As of: February 27, 2024, 4:57 a.m
By: David Holzner
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The avocado is one of the most popular superfoods in the world.
Perfectly ripened, the flesh is wonderfully creamy: tips for proper storage and ripeness.
Whether in a salad or on toast, in a sushi roll or as guacamole: with its creamy consistency and nutty aroma, the avocado is one of the most popular foods in many parts of the world.
No wonder, because the versatile superfruit is not only very tasty, but also healthy.
In addition to many vitamins and minerals, it also contains simple, unsaturated fatty acids.
Because of these healthy fats, the avocado is not fattening and can actually help you lose weight.
However, there are a few things to consider in order to best handle the avocado.
Whether it's too hard and green, or too mushy and brown: with no other fruit does the optimal degree of ripeness play such an important role.
The
World Avocado Organization (WAO)
now presented useful life hacks for proper storage and how to tell whether the fruit is ripe in a press release.
Lifehack: How do I recognize a ripe avocado?
Whether as a spread, guacamole or as a whole fruit: Avocados must be stored and ripened correctly.
© Pond5 Images/IMAGO
Before storing, the first thing to do is choose the right avocado.
Avocados in supermarkets often have a “ready for consumption” sticker on them.
However, to check whether the fruit is actually suitable for consumption, you should hold it in your hand.
The avocado is ripe when it gives slightly when squeezed or the stem moves easily.
A darker color can also indicate an advanced level of ripeness.
However, there are different varieties of avocado that can differ in both shape and color.
The most popular in this country are:
Fuerte:
It is the most widespread type of avocado in the world.
The flesh is light yellow and green, the fruit is pear-shaped and has a smooth, thin skin.
It is imported from South Africa, the USA and Mexico, among others.
Hass:
Its name is derived from its discoverer, Rudolph Hass.
He was a postman in California and experimented with crossing avocado varieties in his garden.
He discovered the type of avocado named after him quite by chance.
The variety with the knobbed skin is now grown in many places.
These include Mexico, Chile, Peru and Israel.
As the Hass avocado ripens, it turns dark green to black.
The color of the shell does not have to be crucial.
What is more important is the hardness of the peel and whether the flesh gives way under pressure.
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How to keep them fresh: Store avocados correctly
By storing fruits and vegetables correctly, you can avoid food waste.
It's no different with avocados.
If you have found a ripe and ready-to-eat avocado and want to keep it for a little longer, we recommend using the refrigerator.
It is best to store the whole fruit in the vegetable compartment.
The temperatures prevailing there interrupt the ripening process.
This can extend the shelf life of the avocado by around three to five days.
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But what about avocados that have already been cut?
Many recipes don't require whole fruit.
You want to store the rest in the fridge.
The problem: The flesh turns brown very quickly.
But why is that actually the case?
The popular fruit contains an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase, which reacts when it comes into contact with air.
To prevent an avocado that has already been cut from turning brown, the fruit should be wrapped airtight with cling film.
Another life hack is to brush the exposed cut surface with lemon juice before packaging.
This will keep the avocado in the fridge for another two to three days.
What is the World Avocado Organization?
The World Avocado Organization is a non-profit organization founded in 2016 whose members are avocado growers, exporters and importers from around the world.
The organization promotes the consumption of avocados due to their nutritional value and recognized health benefits.
It also provides the public with information about avocado production, supply chains and sustainability.
Source: avocadofruitoflife.com
Hard and green: make avocados ripen faster
If the avocado is unripe and still hard, it is best to store it on the kitchen table at room temperature.
It will soften on its own in a few days.
But if things have to happen quickly, the WAO
recommends
a trick.
The avocado is placed in a paper bag and stored at room temperature.
Alternatively, newspaper can also be used to promote the ripening process.
For even faster results, you can put a banana or other fruit in the bag with the avocado.
If the avocado has turned brown despite these measures, it can still be used.
According to WAO,
the fruit is also suitable
for a homemade skin care treatment.
To do this, the pulp can be mixed with honey to form a paste, which is then applied to the face.
As a face mask, avocado provides moisture and is said to ensure smooth and clean skin.
Superfood: Avocado as a healthy alternative
Due to its high nutrient density, the avocado is considered a superfood.
In addition to unsaturated fatty acids, it also contains magnesium, potassium and vitamins B, C and E. It can therefore serve as a healthy alternative to conventional ingredients in the kitchen.
According to
WAO,
you can refine your sandwiches with avocado instead of traditional mayonnaise, for example.
An avocado lemon cake.
Avocado can also replace ingredients in traditional cuisine.
© World Avocado Organization
Avocado can also be substituted for butter in baking recipes.
The creamy consistency of the pulp and the mild taste give the baked goods a pleasant moisture and a slight nutty note.