17.09.2017 3 536

How to eat avocado - features and methods of preparing the fruit

Everyone has heard, but not many know how to eat avocado correctly and, most importantly, with what? What kind of fruit is this and how to eat it correctly, what the taste and color of a ripe fruit should be inside and outside, and what to do with the seed, find out from the useful article below...

Content:


Avocado - benefits

Having tried avocado for the first time, few people appreciate its taste. However, when consumed and prepared correctly, this exotic fruit brings significant benefits to the body. It can be used in food on its own or as an ingredient in a dish.

Before figuring out how to eat avocado, it’s worth asking about its taste and beneficial qualities. The taste of the fruit is difficult to compare with any fruits or vegetables. Gourmets can taste the notes of nut and pine in it. The ripe fruit is similar in structure to hard, low-fat butter. Avocados have no sweet taste. Inside you will find a rather large bone. The outside of the fruit is dark green, the flesh inside is light.

Scientists note the benefits of avocado pulp for the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The substances that make up the fruit have a positive effect on cholesterol levels in the blood, reducing its level. The pulp contains a whole complex of vitamins from A, B, C, E, substances such as calcium, potassium, iodine, etc. Avocado contains elements necessary for the body such as sodium and sulfur, and in optimal proportions.

Avocado is useful for those who are on a diet - 100 grams of fruit contains 120 kcal. How to eat avocado correctly for weight loss, it is better to consult a nutritionist. Avocado pulp contains L-carnitine, a substance that everyone who wants to build muscle mass and lose excess weight knows about; this element actively breaks down fat and speeds up the metabolic process. Vitamin E, also contained in the exotic fruit, has a positive effect on women's beauty and health.

What are the criteria for choosing a fruit?

Before you eat avocado raw or cut it into salads and other dishes, you need to learn how to choose it correctly. A ripe fruit should be soft, but not flabby, therefore, when choosing a fruit, you should pay attention to important points:

  • What color is an avocado - it should be an even dark green color on the outside; overripe fruits have a too dark skin
  • Is there any damage on it - the fruit should be without dents or scratches
  • Softness – press your finger on the fruit, it should be a little soft

If you bought a hard fruit, put it in a warm place to ripen - it’s best to put it in a plastic bag with bananas or apples. Unripe fruit should not be consumed.

The ideal avocado, whether eaten raw or in dishes, should feel firm to the touch but give slightly when pressed. There should be no stains on the peel. If the avocado is brown inside, it should be discarded. When choosing, you should pay special attention to the place where the stalk grows - there should be no rot there.

How to eat avocado raw

How to eat avocado raw? We do this in several stages:

  1. Wash the fruit well in running water
  2. Without removing the skin, cut the fruit lengthwise and turn the halves in different directions - this will make it easy to remove the pit from the pulp
  3. Add salt and ground pepper to taste the avocado
  4. It is convenient to eat the fruit raw with a teaspoon, like ice cream; there is no need to remove the skin; it is not eaten

You can cut avocado halves into slices and eat them like watermelon or cantaloupe. Many people don't know what to do with an avocado pit. You can't eat it! The fruit seed contains substances that are poisonous to humans. Allergies are the least of the troubles that can arise. More serious consequences are food poisoning. The same components are contained in the skin; eating it is also dangerous to health. An important rule for eating avocado raw: do not heat the fruit, otherwise it will become bitter.

What foods does avocado go with?

Gourmets know a huge list of recipes where avocado is added; the southern fruit is best combined with the following products:

  • Seafood – shrimp, crab sticks, any red fish
  • Vegetables – tomatoes, cucumbers
  • Any greens
  • Legumes, especially beans
  • Potatoes, etc.

In the southern countries where the fruit grows, they prefer to eat it raw, but in European countries and Russia, avocado has become an indispensable ingredient in many interesting dishes and salads:

  • Avocado rolls with salted trout - cut the peeled fruit into slices, each of which is wrapped in a strip of red fish. Place on a dish, sprinkle with ground pepper, add a drop of lemon juice. Top with greenery
  • Salad with shrimp - cut the avocado pulp into slices and put in a salad bowl, add 2-3 chopped boiled eggs, 300 grams of peeled shrimp, sprinkle with finely chopped herbs, sprinkle with lemon juice and season with olive oil
  • Avocado with processed cheese – the pulp must be brought to the consistency of puree or pate, then grate 200 grams of processed cheese and add to the avocado. Add a couple of cloves of chopped garlic there. Mix everything, season to taste with spices and add mayonnaise. This appetizer is good spread on toast or bread. Many people add boiled eggs to the recipe, in which case the avocado pate turns out more tender. Now you know how to eat avocado with bread!
  • Avocado with tuna. You will need: canned tuna, fresh cucumber, 1 avocado, juice from half a lemon, olives, herbs, oil for dressing. Fruit and cucumber are cut into slices and mixed with fish, olives and herbs. It is better to dress the salad with olive oil.

As you can see, a wide variety of dishes can be prepared from this southern fruit. Now you know how to eat avocado raw, what to consider when choosing it, and what ingredients it goes best with. The most delicious salads are made from avocado and seafood, and for dressing it is optimal to use olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Bon appetit!

The Spanish conquistadors, who introduced Europe to this amazing fruit, called it the “alligator pear” for its rich green color, characteristic shape and uneven, pimply-covered peel. The taste of avocado when ripe is reminiscent of butter mixed with spicy herbs. Some gourmets still detect light nutty notes or a faint aroma of coniferous tree resin.

Avocado is recommended to be included in diets for weight loss, because with a high calorie content (on average 158 kcal/100 g), it does not provoke excess weight gain, supplying the body only with healthy, unsaturated fatty acids. Also it is an excellent source of antioxidants, trace elements and vitamins. In a word, a whole complex for rejuvenation, healing and restoration of the figure in one fruit.

All avocado varieties are grouped into three groups:

  • Guatemalan
  • West Indian
  • Mexican.

They differ in color, shape, pulp texture and taste.

Which varieties to choose?

What dish is the exotic fruit intended for? Do we want to make a green version of gazpacho, Mexican guacamole, diet rolls, sandwiches, salad or vegan mayonnaise from it? The choice of one or another avocado variety depends on the answer to these questions.

Of the 400 varieties of the popular tropical fruit, only three are presented on our shelves:

  • California (Hass)
  • Florida (Hall)
  • Pinkerton

California avocados belong to the Guatemalan group. Its peel is not green, but almost black, with a purple tint. The soft, creamy flesh will delight you with its rich taste - this kind of avocado is usually spread on toast instead of butter. It is also used to make all kinds of pastas, sauces, cold appetizers combined with cheese, mushrooms or seafood, pureed soups and unsweetened milkshakes.


The ripe fruit of the Hass variety should be purchased without hesitation, since it has the greatest nutritional value. But... since the fruits that have reached the condition are very soft, they are exported unripe: practically tasteless and hard. An unripe avocado must be carefully selected when purchasing, then it will gradually “get ready” at home.

Pulp Florida avocado (West Indian group) It is distinguished by a fresh, weakly expressed taste and some wateriness. This species appears on our shelves in winter. The fruits with a shiny, almost smooth, light green skin have a large mass with a medium-sized seed, which makes their purchase especially profitable.

The Hall variety with dense flesh that retains its shape when cut is used for salads and vegetarian rolls. You need to know that its taste is specific, slightly sweet and not everyone likes it. In addition, the fruits are difficult to peel even with a special knife.

Pinkerton is considered the most delicious and versatile variety presented in our stores. It is suitable for soups, pates, smoothies and desserts. Vegetarians often put this avocado in dishes instead of meat and eggs, since it vaguely resembles both.

Among the advantages of Pinkerton are a very small seed and an easily removable peel: with some dexterity, the fruit can be peeled even with your fingers, without any equipment.

If you are on a diet

It turns out that the “alligator pear” can have different calorie content depending on the variety. Therefore, those who want to become slimmer should eat exclusively Florida avocados.


Grown in a humid tropical climate, they contain a higher percentage of water and less fat compared to their Californian "brothers" or Pinkerton.

It is estimated that the calorie content of the Hall variety is 275 kcal/100g, while the Hass variety reaches 385 kcal/100g.

Those who still prefer the buttery Californian avocado, but are afraid of gaining weight, will have to greatly limit the consumption of their favorite product.

Main signs of a ripe avocado

We all want to buy a soft and tasty fruit to serve immediately. But there is one subtlety here.

An unripe avocado is much better than an overripe one - in the latter case, the fruit will most likely have to be thrown away, since it has already begun to rot. But a hard specimen just needs to be kept for several days at room temperature and then safely placed in dishes.

So, we decided to choose an avocado from the store. We need ripe fruit.

First, let's examine the peel. on her there should be no dark spots, cracks, scratches, cuts or other damage. Fruits spoiled during transportation or storage are unlikely to delight us with excellent taste.

Stains and dents indicate that putrefactive processes have already begun.

Avocados of dark varieties require special attention; it is more difficult to notice possible defects on them.

Next, gently press the fruit with your finger. If the dent left quickly disappears, it is of the required condition and is ready for use. Too hard, unyielding peel indicates insufficient ripeness, but if the fruit does not recover after pressing, it is overripe. Manipulations must be carried out carefully, otherwise the avocado will begin to deteriorate at the point of pressure.

You can separate the stalk and inspect the resulting “hole”. If it is light green in color and slightly moist from the juice that has come out, the fruit is fully ripe. A brown mark under the cutting indicates that the fruit has already begun to deteriorate; a yellowish mark indicates insufficient ripeness.

Another way to check: lightly press the stalk at the base. For ripe, soft fruits it will give way under your hand, but for too hard fruits it will remain in place. If resistance from the cutting is not felt at all, we have an overripe avocado, which should be put aside.

When the fruit is ready to eat, the seed taps when shaken.

It is better to cut an avocado of ideal ripeness not lengthwise, but crosswise. This makes it easier to remove the seed by simply squeezing the fruit with your hand.

If the fruit at the stalk has an elongated rather than rounded shape, it ripened on the tree and was picked almost ripe. Such a specimen will be the most delicious.


It is better to eat a ripe avocado right away - it does not sit for a long time, even in the refrigerator. You need to buy fruit “in reserve” when it is slightly unripe.

Useful lifehacks

“Alligator pear” is not yet a frequent guest on our table, so is it any wonder that some of the subtleties of its preparation are unknown to us.

Avocado is a capricious and perishable fruit, so if handled incorrectly, it is easy to be left without a valuable addition to your daily menu.

  1. The fruit is rich in iron, so it quickly turns dark when cut. To prevent this from happening, pour lemon juice over the slices.
  2. An avocado with a pit stays fresh longer than without it.
  3. If the fruit needs to be peeled, just cut it in half and turn both parts in the opposite direction. The pit will be easily removed.
  4. Ripe avocado is easy to eat with a teaspoon.
  5. A potato peeler will help in the fight against dense, stubborn peels.
  6. Overripe or spoiled fruit can be used for cosmetic masks by mixing its pulp with olive oil.

    Attention!

    Avocado pits and peels are toxic to animals and small children. They can cause serious poisoning.

  7. But don’t be scared and immediately throw away the seed removed from the fruit. It’s better to plant it in the ground and, with proper care, grow your own, homemade avocado.

Now watch a short story with tips:

Choose only healthy foods for your menu, eat right and be healthy!

17.12.2015 Vladimir Zuikov Save:

Good evening, dear friends! I've already had 2 people ask me about avocados. In winter you want something fatty and this is not surprising! Therefore, today I will tell you how to choose a ripe avocado, what to do if you suddenly bought an unripe one. You will also learn how to properly cut this wonderful fruit and eat it.

I think everyone knows what an avocado is and what it looks like. If you don't know, be sure to try this fatty fruit. Although it is quite high in calories, it is very useful for anyone, even a healthy person. Come on, I won’t say much about the benefits - you will feel them yourself by tasting it. So let's move on to choosing a good avocado.

How to choose the right ripe avocado?

I remember the first time I bought an avocado, when I had just become a raw foodist. It was something with something, guys and girls. In general, I spent a long time feeling the avocado fruits in the supermarket, some were too soft, others were hard. The soft ones were dark and I didn't like them, so I bought all green ones. Naturally it turned out to be tasteless.

So that you do not repeat my mistakes, I will give you some tips on how to determine the ripeness of an avocado:

1. Ripe fruit is always a little soft. Of course, if it contains dents or is too soft, it has already gone bad or rotten. Don't buy this one, you'll be wasting your money. A good fruit is soft when pressed, with slight elasticity.

2. A good avocado has a slightly darkened skin. If the skin is green or too dark, the fruit is unripe or overripe, respectively. This is what a normally ripe fruit looks like:

3. The seed should not dangle too much in the fruit. If you shake an avocado and the pit inside shakes, it has already spoiled inside. The pit should be slightly separated from the pulp. You will immediately feel this after gaining a little experience in practice.

4. Is it possible to tear off the stalk without effort? In a ripe fruit, the stalk (stem) is easily separated. If the color underneath is yellowish-green, the avocado is ripe. If the color is brown or darker, the avocado is overripe or completely rotten from the inside. And by the smell at the place where the cutting is attached, you will understand that it is rot. In this case, refuse the purchase and feel free to write a “wish” in the supermarket’s complaint book.

5. And the last thing is the taste of avocado. If, when eating the fruit, the pulp is like oak, hard and bitter, the fruit is unripe. The pulp should have the consistency of the most expensive butter and just a little, but slightly sweet.

By the way, avocados are green and brown on the outside. I like green ones better, and you, dear reader, which ones and why?

What to do if you bought an unripe avocado?

If you suddenly cheated and bought an unripe fruit, do not be upset - the money was not thrown away in vain. The order of your actions is as follows:

  1. take a piece of paper and wrap the fruit in it;
  2. put the wrapped fruit in a dark place at room temperature for 5-7 days;
  3. to speed up the ripening of the avocado, wrap it in a paper bag along with a banana;
  4. Check the avocado periodically for ripeness.

Ripe avocados can then be consumed within two weeks or so. Then, as you already understand, it begins to deteriorate from the inside. Signs of spoilage are dark spots inside and an unpleasant taste of the fruit.

How to cut an avocado and eat it?

Once a ripe avocado is selected, that's not all! You need to cut the fruit and then properly prepare it for eating. You already know how to carve a pumpkin, but the process is different for an avocado.

1. The fruit must be washed well. Preferably with warm water and a soft brush. This procedure is necessary because the avocado is brought from distant countries, it has been touched by many people, it has dust and germs on it. After washing, dry the fruit with a soft cloth.

2. Cut the avocado lengthwise with a knife, starting from the stem, following the contour. There is no need to try to cut completely; there is a large bone inside the fruit. Run the knife along the outline until you return to the cutting on the other side. Now use a knife or your hands to separate the two halves in half.

3. Separate the seed from the fruit by prying it with a knife. The bone should be thrown away; do not try to eat it, it is poisonous. If there is a shell from the pit left on the pulp, it needs to be picked out and also removed.

Congratulations, the avocado is cut! Now you need to eat it. There are a couple of options here:

  • If you want to eat an avocado without anything, i.e. mono, take a teaspoon and scoop out the pulp, eating it immediately. By the way, the peel is not eaten.
  • If you want to use avocado for salads and other dishes, you must first peel the fruit and then cut it into small pieces. It should be consumed immediately, because... the pulp quickly deteriorates and darkens in air.

I want to say something separately about raw food salads with avocado. It’s tough, guys, how they mix up the habits of food addiction, so that your stomach hurts all day. On the blog I talk a lot about the compatibility of products, so I recommend making salads with avocado also compatible.

That's it for me, choosing, cutting and eating the fatty fruit - avocado. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments under the article, I will be happy to tell you what is not clear. By the way, what other fruits would you like to know about choosing? Give me a hint, I will write an article on the fruits that interest you.

ZY Subscribe to blog updates– there is still a lot of interesting things ahead!

It is included in sauces, salads, stuffed with it, and rolls are made from it. The product is also useful in its raw form. In addition to excellent taste, it is also low in calories. How to determine the ripeness of an avocado is described in the article.

Varieties

There are over four hundred types of fruit. But only 3 types are sold in stores:

  1. Californian. It has a brown skin and a soft interior. The product is perfect for making pureed soups, pasta for sandwiches, and cocktails. This variety is sold throughout the year. Be careful: there may be dents and stains under the dark skin.
  2. Florida. It has a light green color and dense flesh. The fruit has a thin skin, so if you do not plan to eat it raw, you should use a knife. The product is suitable for salads, rolls, and due to its low calorie content it is used in diets.
  3. Pinkerton. The variety is dark green in color and has pimply skin. The fruit has a small stone compared to the Florida variety. This type of avocado is considered the best for rolls.

These fruits are rich in vitamin E, which protects cells from aging. The use of fruits reduces the risk of atherosclerosis, normalizes memory and reduces cholesterol in the blood. For the fruit to be healthy, you need to know how to determine the ripeness of an avocado.

Benefit

Depending on the variety, the set of valuable properties may differ. But in general, avocado has the following benefits:

  1. The fruit is rich in vitamins and microelements, especially B and E.
  2. The pulp does not contain harmful fats and sugars, so the fruit is useful for people with diabetes. Avocados contain a lot of potassium, more than bananas.
  3. The fruit is excellent for cleansing the blood of cholesterol due to the presence of oleic acid.
  4. The fruit is rich in vitamin E, which is not present in such quantities compared to other fruits. This component rejuvenates the body's cells, protects against viruses and premature skin aging.
  5. The fruit restores brain activity and memory, reduces the risk of heart and vascular diseases due to the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
  6. Normalization of heart function. The presence of potassium restores water-salt balance and strengthens stress resistance.
  7. Decreased pressure. This property is necessary for hypertensive patients. With regular use, blood pressure returns to normal.
  8. The overall blood flow of the body is normalized. Avocados contain vitamin B2, copper, and iron, which protect against anemia, especially for children.
  9. Improved performance. Due to the presence of mannoheptulose, the nervous system is restored, drowsiness and fatigue are relieved.
  10. Elimination of unbound radicals.
  11. Increasing immunity, which is especially important during the flu.
  12. Doctors advise people who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract to consume these fruits.
  13. The fruit contains phytonutrients and phytochemicals that destroy certain types of tumors.
  14. Improving the absorption of carotenoids.
  15. Strengthens teeth and bones due to the presence of calcium and phosphorus.

The fruits are useful for athletes and all people who want to increase muscle mass. This is achieved due to the high protein content.

How to determine the ripeness of an avocado in the store? First you need to perform a visual inspection. It is necessary to check the fruit for stains, depressions, rot and other damage. You need to examine the skin; dark fruits are considered more ripe.

It should be borne in mind that there are many types of fruits that differ in skin color, from dark green to brown. If you do not know what type of fruit is sold, then you should not choose the largest avocado. Some dark green fruits have a large seed. Therefore, if you choose a large fruit, there will be little pulp.

How to determine the ripeness of an avocado by other signs? You need to click on the fruit. If the pulp has been pressed down a little and the structure has quickly recovered, then the fruit is ripe, and if it is hard, then it is unripe. You can also buy it, but then it needs to ripen for 3-4 days at home. If the dent does not recover, this means that the avocado is overripe.

How else can you determine the ripeness of an avocado? This can be done by the bone. You don’t have to cut the fruit in the store, you need to shake it over your ear. If the seed taps, then the fruit is ripe. If there are no sounds, you should not buy such fruit, because it is unripe.

How to tell the ripeness of an avocado in a simple way? If after purchase you are not sure of the ripeness of the fruit, then you should cut off its stalk and determine the color of the cut site:

  1. If it is brown, then the fruit is overripe.
  2. If it’s yellow-green, it’s not ripe.
  3. If it's bright green, it's ripe.

The fruit cannot be consumed immediately after cutting the cutting. But to prevent it from darkening, you need to drip lemon juice into this place. These are the main ways to determine the ripeness of an avocado fruit.

Storage

To maintain the ripeness of an avocado, it should be stored in the refrigerator for 2-5 days. It is important that the fruit is further away from bananas and apples. It is advisable to place it on the last shelf of the refrigerator. But it should not be near the back wall, as it may become overcooled.

Unripe fruit

This fruit should not be consumed; it should be left until ripening. It is necessary to place the fruit in a paper bag and wrap it in a towel. In this form, it should be stored in a dark place, for example, in a closet.

Ripening lasts 2-10 days. Place a banana or apple in a bag to speed up this process. These fruits produce ethylene, which helps speed up ripening.

Cleaning and use

You should know not only how to check the ripeness of an avocado, but also how to peel and eat it. This is how you peel the fruit: cut it in half lengthwise and remove the pit. It is easy to remove; you need to pry it off from all sides with a knife. To remove the pulp, you should take a spoon or peel the half with a knife.

Then the pulp is kneaded into a creamy mass and cut into cubes, it all depends on what the recipe calls for. The pulp of the fruit darkens when exposed to air. To prevent this, you need to sprinkle it with lemon juice.

Avocado is eaten raw, spread on bread, salted and eaten like a sandwich. It is used for preparing salads, snacks, and cocktails. The fruit goes well with fish, caviar, chicken, shrimp, cucumbers and tomatoes.

When dieting

Avocados may vary in calorie content depending on the variety. Those who want to be slimmer should choose the Florida look. It is grown in humid tropical climates and is high in water and low in fat.

The calorie content of Hall avocado is 275 kcal / 100 g, and Hass is 385 kcal / 100 g. Lovers of the buttery Californian variety, if they are watching their weight, should limit their consumption of this product.

Thus, it is necessary to know how to select and store avocados correctly. Only then will this useful product be able to fill the human body with valuable vitamins.

The exotic fruit avocado attracts with its unusual taste and health benefits. When choosing it, it is very easy to make a mistake and buy a fruit that is not exactly the one you would like. When an avocado arrives at the required ripeness, you can get great pleasure from it.

In order not to waste money and not be disappointed, it is worth knowing the nuances that will help you make the right choice.

The benefits of avocado and its use

Avocado contains many vitamins and microelements. Together they have a beneficial effect on the human body.

Avocado contains polyunsaturated fatty acids that help improve memory, increase its concentration, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Thanks to potassium, which is part of the fruit, stress resistance increases and water-salt metabolism is normalized. Copper and iron help prevent anemia.

Avocado has valuable ability to lower blood pressure. Therefore, the fruit is useful for those who are prone to hypertension.

The size of an avocado is from 5 to 10 centimeters. The weight of the fruit is around 200 grams, although there are fruits up to a kilogram.

Avocado can have different shapes:

  • pear-shaped;
  • oval;
  • spherical.

Regardless of this, ripe fruits make excellent pureed soups, smoothies and cocktails. The pulp of the fruit can be spread on bread and enjoy a pleasant creamy taste. Avocados are added to salads and used to make rolls.

Secrets of choosing avocados

When choosing an avocado, you need to consider it from all sides. There should be no damage, cracks or spots on the peel. The spots indicate that the fruit is overripe, and possibly rotten inside.

You should pay attention to the level of ripeness of the avocado. If the fruit is not fully ripe, then it has hard flesh and a bitter and cloying taste.

The ripe fruit is sweet and tasty. Avocado pulp is oily and tender. It can be easily crushed with a fork. This is the kind of fruit you need to buy.

Avocados are selected taking into account the following criteria:

  • skin color;
  • softness;
  • cuttings

Depending on the degree of ripening, the fruit has different skin colors:

  • Light green. This color indicates that the avocado is not yet ripe. You can bring it to a ripe state on the windowsill. But it will take at least five days for the fruit to become soft and pliable.
  • Moderate green. If the avocado has this color, then it has two days left until it is completely ripe.
  • Rich green. The fruit only needs to sit for about a day to turn into a ripe fruit.
  • Dark green with a brownish tint. The fruit can and should be eaten immediately after purchase.

By touching the fruit and lightly pressing the peel with your fingers, you can determine the degree of ripeness with almost 100 percent probability. If the avocado feels like it gives in slightly when pressed, and then the dent quickly smoothes out, then the fruit should be excellent. It is soft, but not doughy. The elasticity of the skin suggests that the fruit is not overripe.

Cutting– another distinctive feature that allows you to make a choice. In soft avocados, it may be light yellow or dark brown. It is better to choose a fruit with a light stalk, since its dark color indicates that the avocado is already overripe and has lost some of its usefulness and taste.

There is a seed inside the fruit. If you can hear the sound of the fruit when you shake it, then you can buy it with confidence - it is ripe and juicy.

When buying avocados for future use, it is better to choose a heavy and hard fruit.

What to do with unripe avocados

The most delicious fruits of any fruit are ripe ones. This fully applies to avocados.

Hard and unripe fruits taste like an unripe pear or pumpkin and should not be eaten immediately. But when you can’t find ripe avocados, don’t be upset.