How to choose a delicious avocado in the store

Exotic fruits and vegetables have long been brought from tropical and subtropical countries to Russian markets and supermarkets. How to choose an avocado in a store and not go wrong?

How to determine the ripeness of an avocado

The unripe fruit is tart and sour. It is impossible to eat it raw, and the taste of other dishes will not change for the better. How can you tell if a fruit is ripe right in the supermarket? Pay attention to two parameters: color and hardness.

Table 1. How to determine the ripeness of an avocado by appearance

If you are in doubt about the color, it is better to buy an unripe fruit. Wrap in a plastic bag and leave to ripen on the windowsill.

Do not confuse overripe fruit with the California Haas variety. The latter has a natural black color. It is considered one of the most delicious types of avocado. Its flesh is very oily and sweet.

And now about how hard a fresh fruit should be. Gently squeeze it in your palm.Do not touch the peel with your nails - it is quite fragile.

• If the fruit is hard, like a ripe apple, it means it is not yet ripe.
• Moderate firmness and elasticity indicate that the avocado is good and suitable for consumption.
• Softness, remaining dents after pressing, dark spots on the skin are signs that the exotic berry has already begun to rot. You should not choose soft avocados when purchasing.

So, you bought a ripe fruit. Now we need to figure out how to peel an avocado before eating.

Cleaning process

You can do a final ripeness check at home. Cut the cutting from the top, evaluate the color and smell. The pulp of the ripe berry is yellow-green and smells like oil. An unripe avocado fruit is pale yellow inside. Externally, the pulp is like a pear and has almost no odor.

Peeling an avocado is easy:

1. Wash the fruit under running water and wipe dry with a towel.
2. Use a sharp knife to make a longitudinal cut in a circle. Don't touch the bone.
3. Hold the avocado in your palms and hook your thumbs around the top.
4. With a little effort, divide the fruit into two halves.
5. Remove the bone by picking it up with a knife.
6. Using a teaspoon, remove the pulp from the skin.

Would you like to buy an avocado with a small pit at the store to get more valuable pulp after peeling? Choose Fuetre, Hass or Pinkerton varieties.

Like a ripe apple, a cut avocado immediately begins to darken and oxidize. To stop this process, sprinkle the pulp with lemon juice.

The shelf life of the fruit in the refrigerator is 2-3 days. I wonder how they eat it?

How to eat avocado correctly

You can eat avocados raw, but this food is not for everyone. The taste is reminiscent of butter with herbs. Sometimes you can smell the aroma of pine nuts.The delicate taste will be an excellent addition to vegetable salads, meat and fish dishes, sauces, and desserts.

Can I eat the peel and pit?

The pit and peel contain a dangerous substance - persin. This is a fungicidal toxin that can cause an allergic reaction, poisoning and deterioration in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract in humans. In animals and birds it is fatal.

In addition, the peel is treated with antifungal drugs before storage and transportation. So eat only the pulp.

What dishes do you add avocado to?

A tasty and tender avocado goes well with almost any dish, but the most successful combination with it is formed by the following products:

• lemons, limes, oranges and other citruses;
• tomatoes;
• arugula;
• soft cheeses;
• processed cheeses;
• meat;
• fish;
• seafood;
• crab sticks.

Due to the high oil content, the pulp is added to baked goods, desserts, and various sauces. It is also included in vegan rolls.

3 interesting recipes

We would like to offer you several recipes for healthy dishes that can be prepared with the addition of avocado.

Guacamole sauce

Famous Mexican recipe. The sauce goes well with meat and fish dishes, pasta. You can spread it on bread and put a thin slice of cheese on top.

Products you will need:

• 5 avocados;
• 3 tbsp. l. lemon juice;
• 0.5 bunch of cilantro;
• 1 tomato;
• 2 cloves of garlic;
• salt (to taste).

Mash the main ingredient into a smooth puree and immediately add lemon juice. Finely chop the tomato (without skin) and cilantro. Mix all ingredients and add salt. Guacamole sauce is ready!

Banana-avocado smoothie

A hearty drink that will replace your breakfast, afternoon snack or dinner.

1. Remove the pulp from one avocado and puree it. Add the juice of half a lemon.
2. Cut the banana into small slices.
3. Finely chop 100 grams of spinach.
4. Add all the ingredients listed above to the blender. Add to them 1 tbsp. l. honey and 200 ml of water (or better yet, use plant-based milk, such as almond or oat milk).
5. Beat the mixture on high for 2 minutes.

Now all that remains is to pour the smoothie into glasses and enjoy the delicate taste.

"Green" ice cream

Making avocado ice cream is easier than you think. Prepare mashed avocado pulp. Add the juice of one lemon and 2 teaspoons of honey (or berry jam). Beat the mixture in a blender for 3 minutes. All that remains is to put the future dessert in a mold and freeze.

Avocado definitely deserves a place on your table. Its pulp will perfectly complement vegetable salads, meat and fish, and will serve as a useful ingredient for making sauces, desserts and drinks. To select a ripe fruit, pay attention to color and firmness. Luckily, you can find avocados on sale throughout the year.