Because it’s tough and flexible, you can also use Hass avocado skin as a creative way to scoop guacamole when you’re serving it to your guests. If you’re slicing avocados for a salad or to eat on their own, go with a slightly less ripe fruit than you would for guacamole. The slices will stay intact better if they’re a little less ripe, allowing for better presentation.
To ripen avocados at home, you can store them at room temperature, and they should ripen over three or four days, depending on how firm they were when you purchased them. To speed up the ripening process, place the avocados in a brown paper bag with a banana. The banana releases small amounts of ethylene gas, which helps other fruit ripen faster. [2] X Research source To keep the avocados fresh, store them in the refrigerator.
Hass avocados are most readily available, and are certainly oily enough for use in beauty masks. Other suitable varieties include the Pinkerton, Sharwil, Anaheim, the Daily 11, and MacArthur. [4] X Research source
If it is still hard, then it is still under ripe and will take a few days to ripen. Avoid avocados which are overly soft and mushy, since this would mean that the fruit is too ripe. Make sure to test out the entire fruit, and don’t judge ripeness by feeling the top of the avocado closest to the stem. This is the first part of the fruit to ripen, so it might be slightly softer while the rest of it is too firm. Keep in mind you may still opt to purchase firmer avocados if you’re purchasing them a few days before their intended use. If you want to use your avocados right away, choose the ripest ones you can find.
Checking under the stem is one of the quickest and most reliable tricks for determining ripeness, and it removes the risk of damaging fruit by poking and prodding with fingertips.
Avocados that are shiny are not yet ripe enough, but again, you can still purchase these and ripen them at home. Choose avocados with unblemished skin. Avoid fruit with dark blemishes, brown spots, dents, and bruises.
Purchase the Hass, Lamb Hass, Gwen, Reed, or Sharwil varieties if you prefer avocados with a nutty taste. Choose the Bacon and Zutano varieties for avocados that are lighter in flavor.
Watery varieties include the Choquette and Hall. [8] X Research source In addition to oilier varieties, types with thicker skins, such as Hass and Gwen, are also great for beauty use. Gently rub the peel or skin against your face in soft, circular motions, then rinse with warm water. [9] X Research source While an avocado’s size doesn’t directly relate to its quality, it can help you determine where the fruit comes from and whether it has a higher water or oil content. Larger avocados, some weighing up to five pounds, are typically from Florida and grow so large because of their high water content. Smaller avocados, with lower water content, are generally from California or Mexico.
Tonnage avocados are a great balance, as they have a rich texture but much lower fat content than most avocado varieties. [11] X Research source While it’s the one you’re most likely to come across at the market, Hass avocados are among the fattiest varieties. Its relatives, like the Daily 11, are similarly oily and fatty. Consider Florida-grown fruit for lower calorie, lower fat options.
