Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell when an avocado is ripe?
The best way to tell the ripeness of an avocado is to gently squeeze it in the palm of your hand. Ripe and ready-to-eat fruit will be firm yet will yield to gentle pressure.
The avocados I bought are hard. How can I speed up the ripening process?
Simply place the avocado on your counter or in a fruit bowl for a few days until it gives slightly to a gentle squeeze in your palms. To ripen faster, place the avocado on your counter or in a fruit bowl for a few days until it gives slightly to a gentle squeeze in your palms. To ripen faster, place the avocado in a paper bag and leave it on the counter to speed up the ripening process.
How does this work?
Avocados produce natural ethylene gas. A plant hormone that triggers the ripening process, ethylene is used commercially to help ripen avocados and other fruit. When placed in a paper bag, the ethylene is contained, which encourages the fruit to ripen faster.
Can I just heat up an avocado to speed up the ripening process?
Ripening happens best at room temperature. It’s not advised to microwave your avocados or heat them in the oven to attempt to ripen them faster. These techniques may soften the outside of the fruit slightly, but the avocado will not have its signature creaminess or nutty, buttery flavor that we all love so dearly.
What’s the best way to cut open and peel an avocado?
Start with a ripe avocado and thoroughly wash it. Place it on a cutting board and carefully cut lengthwise into the avocado until the knife hits the seed. Rotate the avocado lengthwise with one hand while holding the knife horizontally in the other hand. Turn the avocado and cut in half lengthwise again and then rotate the fruit in your hands to separate the quarters. Gently remove the seed by pulling it out with your fingers. De-skin each section of the fruit by sliding your thumb under the skin and peeling it back.
What if I only want to use a portion of an avocado?
If you are not using any portion of the avocado immediately after slicing, sprinkle all exposed surfaces with the juice from a lemon or lime and then cover with plastic wrap tightly against the surface of the avocado to prevent discoloration. You can store it in the refrigerator for a few days.
Is there a way to slow down the ripening process?
If you find yourself with avocados that are already ripe but you will not be using them for a few days, refrigerate them right away to slow down the ripening process. Do not, however, refrigerate hard or firm avocados, as the cooler temperature will slow down, possibly even halt, the ripening process.
How do I keep cut avocados from turning brown?
To keep cut fruit from discoloring, spray or brush exposed surfaces with lemon or lime juice, cover with plastic wrap or place in an air-tight container, and store in the refrigerator.
How long does it take to grow an avocado?
To grow our avocados to picking perfection, it takes 14-18 months of nurturing by our family of dedicated growers.
Do avocados ripen on the tree?
The avocado is a climacteric fruit, which matures on the tree, but ripens off of the tree.
Are avocados gluten free?
In addition to being vegan and vegetarian friendly, avocados are proudly sodium, cholesterol and gluten free.
Why is it important to add avocados to my diet?
This succulent green fruit offers nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds that can enhance the nutrient quality of your diet. Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce the risk for heart disease, including heart attack and stroke, and may even protect against certain types of cancer.
Are avocados high in fiber? How does fiber benefit me?
Avocados are a good source of fiber. They contain 3g of fiber per serving, which is one-third of a medium avocado. Dietary fiber adds bulk to your diet and can help you feel fuller faster, which can help satisfy your hunger and therefore manage your weight. Also, consuming foods rich in fiber may reduce your risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
Will eating avocados help lower my cholesterol?
Avocados contain fiber, folate, vitamin K, pantothenic acid, and copper, which help to reduce your blood cholesterol levels and may lower the risk of heart disease.
I hear that avocados contain fat? Isn’t that bad for me?
Avocados are virtually the only fruit with monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat, or good fats. In fact, over 75% of the fat in avocados is “good fat.” The body needs some dietary fat to help with absorption of nutrients, but not all fats are the same and keeping a healthy balance of fat intake is key. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend replacing bad fats with good fats, as good fats can help improve the intake of dietary fat without raising LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels.
What sort of vitamins does an avocado offer?
Avocados contain vitamin E and C, antioxidants that protect your body tissue from damage, are essential for the growth and repair of tissue, and help keep your immune system strong.
Is it true that avocados are good for my hair and skin?
Playing a key role in your healthy hair and skin routine, the antioxidants, amino acids and essential oils inside of an avocado can help repair damaged hair, moisturize dry skin, treat sunburns and maybe even minimize wrinkles.