How to Choose Avocados

The first time I discovered guacamole on my plate in a Mexican restaurant, I wasn't sure if I would like it. I didn't choose it, but it was part of my meal. I knew this green mixture was made from avocados, but avocados never sounded good to me. I'm not a finicky eater, but it didn't look very appealing at the time. It looked like the first guy who ate it really enjoyed it, but since I'm not a picky eater, I reluctantly gave it a try. After trying that chunky green goop I was hooked, and I wanted to be able to make guacamole at home. I had noticed ready-made guacamole in the grocery store, but it was too expensive for my meager budget. Instead I purchased a guacamole mix for 99 cents, and a couple of avocados. It was just as good or better than the guacamole I had eaten in my favorite Mexican restaurant.

While preparing the avocados, I sampled a small slice, and it was then I realized I liked this fruit just the way it was - completely natural. I've since purchased several avocados, and I've learned how to choose them wisely. I've tried them when they weren't quite ripe enough, and that left a lot to be desired. For a soft buttery consistency and deep avocado flavor, they have to be ripe, but not everyone knows how to choose the perfect avocado.

Choosing a Ripe Avocado

A small local grocery store in the town I recently moved from offered produce, but that produce was overpriced, and I'm sure a large portion of it went into the dumpster on a regular basis. The avocados they had for sale seemed kind of squishy, and they didn't look so great, but the package of guacamole mix I was thinking about purchasing said to use ripe avocados. I asked one of the checkout people if they knew anything about avocados, and I was told they are best when they're very ripe. I decided to buy the squishy overpriced avocados, and I'm happy I did. They were very flavorful and had a wonderful consistency. It was then that I realized how to choose the best avocados.