Tips for the perfect avocado
Avocados are delicate fruits. Appearances are often deceiving, and when you cut one open you may discover that it isn’t ripe yet. Or it may spoil during the hours when you’re not paying close enough attention. Nightmarish scenarios, one by one, that will be a thing of the past with these tips.
First, look at the color: the darker the skin, the riper the avocado. Are there dents in the skin? Bad sign. Then check how firm or soft the avocado is. Absolutely do not do this with your fingertips. Don’t squeeze too hard, as you’ll bruise the avocado. Wrap your whole hand around the avocado and gently squeeze to feel whether it gives slightly.
Ripen faster
Do you want your avocado to ripen faster? Store it in a bag with ripe bananas, tomatoes or apples. Ripe fruit releases ethylene: a gas that speeds up the ripening process. Don’t expect this trick to work wonders in a short time; the process takes around three to four days. If you want the opposite effect and would like to keep your avocado longer, we have a tip for that too. Put it in the refrigerator once it has reached optimal ripeness, and it will stay that way for about seven days.
Storing
Do you only need half an avocado? Or have you made guacamole and want to store it? Drizzle it with lime juice, lemon juice or vinegar. A trick that is also often recommended is leaving the pit in the avocado or putting it in the guacamole. Experiences in the editorial office vary, but in any case, it is better than leaving the pit out altogether.
Lasts extra long?
The Californian company Apeel Sciences has launched a new product. A powder made from recycled plants to improve the quality of fruit and vegetables without affecting their taste or texture. The powder effectively adds an extra skin, making the fruit last twice as long. The powder is not yet available in Europe, so until then we’ll have to make do with these tips.
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