Credit: Rue La La/Avocados from Mexico
We’ve all been there – the coffee is perking, the toast is toasting, and you turn to grab your avocado only to realize that… it’s hard as a rock. Panic ensues. What will you have for breakfast? How long will it be until you’ll be able to sink your teeth into your favorite avocado toast again?!
Credit: Rue La La/Avocados from Mexico
Okay, that might be overdramatic, but finding that your avocado is nowhere near ripe when you’re hoping to whip up something quick and tasty is a total buzzkill. To help avoid those potentially breakfast-ruining scenarios, we’ve partnered with Avocados From Mexico to give you simple tips and tricks that will keep you – and your avos – happy. And on top of being 100% delicious, avocados are an amazing way to add a nutritional boost to your meals.
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They’re nutrient-dense, containing nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, and are a good source of dietary fiber and folate. One third of an avocado has 80 calories and 6 grams of unsaturated fat.
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Certified by the American Heart Association, avocados are also a source of good fats and nutrients and can be used as a substitute for foods that are higher in saturated fat.
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Eating avocados in place of foods containing saturated fat can help reduce the amount of saturated fat in the diet. Avocados are healthy and cholesterol- and sodium-free. Plus, the majority of the fruit’s fat content is monounsaturated.
PS: If you’re craving even more avo info, sign up for the Rue Now newsletter to get the download on additional recipes and healthy hacks from our friends at Avocados From Mexico!
Ready to become an avo expert? Let’s dive into the Q&A.
How do I ripen an avocado?
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Stash your avo in a brown paper bag along with a ripe banana. Ripe bananas emit a natural plant hormone called ethylene gas that triggers ripening in mature fruit, and the paper bag traps the ethylene. Depending on how ripe your avocado was when you bought it, you can ripen it overnight, so keep checking in. Bananas, right?
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No paper bags or bananas lying around? Uncooked rice also acts as a trap for ethylene gas. In a bowl, cover your avocado completely with rice. This can take a little longer than the paper bag method, so if you have more time, try the rice.
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The easiest way to ripen your avocado is by simply placing it in direct sunlight. Warmer temperatures ripen fruit faster, so this method works with other unripe fruit too.
My avocado is ripening too fast! What do I do?
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To slow the ripening process, just put your avocado in your fridge until you’re ready to use it. Easy.
How do I tell when an avocado is perfectly ripe?
There are three signs of a ripe avocado, and you need all of them before you cut it open!
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Color. Is the avocado dark green to nearly black or dark green with black speckles? Good signs. The darker, the better.
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Texture. Is it smooth or bumpy? A ripe avocado will have a bumpy surface, so if it’s still smooth, it needs more time.
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Firmness. If the avocado feels too hard, then it’s not ripe enough. If it yields to firm, gentle pressure without leaving an indentation, slice it. Mushy? It’s gone a bit too far.
What if I need an avocado in a few days, not today?
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To eat in 1 – 2 days, choose an avo that is dark green with black speckles, a slightly bumpy surface, and a somewhat-firm texture when gently pressed. After a day or two at room temperature, it will be ready to eat.
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To eat in 3 – 4 days, select a green avocado. The skin should be smooth, and it should be firm when you apply gentle pressure. Enjoy after a few days.
How do I store whole avocados?
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If your avocados are unripe, leave them out on your countertop in a bowl at room temperature and they’ll be perfect in a few days. See above for storage tips that can lead to quicker ripening!
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If your avocados are ripe, use them in your favorite recipe or store them in the fridge so that they don’t become overripe.
What’s the deal with storing half of an avocado?
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Remove the pit, immediately coat the flesh with fresh lemon juice, and wrap the half tightly in plastic wrap to protect it from the air, which will oxidize the avocado and result in browning. Store in the fridge.
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Another method is to submerge it in water. Place the avocado flesh-side down in a container of water and store in the fridge. This will keep it from browning for about two days.
Check out these tips (and so many more) at avocadosfrommexico.com.
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