Avocados are bought green and firm, but are not eaten that way. First they have to mature, develop a soft flesh and full aroma. Until then, the fruit must be optimally stored at home. But what claims does this well-travelled exotic have?

Ripe avocados are stored in the refrigerator

Good storage starts with the purchase

The flesh of a ripe avocado is very sensitive to pressure. In addition, an avocado tends to overripe quickly. Therefore, only immature specimens should be bought in stores, which only ripen at home. In this way, flawless avocados can be eaten "on the dot".

In this country, two main types are offered:

  • Fuerte avocados that are firm and green
  • Hass avocados, with first dark and later black skin and nubs

tips

Pick up an avocado. If it feels firm and its skin is light, then it is a good buy.

Storage is mandatory for this fruit

Since an avocado has to ripen before it can be turned into a delicious guacamole, for example, storage at home is unavoidable. It is recommended to store the green avocado in a paper bag at room temperature along with an apple. The apple gives off the ripening gas ethylene, which accelerates the ripening process of the avocado.

Save a whole avocado

Unripe, whole avocados are not kept in the refrigerator, but at normal room temperature. However, excessive exposure to light should be avoided.

Storage of half a fruit

If you only need half of the avocado at first, storing the leftover half is a challenge. The open cut surface makes it more susceptible to rotting germs. How to properly store a sliced avocado:

  • keep half with the core
  • the core keeps the pulp longer lasting
  • wrap with cling film
  • put something into the fridge

tips

The avocado seed contains many nutrients and can be grated in small amounts and added to smoothies.

The end of the ripening period

When an avocado is ripe, its storage time is nearing its end. It has to be used up quickly because soon it could be too ripe for that. After the purchase, the tire can take about five days to complete. How to know when it's time to stop storing:

  • the skin of a Hass avocado should be black
  • the flesh must be soft but not mushy
  • the skin of a Fuerte avocado may glow green
  • Black spots on the shell are signs of spoilage
  • the flesh should give slightly when pressed

If you remove the base of the stalk and find light green flesh, you have found the optimum degree of ripeness.

A ripe avocado needs to change storage location

Once an avocado has ripened sufficiently, it must be eaten immediately or relocated. Then the fruit should no longer be stored at room temperature, but in the refrigerator. There it can be kept for about three days and should be consumed within this time.

Is the avocado still edible?

The avocado is a natural product and so you cannot rely on fixed time specifications for the shelf life. Here it is important to trust your own senses:

  • black spots in the flesh mean spoilage
  • they can be generously cut out
  • the mild avocado taste must not have any moldy notes

Conclusion for fast readers

  • Varieties: In this country, green Fuerte avocados and black-skinned Hass avocados are available
  • Purchase: Avocados should always be bought unripe and only ripen at home
  • The reason: Ripe fruits are sensitive to pressure and tend to overripe quickly
  • Purchase criteria: When the skin is light and the fruit is firm
  • Post-ripening: together with an apple, which releases the ripening gas ethylene, in a paper bag at room temperature
  • End of ripening: the flesh is soft but not mushy; Hass-Avocado got a black skin
  • Caution: black spots on the skin of a Fuerte avocado are due to spoilage
  • Optimum ripeness: When the steep edge is removed and there is light green flesh underneath
  • Ripe Avocado: Eat immediately or refrigerate and consume within three days
  • Half avocado: half with the stone is more durable; wrap in foil and place in the fridge
  • Tip: The core contains many nutrients; may be grated in small amounts in smoothies
  • Edibility: rely on your own senses; the avocado, which is mild in itself, should not taste foul
  • Black spots: Patches of black flesh can be generously cut out

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

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Trees