How to select, buy and prepare Hass Avocados

How to know if it's ripe -
Ripeness is ultimately determined by pressure, color can sometimes be misleading. Avocados soften as they ripen.

  1. When comparing a group of Hass Avocados, check the outside color of the skin of the avocados for any that are darker in color than the others. These may be riper than Hass Avocados with lighter skin.
  2. Place the avocado in the palm of your hand.
  3. Gently squeeze without applying your fingertips as this can cause bruising.
  4. If the avocado yields to firm gentle pressure you know it's ripe and ready to eat. If the avocado does not yield to gentle pressure it is considered still "firm" and will be ripe in a couple of days. If the avocado feels mushy or very soft to the touch it may be very ripe to overripe.

Practice makes perfect - if it's your first time selecting avocados, try choosing a couple of avocados that yield to gentle pressure to see how they differ in taste. Or try purchasing an unripe avocado, checking it every day for 2 - 3 days as it softens. Practice will help you learn what to look for when you're in the store.

Firm - will not yield to gentle pressure
avocado_firm
Breaking - will be softer than firm but still will not yield to gentle pressure
avocado_breaking
Ripe - will yield to gentle pressure yet does not feel very mushy
avocado_ripe
Color is not always the best indicator for ripeness.

How to ripen avocados:
Hass Avocados that have green skin will take four to five days to ripen at room temperature. Speed the process by placing your Hass Avocados in a paper bag with an apple for 2 to 3 days at room temperature. When they yield to gentle pressure, they're ready to eat.

Handling & preparing:
As with any food preparation, begin by washing your hands in hot, soapy water and dry them with a clean paper towel. To avoid cross-contamination from raw meat, poultry or eggs, always disinfect your cutting surfaces and utensils prior to using them on the fruit. Thoroughly wash the fruit before you slice it.

Looking for storing help? Visit our avocado storing help section.