How to Pick the Perfect Avocado: A Simple Guide
If you’ve ever sliced open an avocado only to find a stringy, brown mess—or a stubborn rock-hard pit—you’re not alone. Picking the perfect avocado can feel like a guessing game. But with a few simple tricks, you can become an avocado-picking pro and ensure your guacamole (or avocado toast) dreams stay intact.
Step 1: Know Your Avocado Goals
Before you even touch an avocado, ask yourself: When do I plan to eat this?
Today or tomorrow? Go for a ripe avocado.
In 3–5 days? Choose a firm, unripe one.
Just browsing for the week ahead? Pick a few at different ripeness stages.
Step 2: Color is Clue #1
For Hass avocados, which are the most common:
Bright green: Not ripe yet.
Dark green to black: Likely ripe or close to ripe.
Very black or wrinkly skin: May be overripe.
Note: Other varieties like Fuerte or Bacon stay green even when ripe, so color alone isn’t always a perfect indicator.
Step 3: Give It a Gentle Squeeze
Hold the avocado in the palm of your hand and gently press with your fingers (don’t poke!):
Hard as a rock: Not ripe.
Gives slightly with pressure: Ripe and ready!
Very soft or mushy: Probably overripe.
Think of it like checking a peach or plum—you're looking for a little give, not a squish.
Step 4: Check the Stem Trick
This little trick can be a game-changer:
Pop off the small stem cap at the top.
If it comes off easily and the color underneath is green, it’s perfect.
If it’s brown underneath, it might be overripe.
If the stem doesn’t come off, it’s probably not ready yet.
Bonus Tips:
Don’t rely on just one test—use all the clues together.
Store unripe avocados at room temp. Once ripe, refrigerate to slow further ripening.
To ripen faster, place avocados in a paper bag with a banana or apple. Ethylene gas = speedier ripening!
In Summary: Picking a good avocado is about color, feel, and a little stem peek. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be slicing into perfect green gold every time.
Got any avo hacks of your own? Drop them in the comments please!
Try some of previous avocado recipes:
Avocado Salad Dressing and Dip. delicious on any salad
Mexican Guacamole! Ole !!
Avocado Caprese Appetizer Platter a delightful appetizer
How to freeze an avocado before it goes brown
Rice, Tomato, and Avocado Salad (yum)
My Notes:
I'm still traveling but I'll be back commenting on your blogs mid- June. I set up some posts to publish prior to leaving for my cruise and family wedding in Spain!!
Hass is my favourite sort. The avocados on the first picture ain't good at all. They are cheaper, but not as creamy as Hass.
ReplyDeleteThese are terrific tips. I always wing it -- with varying results (often TOO ripe). Now I am armed with information! YAY! And thanks!
ReplyDeleteWe have avocado in our (almost) daily salads. Delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you for Avocado 101!
ReplyDeleteNice! I will be able to pick a better avocado, now. And for the bags of Avocados, i can figure it out, at home!
ReplyDeleteWe usually buy hard avocado's to ripen at home, and do the stem test to know when to cut them.
ReplyDeleteTandy (Lavender and Lime) https://tandysinclair.com
I do enjoy avocados.
ReplyDeleteHope you are enjoying your cruise and family wedding.
All the best Jan
Love when Aldi runs a sale on these. I love the minis. So fun. Though I like the larger ones too, the minis are just fun. Hope you're having a yummy weekend. Cheers, Ivy.
ReplyDeletethis was really good for me to read, i never get it right!! the appetizer looks so appetizing, i will have to try that!!
ReplyDeleteI always use the stem cap method and so far it's worked well for years.
ReplyDeleteThis is incredibly helpful! Mastering the art of selecting the perfect avocado can be a bit of a challenge, so a guide like 'How to Select an Avocado: Become a Pro' is exactly what every avocado lover needs. I'm excited to learn the tricks to consistently pick a ripe, ready-to-eat gem every single time! Baker Skills in USA
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! Definitely adding the stem trick to my avo-checking routine.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your travels, and thanks for the helpful guide!
Your stem hack is brilliant. I have never thought to try this before, but I will now. Thank you sharing these tricks, there's nothing worse than spending a small fortune for an avocado only to find out later it's brown inside!!
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a wonderful time in Spain.
ReplyDeleteI love a good avocado, and Yes, it's hard to get just the right one. So, to play it safe and that they are not going to be mushy, I tend to get the harder ones, and then wait til it just the right time to use it. Avocados really make the meals, don't they? I hope you are enjoying these June days.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
**oh, and I wanted to mention, thanks for your comment on the de-cluttering post. I think even though your kids want very little of your things, I always think it's a good idea to sort out and get rid of the things we don't want anymore, cause they will have to do that someday, and I hear so many stories about people going through that. Of course, keep it charming cause we still live there, but do we really need what's in all those boxes in closets and drawers? That's what I've been doing little by little. ; )
Thanks for the tip about the stem. I never knew that, but will be using it from now on!
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a blast on your trip!!