I’ve had a lot of practice when it comes to knowing how to tell if an avocado is ripe. Growing up in a household with a Belizean mother and Puerto Rican father, the avocado was the golden fruit of all fruits. Avocados were tucked in every nook and cranny in the kitchen, so it was vitally important to determine how ripe they were. There was no time for mushy avocados in our family!

As a kid, I observed my mother’s discerning process in selecting these beautiful fruits to create all sorts of avocado recipes—from guacamole to salsa de aguacate. It’s a skill I later embraced and honed in my career as a chef.

Knowing how to determine the freshness of the fruit and how to store avocados ensures one can enjoy their optimal flavor and texture, as well as making cost-effective purchasing decisions and minimizing waste.

Taste of Home