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How to Pick the Perfect Avocado

Taylor Stolt, RDN, LD, CLT, IFNCP • September 16, 2018
How to Pick the Perfect Avocado

  Football season is here, and you know what that means – CHIPS AND GUAC, PEOPLE!  Sure you can pay for the premade stuff, but nothing compares to homemade!

The first step to making amazing guacamole?  Picking out the perfect avocados.

Your step-by-step guide

#1: Scan

Color isn’t a surefire way to determine if an avocado is ripe or not, but it’s a good place to start.  Skip the avocados that are bright green (no way they’re ripe).  Instead, scan for darker green avocados.  If an avocado is black it’s too far gone.

#2: Sneak Peak

Peel off the small stem at the top of the avocado to reveal what’s going on underneath.  If it’s green or light brown underneath you’re good to go.  If it’s dark brown the avocado is overripe.

#3: Get Touchy

Pirst check for any bruises and soft spots.  Then hold the avocado in the palm of your hand and lightly squeeze.  If the avocado is firm, it’s underripe.  If it’s really soft, it’s overripe.  You want it to barely “give”!

#3: Practice Makes Perfect

If you don’t get it right the first time, no worries my friend.  It took me a few times to get the hang of the avocado game.  Just keep practicing – you’ll be a pro in no time!

No Ripe Avocados Around?

Put unripe avocados in a closed paper bag with a few bananas.  As the bananas ripen, they let off ethylene gas.  This gas speeds up the ripening of the avocados!

Fun Avocado Facts

  • An avocado is a fruit. (Poor avocados and tomatoes… so misunderstood)
  • Avocados are full of water – 74% water!
  • Avocados are packed with fiber – One small avocado contains 10 grams of fiber.  This is 1/3 of women’s daily needs, and 1/4 of men’s!
  • Avocados contain more potassium than bananas.

Be sure to be sure to follow me on Instagram  @plateandcanvas  for more recipes, nutrition tips, and lots and lots of avo.

 
 – Taylor

About THE AUTHOR

Taylor Stolt is an award-winning Functional Medicine Dietitian and women’s health expert. She has transformed her own struggles with hormonal imbalances and poor gut health into a beacon of hope for thousands of women. Taylor is the creator of the Restore Program, a step-by-step guide that shows women how to rebalance their hormones naturally. Her mission is to empower women with practical tools and sustainable habits so women can reclaim their health and feel like themselves again.

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