How to choose a ripe avocado and what to do if you bought a green one

American scientists have stated that eating one avocado a day improves concentration in adults. However, they forgot to specify: eating one ripe avocado.

But how do you choose a ripe avocado? How to bring home the perfect fruit - neither rotten nor green? OBOZREVATEL tells you about the points to look for when choosing an avocado and also shares life hacks on how to bring an unripe fruit to the right condition.

Firmness

Feel the avocado, and press the skin with your finger, it should be soft. An avocado that is too soft means that it is either rotten or overripe. A fruit that is too hard indicates that the avocado is still green.

Tail

The stalk of the avocado should be easily separated from the fruit, but the color underneath should be light yellow with a greenish tint. If the tail falls off on its own, and the skin underneath is dark in color or, even worse, has mold, it is better not to buy such an avocado. Most likely, this fruit is rotten.

The color of the skin

We don't recommend focusing on the peel, as its color depends on the type of avocado. For example, the skin of a Haas avocado is purple-black. The peel of other varieties, such as Fuerte or Zuta, is smooth and has a bright green color that does not darken even after full ripening.

The only thing that can be advised here is that if you choose fruits of the same variety, then take those avocados that are slightly darker. But don't forget to squeeze it with your fingers and check the tail. And yes, it really doesn't matter what color the skin is, as long as it is free of rotten areas, cuts, and any other damage.

What to do with an unripe avocado

If you bought a green avocado, don't worry. Several life hacks will help you bring it to the right condition.

• Wrap the avocado in several layers of paper (kraft, newspaper, unnecessary documents) and leave it in a dark place at room temperature. The avocado will become ripe in a few days.

• Put the avocado with other fruits, such as apples or bananas. They give off ethylene, which speeds up the ripening process.
• Do not leave avocados in the sun, for example, on a windowsill or on a table near a window. There is a risk that it will simply "burn", that is, harden and turn black.
• Heat it in the oven. Wrap in foil and place in a 90-degree oven. Bake for at least 10 minutes (the exact time depends on the degree of immaturity of the fruit). This method can be used if you don't have the energy to wait until the avocado is soft. Keep in mind that heating in the oven is cooking the avocado, not the natural ripening process. Therefore, the texture of the flesh will be different from a ripe avocado.