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Home » Salad Vegetables

Avocados Varieties - all you need to know!

Made by Anastasia Papapetros - Serves Filed Under: Salad Vegetables

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Avocados are one of my family's favourite “fruit vegetables”. Join us in our deep dive into this delicious superfood and discover our favourite avocado varieties, nutritional info and how to choose, store and prep them.

Avocados whole and halved.

Technically avocados are a fruit because they have a seed inside and are also members of the laurel plant family, just like bay leaves.

They are native to Central America and the West Indies. There are over 500 avocado varieties, but we are featuring our favourites, which are readily available.

In This Post:
 [hide]
  • In Season
  • Nutritional Information
  • The Most Popular Avocado Varieties
  • Avocado Selection and Storage
  • How to Prepare Avocados
  • Best Avocado Pairings
  • Avocado Salad Recipes
  • Avocado Dressing Recipes

In Season

We can enjoy avocados throughout the year as their is always an avocado variety in season -

  • Hass avocados are available all year round.
  • Shepard and Fuerte avocados are in season in Autumn and Winter.
  • Reed avocados are available in the Springtime.

So, no matter the season, you can find the perfect avocado!

Nutritional Information

Not only are avocados delicious, but they are extremely nutritious; they are rich in energy and healthy fats as well as an excellent source of vitamins B, E, A and potassium.

The Health Benefits of Avocados

  • They contain Vitamin C (used for the growth and repair of tissues) and K (helps your blood to clot), and folate (helps produce and maintain new cells.
  • Contain the minerals potassium (helps to regulate blood pressure) and manganese (helps to regulate brain and nerve function).
  • High are high in monounsaturated fats that help lower bad cholesterol.
  • Also, contain dietary fibre for a healthy bowel.

The Most Popular Avocado Varieties

Hass Avocados -The most popular avocado variety, they have a classic oval shape with a   small stone and pebbly texture. They have a creamy texture and are the only variety that darkens when ripe, and they keep very well.

Shepard Avocados – are longer and more elongated with a thin skin and a smooth glossy green skin which stays green. They remain firm when ripe with a nutty flavour and buttery texture. The only Avocado that doesn’t turn brown when cut. Great for salads.

Fuerte Avocados – are similar in shape and size to a Hass with dark green skin that doesn’t darken when ripe but bruises easily. They are very buttery, marginally oily with a rich, creamy flavour and notes of hazelnut.

Reed Avocados -  are easily recognisable because of their distinct round shape. They have a medium skin texture with pale flesh. Also, well known for remaining green even when fully ripened. Another one great for salads.

Avocado Selection and Storage

  • They sell the majority of avocados unripe as they bruise less easily. Make sure that your avocados are firm, heavy, and on the large size, as this usually means that there is more flesh than the pit.
  • To choose a ripe avocado, gently press around the stem, and if it yields, then the fruit is ripe.
  • Hass is the only variety that changes colour from green to black when they are ripe; all other types are green when ripe.
  • We should store avocados at room temperature until they are ripe; you may speed up the avocado ripening process by placing unripe avocados in a brown paper bag with an apple or banana for two to three days.
  • After an avocado has ripened, you may store it to extend its life in your fridge; otherwise, you may ruin its flavour.
  • You can store cut avocados by squeezing lemon juice on the cut flesh and keeping them covered in your fridge.

How to Prepare Avocados

For detailed preparation instructions, see our detailed avocado prep guide.

Best Avocado Pairings

Avocados are best paired with chillies, citrus, butter, cream, bacon, roasted meat, seafood, and fresh herbs such as coriander/cilantro, basil, mint & parsley.

Surprisingly they also work well with tequila, cocoa, apple, and eggplant.

Some vegetable substitutions to try with a similar texture you could try chayotes/chokos, artichokes, mashed peas or beans.

Avocado Salad Recipes

A close-up of Chilean celery avocado salad.
CELERY AVOCADO
Smoked Salmon Avocado Salad on a white platter with fresh dill on top right corner.
SMOKED SALMON AVOCADO
SHISO SALAD ON WHITE PLATE WITH SHISO LEAVES & ORANGE HALVES ON THE SIDE
SHISO AVOCADO SALAD
WATERMELON AVOCADO SALAD WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE IN A PINK BOWL WITH WATERMELON SLICES & BASIL ON THE SIDE
WATERMELON AVOCADO SALAD
ARUGULA AVOCADO SALAD ON BLACK PATTERNED PLATE WITH AVOCADO HALVES AND LEMON ON THE SIDE
ARUGULA AVOCADO
Kale avocado salad in a white bowl with dusty pink napkin on the side.
KALE AVOCADO SALAD
CANNED SALMON SALAD IN BLACK BOWL
CANNED SALMON AVOCADO
AVOCADO RANCH SALAD ON WHITE PLATTER WITH AVOCADO RANCH DRESSING & CAJUN SPICE IN BOWLS ON THE SIDE
AVOCADO RANCH SALAD
CLOSE UP OF ROMAINE AVOCADO SALAD WITH VEGAN CAESAR DRESSING ON WHITE PLATTER
ROMAINE AVOCADO SALAD
A close-up of dried tomato salad in a white bowl being mixed.
SUN-DRIED TOMATO AVOCADO
LITTLE GEM LETTUCE SALAD WITH AVOCADO - LANDSCAPE
GEM LETTUCE AVOCADO
SPINACH ARUGULA SALAD ON A WHITE PLATE WITH GREENS SCATTERED AROUND
SPINACH ARUGULA SALAD
CLOSE-UP-OF-ARUGULA-SALAD-WITH-AVOCADO-&-PRESERVED-LEMON
AVOCADO PRESERVED LEMON
SHRIMP AND AVOCADO SALAD ON A WHITE PLATE WITH PRAWNS AND LEMON SLICES ON THE SIDE
SHRIMP/PRAWN AVOCADO
CLOSE UP OF AVOCADO & MANGO SALAD
MANGO AVOCADO

Avocado Dressing Recipes

avocado mayo in a white pottery jug with avocado half, lemon half and spoon on the side
AVOCADO MAYO
AVOCADO RANCH DRESSING IN RED BOWL WITH AVOCADOS ON THE SIDE
AVOCADO RANCH

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About Anastasia Papapetros

Anastasia has been passionate about cooking since she was eight years old, and hasn't left the kitchen since! With over a decade of experience running her own coffee shop and catering business, Anastasia has developed a true love for salads - especially for family get-togethers and friends' functions. She's the go-to for bringing the perfect salad to any occasion!

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