Never stare at another avocado and wonder what to do with it.
Get the simple steps to prep and enjoy this healthy-fat fruit in dozens of delicious ways.
How to choose your avocados
The majority of avocados are sold unripe as they bruise easily. Make sure that your avocados are firm, heavy and on the large side as this usually means that there is more flesh than pit.
To choose a ripe avocado gently press around the stem and if it yields then the fruit is ripe.
Hass avocados are the only varieties that change colour from green to black when they are ripe, all other types are green when ripe.
How to store your avocados
Avocados should be stored at room temperature until they are ripe. You may be able to 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 in your fridge, otherwise, its flavour may be ruined.
You can store cut avocados by squeezing lemon juice on the cut flesh and keeping them covered in your fridge.
Removing the pit…
STEP 1:
Cut the avocado in half lengthwise around the pit, make sure you have control over the avocado and be careful with your fingers.
STEP 2:
Once cut, twist and separate the two halves.
STEP 3:
To remove the pit, fold a kitchen towel then use to securely hold the avocado half with the seed.
STEP 4:
Then, gently hack the knife blade into the pit, twist to remove the pit on the blade
ALTERNATIVELY:
You can use a spoon to remove the seed, but you may lose some of the flesh doing it this way.
Peeling your avocado…
Using a large spoon slide it between the skin and the flesh of the avocado half. Work from the wide bottom to the top in one movement to remove the whole piece.
How to dice an avocado in its skin…
STEP 1:
Use a pairing or small kitchen knife, make evenly spaced vertical cuts and then horizontal cuts without breaking the skin of the avocado.
STEP 2:
Then slide a large spoon between the skin and the flesh of the avocado to scoop out the avocado.
How to dice a peeled avocado…
STEP 1:
Place the avocado half face down on your chopping board.
STEP 2:
First make vertical, even, lengthwise cuts.
STEP 3:
Then turn your chopping board around (this prevents you from handling the avocado too much) to cut in the opposite direction for a dice.
For avocado wedges…
STEP 1:
Place the avocado half face down on your chopping board.
STEP 2:
For wedges, just slice lengthwise following the shape of the avocado.
We have a tradition in our family of getting together once a week at Mum’s house for “Family Dinner Night”. Mum was always responsible for getting the meat and starch side of the dinner organised and it was always my responsibility to do the salads and vegetable sides. It was always a huge production with the dinner table groaning under the strain of the variety of dishes created.
