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How to Select Avocados
When buying avocados, be sure to look for fruits that are relatively free of bruises or skin defects. Avocado skin has a formidable barrier from outside damage.
Skin blemishes will rarely affect the inside pulp quality. A good avocado will feel heavy for its size, meaning it has a lot of moisture. Ripe avocados that are ready to eat will most likely have a Calavo RipeNow!™ sticker on the fruit and will yield to pressure when gently squeezed. If pressing leaves a dent, the avocado is very ripe and suitable for mashing. Be sure to stock up on all stages of fruit; fruits which will ripen in 3-4 days, fruits which will ripen in 2-3 days, and of course, ripe fruit for tonight.
From time to time, some avocados may have brown scaling on the outside skin. This is a result of Scirtothrips, a pest that eats the chlorophyll off the avocado skin when it is in the earliest growing stage. Do not be discouraged from buying these fruits. Although it affects the aesthetics of the avocado, the inside fruit is undamaged and edible.
How to Cut Avocados
- Using a sharp knife, cut the avocado in half, lengthwise around the seed.
- Rotate the two halves to separate.
- Slip a spoon between the seed and the pulp and work the seed out.
- To peel the avocado half, place the cut side down and remove the skin with your fingers or with a knife.
- If the flesh is very soft, just scoop the fruit away from the skin with a spoon.
- Squeeze lemon or lime juice on all cut surfaces to keep the fruit from browning.
| | Is it ripe yet?
Judging the ripeness of avocados is easy, once you know what to look for. Many stores now carry pre-conditioned avocados in varying degrees of ripeness. You may ask, what is "pre-conditioning"? Avocados that are pre-conditioned have been exposed to ethylene in a controlled environment so that the fruit will ripen in a uniform and predictable manner. Not to worry though, this is a perfectly safe process. Like many fruits, avocados produce their own ethylene which triggers the fruit pulp to begin converting starch to sugar, thereby ripening the fruit.
Hass avocados, when unripe, are green. As they begin to ripen, the skin turns a purplish-black color and will yield to slight pressure. Hass avocados that are partially black in skin color will be ripe in 2 -3 days. Greenskin varieties such as Bacon, Fuerte, Reed or Zutano will retain their green skin color. Judge ripeness by applying slight pressure to the fruit or look for Calavo’s RipeNow!™ Sticker.
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Ripening at Home
When you buy hard, green, unripened avocados, place them in a fruit bowl and store them at room temperature until they soften. To speed up the ripening process, simply place the avocados in a brown paper bag with another fruit, such as an apple, bananas or citrus fruit, as they release a high level of ethylene.
Once avocados are at a desired stage of ripeness, they may be refrigerated for up to 2 - 3 days.
Freezing Avocados at Home
Fresh avocados do not freeze well. However, for best freezing results, mash, puree or make guacamole with your ripe fruits.
- Select ripe, softened fruit, then peel and remove the seed.
- Puree, mash or make guacamole.
- Pack into freezer containers.
- Squeeze enough lemon or lime juice to cover the top. This will prevent browning.
- Use within a few months.
Health & Beauty
Not only are avocados a source of good nutrition, but they're also good for your skin. Scientists have found that avocado oil penetrates the skin more quickly than any other oils. Skin vitamins A, C, and E, found in avocados, are in a rare water-soluable form. Research has show that vitamins A, C, and E may reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. As a result, cosmetic companies around the world are exploring the use of avocados in skin enhancement products. Avocados are also rich in the anti-oxidents, vitamin E and glutathione that prevent damage from free radicals and have the ability to stimulate collagen rebuilding. So, it's not surprising that avocados are being used to develop various skin and hair care products.
Treat yourself to a refreshing body scrub or a relaxing facial with avocados. These recipes are easy to make and try at home.
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