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...
Handling Onions
Can you chop your onions without shedding a tear? Find out how to stop crying while cutting onions along with other onion ...
Discover More
Newfoundland
The Newfoundland's superior swimming skills proved useful while working on ships and docks. He has an excellent soundness ...
Discover More
Cleaning Old Dolls
Old dolls are often more than just an old toy that has been around for a few years. They can easily become a beloved ...
Discover More
Scalloped Potatoes
Potatoes are tasty and easy to cook. Try cooking them scalloped (or au gratin) for a cheesy and delicious dish.
Discover More
Corn On or Off the Cob
Figure out the tricks to corn on the cob. Want to try something different? Try grilling your corn—learn how here!
Discover More
Preparing Mushrooms for Cooking
Mushrooms, though they may look a little icky to many children, are a great ingredient for just about every kind of dish. ...
Discover More
Comments