Avocado’s are nature’s gift to us. They are creamy, delicious and nutritious. In this post we tell you everything you ever wanted to know about avocados with 10 Avocado Tips.
Our avocado tips include How To Cut An Avocado, How To Store An Avocado, Calories and Carbs in Avocados, Avocado Nutrition & Benefits and more!
10 Avocado Tips
How To Cut An Avocado – The Most Important Of Avocado Tips
Avocado Tips #1
Learning how to cut an avocado safely can save you a trip to the emergency room. It may not be rocket science, but the most common way taught to people of how to cut an avocado is dangerous.
How many of you have seen or been told to whack a sharp knife into the pit of an avocado to remove it? Ok, now how many of you have tried that? And then of those that have tried it, how many risked losing a finger or hand?
There’s actually a term from emergency room doctors called Avocado Hand. And you guessed it, because so many people who try the “knife striking into the pit” thing and end up hurting themselves.
For me it wasn’t the actual whacking of the knife into the pit action, but it was removing the slimy, slippery pit from the knife. That was the danger.
I love avocados, but not enough to lose a finger, and the good news is there’s a better way to cut avocados.
How To Cut An Avocado Safely
Avocado Tips #2
Wash and dry your avocado. Place it on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut into the avocado lengthwise, turn the avocado and cut around the pit.
Using both hands, twist the two halves in opposite directions and pull apart. One half will still have the pit.
How To Remove The Pit From An Avocado
Avocado Tips #3
If the avocado is ripe enough you should be able to use a spoon to remove the pit. A grapefruit spoon with a serrated tip works well.
If it’s difficult to remove the pit this way, then let’s try another way of how to cut an avocado.
Put the two cut halves together again. Cut lengthwise around the avocado again so that you have 4 pieces of avocado.
Now it’s super simple to remove the pit with the spoon or just with your fingers.
I don’t know who the original person was who taught everyone to strike a sharp knife into the pit, but I hope others start recommending our safer method for how to open an avocado. You’ll thank me later, I promise!
Now scoop out the flesh with a large spoon or peel the avocado. The most nutritious part of the avocado is right next to the skin, so make sure to scoop as close to the skin as possible. Peeling is easier than scooping.
As long as we’re getting into how to cut an avocado we might as well cover the other interesting tips and tricks of this delectable fruit.
How To Ripen An Avocado
Avocado Tips #4
Put a green, firm premature avocado in a paper bag on the counter with either an apple or a banana. The gasses the emit will help ripen the avocado faster.
How To Store Avocado – Uncut
Avocado Tips #5
Just pop it in the refrigerator. You’ll probably get a few days and up to a week from cooling the avocado. The refrigerator is the best way to store avocado.
How To Store Avocado – Cut
Avocado Tips #6
If storing a cut half of an avocado, leave the pit in the half until you are ready to use the avocado.
Brush the avocado pulp with either olive oil or fresh lemon juice. Then cover tightly with plastic wrap, make sure the plastic is against the pulp. Then store the half avocado with the pit in a zipper bag or other covered container in the refrigerator.
If the avocado starts to brown, just scrape the top layer off the pulp. You’ll most likely have nice bright green fresh avocado below just waiting for you to dig in.
How To Tell If An Avocado Is Ripe – The Second Most Important Of Avocado Tips
Avocado Tips #7
Take a look at the picture above. The middle avocado is just right. The top green avocado still has a few days until it’s ready to eat and the bottom avocado is past due. Color is the most common way of how to tell if an avocado is ripe.
The easiest to get, and the most delicious avocados are Hass (pronounced to rhyme with class, not hoz like so many people say) grown in California. Probably the ones grown in Italy too but if you are from the United States California is a natural choice. The Hass avocado is named after Rudolph Hass who first planted it in California in the late 1920s.
By freezing avocado you now have avocados anytime you want them!
When my husband and I visited Italy I was amazed at the prominence of avocado dishes. We saw avocados being freshly sliced and turned into all kinds of dishes at food markets. I guess that makes sense since California wine country and Italy’s Tuscany area have very similar climates and terrains, thus the superior wine making ability of both as well.
Back To “How To Tell If An Avocado Is Ripe”
Back to how to tell if an avocado is ripe. Most of the information below came from loveonetoday.com, part of the Hass Avocado Board.
Brighter green, firm avocados probably have 4-5 days to ripen. Store at room temperature.
Picture from loveonetoday.com, part of the Hass Avocado Board
You can hasten the ripening process by placing the avocados in a paper bag with either an apple or banana and leave on the counter.
Avocados that are just starting to turn color, are softer but not really “giving” to pressure will have about 1-2 days until they are ripe. If you cut into an unripe avocado the pulp will not mash as well, the flavor will be bland, the color off and the pit will be difficult to remove.
Picture of an avocado that will be ripe in about 1-2 days. Picture from loveonetoday.com, part of the Hass Avocado Board.
If you are making your homemade guacamole recipe today, you’ll want to choose a perfectly ripe avocado.
Typically, a perfectly ripe avocado is starting to turn black, but that’s not really the best way to judge. Judging by feel is the best indicator to see if an avocado is ripe enough. Lightly squeeze the avocado, you want a slight give to it.
Picture of a perfectly ripe, ready to use today avocado. Picture from loveonetoday.com, part of the Hass Avocado Board.
According to the Hass Avocado Board, you should squeeze the fruit in the palm of your hand, not with your fingertips. You want a slight yield to the pressure but not mushy. If you won’t be using a ripe avocado immediately then store in the refrigerator for a day or two. This will slow down the ripening process.
An overripe avocado needs to be tossed. Color will most likely be completely black, mushy to the touch. Often you can gently squeeze the avocado and feel a cavity between the skin and pulp of the avocado, there is nothing you can do with it, toss it.
Picture of an over ripe avocado from loveonetoday.com, part of the Hass Avocado Board.
Are Avocados Healthy?
Avocado Tips #8
The benefits of eating avocados are tremendous. Avocados are a nutrient dense food that has “good fat” for the amount of calories.
An average avocado has about 240-250 calories. The recommended amount per day is 1/3 to ½ of the avocado.
Below I’ll give nutrition information for a single serving or ½ an avocado.
Calories – About 80 calories (240-250 calories per avocado)
Protein – 1.5 grams (3 grams per avocado)
Carbohydrates – 4 grams (12 grams per avocado)
Fiber – 4.5 grams (9 grams per avocado)
Fat – 3.5 grams (7 grams per avocado, 6 grams of which is the good unsaturated fat)
No cholesterol, sugars or salt
Avocados also provide almost 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.!
So no need to ask Are Avocados Healthy. The answer is a resounding YES
Delicious Ways To Eat An Avocado
Avocado Tips #9
Simply – sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper. It’s great with fresh lemon juice or balsamic vinegar to give the avocado some zest. Try your favorite seasoning like Everything Bagel seasoning, a personal favorite.
Spread – Mash the avocado and spread on a bagel, hamburger or sandwich. Mashing is neater than slices because the avocado stays on the bread. Slices tend to slide out, especially if you are eating on the go.
Guacamole – need I say more? Try our Homemade Guacamole Party Dip.
How To Take Avocados On-The-Go
Avocado Tip #10
Follow our instructions for how to store an avocado.
If you are making guacamole or a spread, flatten the top of the dip as much as possible. Squeeze fresh lime or lemon juice over the top. Cover with plastic wrap making sure the plastic is against the actual guacamole, so no air between the guac and the plastic wrap. Then store in another container or storage bag.
When you get to your picnic, tailgate or lunch unwrap. If there is any brown or discoloration on the top, just scrape off. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the bright green guacamole underneath!
If using slices for a salad or a poke bowl, squeeze the avocado slices with fresh lemon or lime juice and cover as stated above for guacamole.
How To Freeze Avocado
To freeze avocado you follow the similar steps to storing avocado.
Remove the skin or peel. Spritz the avocado half with fresh lemon or lime juice. Cover with plastic wrap against the pulp, including in the hole where the pit used to be.
Place the plastic wrapped halves in a large gallon size freezer bag, press all air out, label and date. The consistency should stay good for at least 3 months.
Don’t try to freeze slices, it’s almost impossible to keep the slices from oxidizing.
For mashed avocado, sprinkle with a lot of lemon or lime juice. Place in a plastic freezer bag, remove as much air as possible, label and date.
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