Bought an avocado and screwed up? Learn to identify ripe fruit at a glance

Exotic fruits and vegetables have long been brought from tropical and subtropical countries to Russian markets and to supermarkets. How to choose an avocado in the store and not miscalculate? People are already used to bananas, oranges and kiwi and have learned how to correctly determine ripeness. Another thing avocados is still a curiosity for the local market.

Meet Avocado

Do you think an avocado is a fruit or vegetable? The fruit grows on an evergreen tree of the laurel family. From the point of view of botany, it is considered a single-seeded berry, although the taste does not feel sweet. Outwardly, the fruit looks like a pear with a rough peel and even has an alternative name in Russian - “alligator pear”.

How to determine the ripeness of avocados

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

Table 1. How to determine the ripeness of avocados in appearance

If you doubt 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 Californian Haas. The latter has a natural black color. It is considered one of the most delicious types of avocados. Its flesh is very buttery and sweet.

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

• If the fruit is hard, like a ripe apple, then it has not yet ripened.
• Moderate hardness and firmness indicate that the avocado is good and suitable for use.
• The 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 a soft avocado when buying.

So, you bought a ripe fruit. Now you need to figure out how to clean it before use.

Cleaning process

At home, you can spend the last ripeness test. Cut the cuttings on top, evaluate the color and smell. The pulp of a ripe berry is yellow-green, smells of oil. The unripe fruit of the avocado inside is pale yellow. Outwardly, the flesh-like flesh is almost odorless.

Avocados are easy to clean:

1. Wash the fruit under running water and dry with a towel.
2. Use a sharp knife to make a longitudinal cut in a circle. Do not touch the bone.
3. Take an avocado in the palm of your hand and catch your thumbs on the top.
4. With a little effort, divide the fetus into two halves.
5. Remove the bone by picking it up with a knife.
6. Use a teaspoon to free the flesh from the skin.

Would you like to buy an avocado with a small bone in the store to get more valuable pulp after cleaning? Choose Fuetre, Hass or Pinkerton.

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

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

How to eat avocado

Avocados can also be eaten raw, but this is food for everyone. It tastes like butter with greens.Sometimes the aroma of pine nuts is felt. Delicate taste will be a great addition to a salad of vegetables, for meat and fish dishes, sauces, desserts.

Is it possible to eat peel and bone?

The bone and peel contain a dangerous substance - persin. This is a fungicidal toxin that can cause an allergic reaction in a person, poisoning and impaired functioning of the digestive tract. In animals and birds - death.

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

What dishes do avocados add to?

Tasty and tender avocados are combined with almost any dish, but the following products form the most successful ensemble with it:

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

Due to the high oil content, pulp is added to pastries, desserts, and various sauces. It is also part of vegan rolls.

3 interesting recipes

We want to offer you some recipes for healthy dishes that can be prepared with the addition of avocados.

Guacamole sauce

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

Of the products you will need:

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

Mash the main ingredient in mashed potatoes with a uniform consistency and immediately add lemon juice. Finely chop the tomato (without peel) and cilantro. Mix all the ingredients and 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 mash it. Add the juice of half a lemon.
2. Cut a banana into small circles.
3. Finely chop 100 grams of spinach.
4. Add all of the above ingredients to the blender. Add to them 1 tbsp. l honey and 200 ml of water (and it is better to take vegetable milk, such as almond or oatmeal).
5. Beat mixture at high power for 2 minutes.

Now it remains only to pour the smoothies into glasses and enjoy the delicate taste.

Green Ice Cream

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

Avocados definitely deserve a place on your desk. Its pulp will perfectly complement vegetable salads, meat and fish, and will serve as a useful ingredient for making sauces, desserts and drinks. To choose a ripe fruit, pay attention to color and hardness. Fortunately, you can find avocados for sale all year long.