Avocados and guacamole go all the way back to the ninth century—that's about 1,200 years, which is probably almost as long as you've been waiting for that fresh avocado on your counter to ripen so you can eat it. It's rare that you'll be able to buy ripe avocados from the store and use them right away. More often than not, you have to settle for hard avocados and wait for them to ripen. Avocados will ripen almost twice as fast if you use one of these tricks:
- Seal avocados in a brown paper bag and store them in a warm (not hot) place, such as the airing cupboard. Even a cut avocado will ripen this way, but you first need to cover its cut surfaces closely with non-toxic plastic film to prevent discoloration.
- Seal the avocado in a plastic bag along with a ripe banana. Keep the bag at room temperature until the avocado becomes soft and ripe.
Once you have a ripe avocado to work with, you can chop it for salads or sandwiches, or make delicious fresh guacamole. If you've prepared avocados or guacamole before, then you know that they often discolor very quickly. But you can stop them from darkening in several different ways.
- Cover the surface of your guacamole completely with non-toxic plastic film (cling wrap) with the plastic touching the guacamole.
- Soak your avocados in cold water right after cutting or peeling them. Soaking for a minute or two helps prevent discoloration of your guacamole. Even if you are just dicing your avocado, throw the diced portions in the water for a minute and they will look much better.
- Sprinkle your avocados with lemon or lime juice, or mix the juice in when you're mixing guacamole.
- Coat larger pieces or avocado with softened butter, margarine or mayonnaise before refrigerating; they should keep fresh and green for up to 24 hours.
Author Bio
Doris Donnerman
Doris is a jack of all trades, writing on a variety of topics. Her articles have helped enlighten and entertain thousands over the years. Learn more about Doris...
Dealing with Pesky Birds
Birds can be beautiful to watch, and sometimes we encourage them to be part of our environment. However, sometimes birds ...
Discover More
Reducing the Chance of Chimney Fires
The threat of a fire scares any homeowner. Reduce your risk of a fire by taking proper care of your chimney.
Discover More
Treating Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are not only unattractive to look at; they can also be very painful. Medical treatment can be quite ...
Discover More
Keeping Your Veggies Fresh
Don't let your fresh vegetables rot! Keep them fresh and beautiful by applying these simple tips.
Discover More
Avoid Teary Eyes when Chopping Onions
One of the most dreaded parts of cooking is having to slice, dice, or somehow cut an onion. What is it about these ...
Discover More
Twice Baked Potatoes
Twice baked potatoes can be a great addition to just about any kind of dinner. Not only do they taste great, they often ...
Discover More
Comments