you will be using the avocado

• If you plan on eating it the next day- Test the avocado by placing it in your palm and gently squeezing, if ripe it will be slightly firm but yield to gentle pressure. You can also look underneath the stem, if its green than the avocado is ripe.
• If you are not using it for a couple of days- Pick an avocado that is firm.
• Avoid fruit with dark blemishes or spots

Step 2: Handling the Avocado

• Its important to thoroughly wash the fruit in cold water before slicing it
• Place on clean cutting board
• Cut your ripe avocado in half, lengthwise around the seed and rotate the halves to separate
• Remove the seed by gently sliding a spoon between the seed and the flesh and lifting up.
• Discard the seed or save it to grow your own avocado tree
• To extract the flesh of the fruit you can peel off the skin or slide a spoon between the skin and the flesh. You can also just scoop it out. Which ever way you prefer.

Step 3: Preparing and Storing

• Once you have the flesh out, you have endless possibilities
  • Slice and put over a salad
  • Cut in chunks and toss with tomatoes, cilantro, parsley, onions, salt and pepper for a new spin on salsa
  • Puree for baby food
  • Make avocado key lime pie for dessert
• Once the flesh of the avocado has been exposed to air it is important to squeeze lemon or lime juice over it to prevent browning
• To store squeeze lemon juice over the top and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator

Tips on Ripening

• Place firm fruit on the counter for a few days to ripen
• To speed up ripening process place it in a paper bag with an apple or banana for a day or two
• Early in the season avocados will take 6-9 days to ripen. Late in the season it will take 1-5 days.