How to choose the right avocado and where to store it so that it doesn't become overripe: expert advice. Exclusive

Avocado is a healthy and tasty product that contains a lot of vitamins, especially K. The fruit also contains a lot of easily digestible monounsaturated fats and absolutely no cholesterol. Experts recommend eating this product for people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system, but it is important to remember that people with allergies should avoid eating it.

Victoria Stelmakh, founder of the largest Ukrainian-language Facebook group on complementary foods and baby food expert, told FoodOboz exclusively how to choose and store avocados so that they don't overripe.

How to store avocados so that they ripen quickly?

Avocados begin to ripen as they are plucked from the tree. If you need an avocado to ripen quickly, place it in a brown paper bag with an apple or banana, which releases ethylene gas that speeds up the ripening process. Conversely, if you have an already ripened avocado and need to keep it a little longer, place it in the refrigerator, which will slow down the ripening process.

The bright green flesh of an avocado is known for turning brown, which happens after exposure to air. Although this is not harmful, you can prevent it by adding something acidic (such as lime or lemon juice) or wrapping the avocado in plastic wrap.

What fruits should you not buy?

• If you gently squeeze an avocado in the palm of your hand and it retains a large indentation where you pressed, the fruit is overripe and most likely spoiled;
• The Hass variety, the most common variety of avocados, has black skin when overripe and rotten. However, other varieties can retain their green color when overripe;

• The flesh of a rotten avocado has dark spots and a stringy texture that tastes unpleasant. However, some avocados, especially those picked from young trees, may have dark streaks even if they are not rotten. If the fruit otherwise looks good and does not taste bad, it is safe to eat;
• A sour taste or odor, as well as a rancid aroma and chemical flavor, mean that the avocado is spoiled and should be discarded;

• Mold is a clear sign that an avocado is spoiled. Throw away the whole fruit, as the mold can spread through the flesh, but may not be noticeable.