Technique: How To Know When An Avocado Is Ripe
By: nwafoodie

About

Color is not always a good way to determine if an avocado is ripe. A ripe avocado is relatively firm, but will yield to gentle pressure when squeezed gently.
Here is a handy little tip to know when an avocado is ripe and ready:  
1. Look for the stem.
2. Pull out of avocado.
3. Did it not pull out?  Not ready.
4. Did it pull out?  Look at the color underneath. Brown?  Overripe.  Green?  Ripe and ready!

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Comments:
The Taste Of Ca...

The best way to know if an avocado is ready without cuting it is:
1) Touch surface, is it soft or hard? It needs to be soft.
2) Shake it a little bit. If you hear that the core ie the big seed inside moves then is ready.
3) When is cut flesh needs to be yellow not green or brown. If flesh is brown then it means is no good or to rippen, better not to eat.
Best way to eat avocado:
Add a little bit of salt and vinegar onto slice and eat!
Chef Maven Leah...

Yes - on the little stem leftover - you can pick at it and if ti's a nice bright green, you can safely know it's ripe and ready to use. 
Another trick is if you put a ripe avocado in a refrigerator you can safely keep it from turning brown for a couple more days until ready to use. 
To hasten the ripening of an avocado, you can place the avocado in a brown paper bag along with a banana - close up the bag and keep it on the counter - do check everyday - should be ripe within one or two days - the banana gives off ethylene gas which helps ripen the avocado.
Dreama Wetherell

I didn't know about checking the underneath color on the stem....thanks.
nwafoodie

You're welcome!  It really is a handy little tip!
Chef Don Messina

The Avocado should just give to slight pressure. If it's very soft it's bad.
nwafoodie

Chef Don Messina and Chef Maven Leah Quinn...I learned something new today, thanks!
Tonya Peele

I check for a slighty green/black avocado that is firm to the touch. If left on the counter for a day, it is usually ready to eat. If purhased when soft to the touch, I have the inside flesh to already be slightly black instead of a rich green color. Hope this helps!