Avocados can be used in a long list of different dishes, but the real trouble starts once you notice that the ones you bought aren’t perfectly ripe. To avoid this problem, follow these three short steps to determine how ripe avocados at your local grocery store really are before buying them.
Step 1: Color
Most people rely on visual cues when determining the ripeness of certain fruits. This method doesn’t always work, but it can come in handy in the case of avocados. The ones with dark green or nearly black skin are ripe enough and can be eaten right away. That’s not the case with green avocados and you’ll wait for them to ripen before eating them.
Step 2: Texture
The texture is another external factor that will help you determine an avocado’s ripeness. Avocados that have a bumpy texture, in addition to dark green color, are usually perfectly ripe and ready for consumption, but that’s rarely the case with smooth ones.
Step 3: Firmness
If color and texture aren’t giving you enough cues about the ripeness of avocados, it’s time to check their firmness. Ripe avocados usually feel feels slightly soft but not too mushy when you gently squeeze them because they’re one of those fruits that soften as they ripen.
