Light green, dark green, purplish? Avocados come in so many varieties and colors that it can be difficult to determine if yours is ripe or not. Since no two varieties are exactly the same, here are some general ways to tell if your avocado is ripe and ready to eat.
Know What You Have
The first step in determining if your fruit is ripe is to know the type you have. Since each type is a little different, each will have a slightly different size, texture, color and shape than others. If you aren’t sure what type of avocado you have you can ask your grocer or check this site.
Look at the Color
On most types, the outer color will darken. Here is a general guideline for some of the more common varieties:
- Hass avocados: turns deep green when ripe
- Pinkerton avocados: deep green like Hass varieties
- Fuerte and bacon avocados: smooth, thin, lighter green skin
- Gwen avocados: skin turns pliable and pebbly green
- Reed avocados: remain vibrant and green. May have mild pebbling
- Zutano avocados: skin turns yellow-green when ripe
Look for Blemishes
On any variety, dark blemishes can indicate overripe areas or bruising. Look for even coloring and even texture. Avocados should not have areas that are much softer than others, or areas where the texture greatly differs. Fruit with either of these are most likely overripe or damaged.
Give it a Squeeze
Gently hold the fruit in your hand and give it a gentle squeeze, applying even pressure. If it’s ripe, it should yield slightly. However, it should not remain indented where you squeeze it. If you find the fruit feels too soft, it means it has become overripe. If it does not yield at all, it’s still not yet fully ripe.
Give it a Shake
Listen to your avocado. Put it close to your ear and give it a light shake. If you hear rattling, it means it’s become overripe. When an avocado becomes too ripened, the inner pit will start to pull away from the flesh and will produce a rattling sound when you shake it.
Pull Out the Stem
If all else fails, check under the stem. You should not have any difficultly twisting off the stem on a ripe avocado. If you have trouble removing it, it means it’s not yet ripe. Now check under the stem. If the avocado is light yellow or brown, the flesh inside is still a little underride. If it is dark brown, it may be overripe.
There are so many different types of avocado, it can be difficult to figure out if yours is ripe or not. Check the color, give it a gentle squeeze and check under the stem to determine if you have a ripe, ready to eat fruit.