How to Pick the Perfect Avocado

Smooth and creamy (yet sliceable!), avocados can be enjoyed in everything from morning smoothies and citrusy salads to decadent desserts and refreshing salsas. But before using this wholesome superfood in any of these enticing recipes, you need to know how to pick an avocado at the grocery store. Look for those that yield to gentle pressure and are dark green in color. Too soft, and they quickly become history—and if you've chosen an underripe avocado, there is a way to ripen it quickly. Ahead, we share some of our favorite tips and techniques for selecting the best of the bunch.

How to Pick an Avocado

While some fruits ripen while still attached to the tree, avocados start the ripening process once they have been picked.

Whether you want a ripe-right-now avocado or one you plan to eat in a few days, understanding the signs associated with each stage of ripeness will help you choose the right fruit. To do so, focus on the way the avocado feels and looks. Consider buying Haas avocados over any other variety, as they give a better idea of what is going on beneath the skin than other varieties do.

Underripe

An underripe Haas avocado will range from bright to mid-green and have a relatively smooth peel. It will feel very firm and not give at all when gently pressed.

How Long Until You Can Use It: If you don't need to use the fruit for another three to five days, then buy avocados like this, set them on your kitchen counter, and wait it out.

Just About Ripe

Almost ripe avocados will vary a little in color but are usually dark green with flecks of black here and there. The skin will have a slightly bumpier texture than underripe avocados, and it will feel softer in your hand than an underripe avocado; it still won't give to gentle pressure.

How Long Until You Can Use It: Choose avocados at this stage if you plan to eat them within a day or two.

Totally Ripe

A ready-to-eat avocado will range from very dark green to dark brown to eggplant purple, and the skin will be the bumpiest texture of all. It will yield to gentle pressure, but shouldn't feel mushy or leave any indentations. If you find an avocado with these indicators, it's go-time

How Long Until You Can Use It: Plan to eat a totally ripe avocado the same day.

Overripe

An overripe avocado will be very dark and may show signs of wear and tear, like deep indentations and black bruising. The peel will be bumpy and it will feel mushy when gentle pressure is applied. Avoid these unless they are on super sale.

How Long Until You Can Use It: Yesterday—or in that smoothie you're making right now.

How to Ripen an Avocado Quickly

Here's how to speed up the ripening process:

• Place the avocado in a brown paper bag.
• Add another ethylene-producing fruit like a banana, apple, or kiwi, and fold to seal it closed. Ethylene is a naturally occurring gas that causes certain fruits to ripen. The additional fruit doubles down on gas production, and the bag traps it.
• Monitor the ripening process periodically.

With this method, you will be able to ripen a firm avocado in a day or two.

How to Slow Down Avocado Ripening

If you bought perfectly ripe avocados, but you're not ready to use them, put the brakes on the maturation process by storing them in the refrigerator. The avocados should be fully ripe before you move them from the counter to the refrigerator, though; doing so will halt the ripening process.