Why You Might Not Want To Buy Avocados In Bulk
Not all things in life are created equal, avocados included. From the two-pound Hall species available in the Fall to the popular miniature avocados at Trader Joe's, there are over 15 different varieties of the fruit (via Food Republic). Every species comes with its own quirks, shapes, large seeds, and flavors, all capable of yielding a diverse range of dishes. From classic bowls of fresh guacamole to something as unique as avocado pickles, the fruit's versatility can make it perfect for literally anything — even skin care.
Whatever your avocado dish of choice, the mild fruit has become undeniably popular. With its creamy inner textures, rich flavor, and lush green color, it's for a good reason. When you're in the market for some of those healthy, fatty, and fresh, avocados, you're already thinking right (via Food Network). But there is one thing some people might want to avoid and that's buying avocados in bulk.
How to tell how ripe an avocado is
Newbies to the avocado might be wondering how to tell if the fruit is ready to eat in the first place. Well, you can start by checking its color. A bright green avocado is far from completing the ripening process, while those that are darker are usually much riper. The next thing you should try is the squeeze test. Hold the avocado in your hand and gently press down on the fruit. If the avocado yields to the pressure of your touch, then it's ready to eat! If it's still very hard, it's a no-go.
If you find yourself frustrated while standing in the produce section, there are other ways to check an avocado's ripeness. According to the head chef of the Good Housekeeping Institute, Cher Loh, try checking under the avocado's stem. "A really good trick to find out whether an avocado is ripe is to look at the cap that forms where it would meet the stem of the tree. Peel off the cap, and look at the color underneath. If it is green or yellow, that means the avocado is ripe and ready to eat," he said. If the cap is brown or isn't easily removable, this means that avocado is not for you.
If you accidentally bring home fruit that's not ready to eat, there are ways to get avocados to ripen faster.
A recipe for overripeness
Now onto the bulk avocado problem. Unlike other slow-to-ripen fruit, avocados tend to deteriorate quickly, and if you've bought them before, you're probably aware of this. Buying in bulk is practically asking for a heap of moldy alligator pears to appear on your counter. To truly buy the right assortment of avocados on your next trip to the store, consider in advance how you want to use them. Say you need some avocados for different meals scattered throughout the week (adding a buttery texture to your morning toast.) Stagger the ripeness of your avocados by picking out individual fruits. This prevents all of them from ripening at once. If you do buy in bulk in this scenario, inevitably you'll have to throw perfectly innocent avocados in the trash because they were the last in the bag.
The exception to the no-bulk rule would be if you're planning on using all the avocados at once, mixing up a large bowl of guacamole to pair with margarita night. Then, buy in bulk to your heart's content. If you prefer to buy in bulk to save money, however, you can always store avocados in the refrigerator to slow down the ripening process (via Eat This, Not That!). According to Food Network, you could even try using your freezer.