Did you know avocado has royal roots? That is probably the reason behind its high prices. Jokes aside! As per the latest reports, avocados were utilized as gifts and tributes from Townspeople to Mesoamerica Royalty. Lately, avocados have hit the list of favorites and everyone wants an entry pass to Avocado Bandwagon. Let’s explore how to choose a good avocado. 

1.  Importance of Avocado

All the nutritionists and doctors admire this luscious fruit in unison. Avocados are warehouses of good nutrients like Magnesium, Potassium, Riboflavin, Pantothenic acid, fiber, folate, and Vitamins A, C, E,  and K. These contain high levels of good fats, which help you feel fuller for a longer duration.

Moreover, Vitamin E adds glow to your face and ensures healthy skin. Avocados claim to shield you from heart diseases. All thanks to Potassium, Fiber, Monounsaturated fatty acids, and Vitamin E present in it. Everyone craves the satisfaction of savoring a perfectly ripe avocado. Let’s learn about its intricacies.

2. Types of Avocado

While we know just a few types of avocados, you’d be startled to know that there are hundreds of variants. Some of them are hybrid. These are created by combining two parent species.

This luscious fruit can be classified into two major categories i.e. A-type or B-type cultivators. Let’s learn more about them

2.1 A-type Cultivators

The floweration and pollination behavior of the flowers of avocado plants is responsible for the rising differences between the two varieties. The flowers of A-type bloom as female in the early- daylight and shed pollen as male in the afternoon.

Some of the prominent names of this family are Reed, Gwen, Maluma, Lula, and Hass. Among these, Hass is the year-round beauty, fetching its roots from California.

2.2 B-type Cultivators

On the other hand, B-type flowers shed pollen in the morning and accept pollen in the afternoon. Brogden, Cleopatra, Fuerte, Bacon, Monroe, and Zutano avocados are the vivid variants of B-type cultivators.  These have distinctive savory tastes. However, Fuerte is known to be a close contestant of Hass Avocados.

Now, let’s delve deeper to know about the stages of Avocado’s life.

3. Stages of Ripening and How to Choose Good Avocados? 

It’s interesting to explore Avocado’s life cycle. This newly introduced staple to health-conscious tribes is known for its creamy, nutty flavor, and numerous health benefits it provides. The crucial step is to distinguish between its various stages, as it aids you in choosing the best one for you.

3.1 Stage 1: Unripe Avocados/ Firm

Unripe avocados are firm and hard. These avocados are mostly darker green. They are not ready to eat yet and will not yield to gentle pressure.

You are supposed to wait for 4-5 days until you can prepare to serve them.

Here’s a quick hack to ripen your Avocados. Store unripe Avocados in a bowl or a brown paper bag with an apple or banana and leave it at room temperature for a day or two. Thereafter, you will be all set to relish it. You can also choose to keep it in direct sunlight to fasten the ripening process.

3.2 Stage 2: Pre-ripened/ Breaking

During this stage,  the avocados come in varying vibrant shades of green. These are comparatively less firm than Stage 1 Avocados. You can analyze its firmness by cutting it into two halves.

The seed will not get removed easily and it’ll take a little more effort to get mashed properly. It’ll take approximately two days to ripen when kept at room temperature.

3.3 Stage 3: Ripe/ Ready to Eat Avocado

Well-rip avocados are usually dark green/black/dark brown. However, sometimes we may have other shades too. It is also recommended to check the feel/ texture along with the color.

The texture of a ripe avocado is slightly soft and it yields to pressure. This powerhouse of nutrients should be consumed within 3-4 days.

You can mold it into guacamole, and hummus, or spread and let your stomach enjoy the heavenly vibes.

3.4 Stage 4: Overripe

It’s easy to scout the overripe avocado by pressing it gently. It feels extra soft and mushy. As you cut it, you’ll see brownish or dark yellow flesh.

You can smell it to know if it’s still edible. A spoiled avocado has a stale and rancid smell and should be avoided.

4. Mastering Selection: How to Choose a Good Avocado?

Many individuals seek perfection. These tips on how to choose a good avocado will help you make a robust choice of avocados.

4.1 Visual Indicators

The first step is to look for the best visual indicators. Analyze its color, texture, skin, and appearance.

4.1.1 Color: Sense the Shades!

The first thing that any buyer notices is the Avocado’s color. If you plan on eating Avocado on the same day, go for fresh avocados (Stage 3). It’ll usually have a darker color (darker green, dark brown, black, eggplant, or mulberry).

Breaking Avocados are best for those who likes to serve them in two days. The color is usually dark green with speckles of black at random spots. However, if you’re planning to store them for four to five days, buy Avocados that are under-ripe (Stage 1).

4.1.2 Know the Right Texture!

A good Avocado has a slightly bumpy texture. Make sure the fruit is not scratched. Usually during shipment, avocados tend to get bruised if not handled carefully. You should avoid such type of avacados. 

4.1.3 Squeeze it Till You Know it!

You can feel the avocado’s skin to check its ripeness level. If it appears firm and hard, that indicates that it’s not ripe yet. Stock it only if you’d like to use them in 4-6 days. The simple rule is the harder the avocado feels, the longer it’ll take to ripen.

Avoid buying avocados if they appear to be too soft and mushy. The chances are it’ll be overripe and might smell rancid as you uncover it. A perfectly ripe avocado will have a bumpy texture and will not feel too mushy. That’s a good sign and it can be eaten on the same day.

4.1.4 Secret Lies in the Stem

You can check how good is avocado by plucking the stem. If the stem falls off easily, then it is an overripe Avocado with mushy flesh. Avoid avocados with such characteristics.

While you peel off the cap or stem, if it pops out and you see the green flesh underneath, that points to a nice Avocado. Contrary to this, brown flesh indicates an overripe one. 

4.1.5 Rind off to Explore        

While you peel an Avocado, some would require a lot more effort than others. It entirely depends upon your personal preference. If you’re in a hurry to make your guacamole or any other delicacy, go for the one that rinds off easily. 

Note that peeling characteristics depend upon its variety. Your easy-to-peel avocados are Zutano, Pinkerton, Hass, Gwen, Fuerto, and Reed. Ettinger takes a little longer to get its outer covering removed.

5. Desirable Taste

Those who long for scrumptious Avocados, know the perils of choosing the wrong one. This fruit is on the expensive side and often referred to as luxury fruit in some countries. Hence, you can not afford a bad taste.

Fret not! We’ve elucidated the guide to choose the best Avocado. Now we’ll share the secret flavors so that you can finalize your flavor profile.

5.1 Hass Avocados

The most popular among the crowd is Hass and it has a creamy, buttery texture. It is a little sweet and nutty in flavor, with 20% or more oil content. This Californian beauty is extensively used in salads, guacamole, and other dishes.

5.2 Reed Avocados

These are comparatively bigger and appear green, even when they’re ripe. Found between May to October, they have a dense, rich, and nutty taste preferred for cooked preparations. Additionally, these provide Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.

5.3 Bacon Avocados

Some consumers have remarked its taste as monotonous or bland since it possesses a subtle nutty flavor, not as pronounced as in Hass and Fuertes.

5.4 Fuertes Avocados

With 18%-20% oil content, and soft and easy-to-peel skin, the Fueres avocados is one has a smooth creamy flavor with hues of hazelnut and lemony flavor. It often competes with Hass and is known to have higher water content.

5.5 Gwen Avocados

This pebbly-skinned variety is massively produced and owns a rich buttery, nutty taste. It also shines in a green shade as it ripens.

5.6 Pinkerton Avocados

Preferred choice for gourmet dishes boasts its creamy texture and nutty taste. As you mash it, it smoothens giving you the fine-dining feel.

7. Conclusion – How to Choose a Good Avocado

Voila! You’ve learned how to choose a good avocado. Imagine a nice sunny morning, and your breakfast table fabricated with a well-seasoned Avocado salad, a nice Avocado toast with salt, pepper, olive oil, and a nice morning drink – that’s like a paradise. We heard you saying WOW!

You’re all set to pick up fresh, ripe avocados from the grocery store and cook mouth-watering recipes, further click on Instagram. Happy buying!