Shoppers buying avocados in supermarkets are urged to make four key checks before making a purchase.
The humble ingredient has surged in popularity in recent years after becoming a symbol of overspending and can be used in many different ways to create a healthy, yet tasty dish.
The fruit gained notoriety after Australian billionaire and luxury real estate mogul Tim Gurner implied that young people can’t afford to buy a home because they’re wasting money on fancy avocado on toast.
And while it is possible to pay in excess of £10 to enjoy smashed avocado on toast in a cafe, it is much cheaper to buy one yourself and create your own dish at home.
You can buy a single avocado in most major supermarkets for less than £1, but shoppers are urged to keep four key things in mind before making a purchase to ensure the fruit is perfectly ripe.
According to WikiHow, shoppers must check the avocado’s colour, softness, skin texture and the stem before buying.
In regard to the colour, you want to select one that is almost black, with only a hint of green, as these are the ripest.
The colour can vary depending on the variety you choose, with Fuerte, Ettinger, Reed, and Sharwill avocados staying green when ripe, so make sure to check the variety before you buy.
To test the softness of the avocado you should give it a good squeeze and if it yields slightly then it’s perfectly ripe. Avocados that feel soft are overripe and those that are very firm or hard need a little longer to ripen before eating.
When checking the skin texture you should look for one that is slightly pebbled. If it has large indentations this can be a sign that it’s been bruised and is best left on the shelf.
Finally, you should examine the avocado’s stem by peeling back the small cap at the top. If it looks green underneath then this is a good sign that the avocado is ripe and creamy, whereas if it’s brown it is overripe and best avoided.
If you make these four checks then you should have cafe-worthy avocado on toast at home every time for a fraction of the cost.
