The hass avocado is truly a gift from the gods! I love and adore these creamy green fruits with their soft buttery taste, gorgeous color and versatility. Everybody knows avocados in guacamole but it’s used in many more recipes that that. There’s even an avocado ice cream, believe it or not. I’ve never had the privilege of eating any but if I ever get the chance, I will. If you’re making a face right now, consider that there is red bean ice cream as well as other flavors that might be considered odd – like pumpkin – that is wonderfully creamy and rich.
How To Choose Your Avocado
* Hass avocados are the best in my humble opinion – and let’s be clear that I am an avocado expert! :-) They’re available year round, have a bumpy skin that looks sort of like a crocodile and taste wonderfully delicious.
* When avocados aren’t ripe, they’re a bright green. As the hass avocado ripens, it turns black and grows soft. So to tell if it’s ripe, gently – GENTLY – press the fruit. If you squeeze too hard it will bruise and blacken on the inside.
* I always buy avocados in various stages of ripeness: some are black and others are green and hard. That way they will (hopefully) ripen at different times.
* Obviously, if fruit is dented or otherwise damaged, pass it by.
Ripening Your Avocado
I just put my Hass avocado on a plate and let it ripen at room temperature. However, many folks place an apple in a paper bag, along with their fruit. Apples release ethylene gas into the bag and it is a ripening agent.
This is important: avocados are a delicate balancing act. If they’re not ripe enough they’re hard and not tasty at all. If they’re too soft, they’re mushy and yucky.
<Storing Your Avocado
If your Hass is ripe but you’re not ready to eat it, you can store it in the refrigerator. Once you cut the avocado [assuming you don’t want to eat the entire fruit at once which is inconceivable to me, but …] then it will turn black unless you take care. I pour some lemon juice [you can use products like RealLemon] over the exposed flesh, place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the green part and place the entire avocado in a plastic bag, getting out as much air as possible. It will be OK that way for a day or two bur definitely no longer.
How To Eat Avocado: The Sandwich Wedge
To me, the way to eat a fresh avocado is to get a spoon and start eating. However, most people aren’t the purist that I am so here is a sandwich that my kids love. It’s a turkey and avocado sandwich wedge:
* Hass avocado
* Sliced smoked turkey
* Salsa
* Jack or swiss cheese
* Red onion [definitely optional]
* Green lettuce
* Mustard
* Mayonnaise
* Multigrain or sourdough bread
Layer your sandwich then cut it in wedges.
If you go to your grave without ever tasting a hass avocado, you will have missed out on one of life’s most glorious treats. Of course, some folks don’t like avocados, but hey – we’re not all perfect!
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