How to Tell If an Avocado Is Ripe
When examining which avocados you want to blend into a smoothie or transform into guacamole, rely on how the fruit appears and feels. Here’s what to look for:
Look for a dark green to almost black exterior
Ripe avocados will have a skin that’s dark green or nearly black. If an avocado is green, or dark green with black specks, it’s not quite ready to enjoy.
Feel for bumpy skin
Avocados that are ready to eat will have a bumpy, not smooth, skin. If the skin is too smooth, put the avocado back. It needs another day or two to ripen.
Give it a squeeze
Go ahead and give the avocado a gentle squeeze. If it’s ripe, it should yield to firm, gentle pressure without leaving indentations or feeling mushy. If it’s mushy, it’s likely overripe and not a good avocado to bring home.
6 Ways to Use Ripe Avocados
Spring Green Salad
Not only does this salad call for avocado mixed in, alongside romaine lettuce, chives, mint, pistachios, chopped cucumber, snap peas, and edamame, but you’ll also find avocado in the dressing. For the salad topper, ripe avocado is blended with yogurt, lemon juice, and an anchovy filet.
Bacon, Avocado, and Tomato Scramble
If you’re craving avocado for breakfast and want to go beyond slathering it on a piece of toast, try adding some ripe avocado slices to your morning scramble. In this version, pieces of the creamy green fruit mingle with crispy bacon, sliced onion and tomatoes, and, of course, fluffy scrambled eggs.
Chicken and Avocado Rice Bowl
There’s no need for extra sides with this dish, which consists of colorful veggies, lean chicken cutlets, fluffy white rice, and a satiating ripe avocado half. Top with sliced scallions and hot sauce and dig in.
Spanish Beef and Rice Bowls With Avocado
Beef and rice is a classic combo, and pitted green olives along with capers and cumin give this Spanish-inspired dish plenty of rich flavor. Top it off with a sizable chunk of avocado to help balance out all of those flavors and you’re good to go.
Homemade Guacamole
Guacamole is at its best when it’s made with perfectly ripe avocados. Add a shower of chopped cilantro, plenty of fresh lime juice, some spicy jalapeño slices, and a pinch of salt, and all that’s missing is a bag of tortilla chips.
Coffee-Tahini Smoothie
Avocado is a superstar smoothie ingredient that lends a delectable creaminess to whatever drink it’s blended into. In this recipe, a ripe avocado half is combined with strong brewed coffee, tahini, frozen banana slices, ground cinnamon, and unsweetened cocoa powder.
