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How can you tell if an avocado is ripe?
- A ripe avocado is relatively firm, but will yield to gentle pressure when held in the palm of the hand and squeezed.
- Color cannot always be trusted to determine whether or not an avocado is ripe. Indeed, the squeeze test is the most accurate.
- If you plan to use avocados immediately, buy them when they are already ripe.
Can you control the ripening process?
- If you don't plan to use them for a few days buy them when they are harder and don't yield to squeezing, then set them out in a cool place and allow them to ripen.
- Avocados that haven't fully ripened will lack flavor.
If you need the avocados to ripen faster, they can be kept in a paper bag at room temperature in a dark place, an apple added to the bag will speed up the ripening process even more.
- To slow down ripening, refrigerate them until a few days before use.
Once you cut into an avocado...
- You want to eat it as quickly as possible. Avocados will quickly brown when exposed to air, even if refrigerated.
- You can skim the brown layer from the surface of the avocado and make use of the rest.
- A good way to stop browning is to sprinkle lime or lemon juice over the avocado (especially in guacamole form).
- Another good technique is to put the avocado seed in the bowl with your guacamole or
to cover the exposed flesh with plastic wrap to slow oxidation.
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