Main content starts here, tab to start navigating

How To Pick The Perfect Avocado

Calling all guac aficionados! Have you ever wanted to make your own guacamole at home but didn't know how to pick the right avocados? We've broken down some of the important things to look for when to searching for the perfect avocados!

1. Color matters

a. When walking into the supermarket, you might see green, dark green or black avocados. Most green avocados are not ripe and ready to use. The dark green to black shades are colors you should be approaching and a good sign that they are ripe. Most green avocados aren’t ripe, depending on the brand of avocado but some brands have avocados with a light green tone that are actually ripe. Color is important, but not always reliable.

b. Decide when you would be using the avocados. If you’re making guacamole the same day you’re shopping, a dark green avocado is what you need. However if you’re using the avocados days after you purchase them, it’s best to buy them green so they can ripen perfectly at home and will be ready by the day you need them.

2. Feel the avocado

a. Feeling the firmness of the avocado is an easier tip than staring at the color of its skin. Hold the avocado in the palm of your hand and gently squeeze it. Try not to press with your fingertips because this can cause bruising. If the avocado feels soft but not too squishy, it is ripe and ready to eat. If it feels hard it is not ripe and if it is too squishy is overly ripe.

3. Stem test

a. If the stem is still attached, pull it off. If there is any resistance or the area where the stem was is light green, the avocado is not ready. If it easily comes off and the area around the stem is bright green, it’s perfect. If the area is a brown to dark green color, the avocado is overripe.

b. The stem test is the quickest and most reliable trick for determining the ripeness because you can easily view a part of the inside of the avocado and eliminates the risk of damaging the fruit by poking it with your fingertips.

These steps may be a bit overwhelming to remember all at once when shopping, but that’s okay, practice makes perfect!

OR

You can leave the guacamole making to the professionals and stop by Mad Dog & Beans for our fresh made-to-order guacamole! 

JULY 12, 2017