Avocados are not fruits that ripen directly on the tree, unlike other types of fruits such as oranges or lemons. In fact, avocados ripen and become softer only after being picked from the tree.

The Hass avocado variety, in our opinion the best, stands out from the others because the color of the skin changes from green to almost black when the avocado is ripe . However, you should not be influenced only by the color: for the avocado fruit to be ripe it is important that it is also sufficiently soft.

Avocado: when is it ripe?

To choose the right ripe avocado , which is neither unripe nor gone bad, you need to carry out a series of simple operations. Here are all the steps to follow:

Step One - Check the color of the avocado

When choosing an avocado , compare the color of the skin with others and choose one of the darker ones. In fact, these avocados may be riper than those with the skin still green.

Second step - Press the avocado lightly

Gently press the avocado skin : if it is slightly soft, the avocado is ready to be eaten, otherwise it must be left to ripen for a couple more days. If the avocado is excessively soft, it may be overripe. Remember that a ripe avocado should be eaten within two days at the most.

With experience, you will learn to recognize when an avocado is ripe and ready to eat. A valid alternative is to buy an unripe avocado and check its ripeness every day by checking its color and softness.

How to Slow Down the Ripening of an Avocado

An unripe avocado takes about 5 days to reach full maturity. To slow down the ripening of the avocado, simply keep the fruit in the refrigerator, avoiding light. A ripe avocado, on the other hand, if placed in the refrigerator, can last for another two days.

How to Ripen an Avocado Faster

To ripen an avocado faster, we recommend placing unripe avocados in a brown paper bag for about three days, along with an apple (especially Golden Delicious apples) or a banana or a kiwi. Ripening occurs thanks to the presence of ethylene, a hormone produced by plants that affects the ripening of some fruits. The ethylene that is released by apples and bananas is trapped in the bag, contributing to a faster ripening of the avocado. The more apples or kiwis you add to the bag, the faster the avocado will ripen.

Avocado: Learn more

If you want to know more about avocado, its properties, how to eat it and how to buy our organic avocados produced in Calabria, read here:

Buy our organic avocados

Avocado Guide