Avocado seems like one of those foods that in unripe one minute, and overripe the next!

Check out these tips to learn how to check when your avocado is at peak ripeness and how to best store it so it lasts.

TIP 1. CHECK THE STEM

Did you know that you can pull the stem of an avocado to check for ripeness? If the stem easily wiggles or falls off, it is ripe. If the stem won’t budge or is fussy, give the avocado more time to ripen.

TIP 2: COLOUR

Colour may be an indication of avocado ripeness. Bright or vibrant green avocados typically mean they are underripe and need a few more days to hit peak ripeness. A Dark Green to Purplish / Black colour is a good indicator the avocado is ripe and ready to eat! Black avocados can mean it’s overripe.

TIP 3: TEXTURE

Feel the avocado. Ripe avocados will have skin with a bumpy texture and underripe avocados tend to be smoother.

TIP 4: GENTLE SQUEEZE

Give your avocado a gentle squeezeUnderripe avocados are very firm. Ripe avocados are firm, with a slight give. Overripe avocados feel mushy when squeezed.

TIP 5: STORING & EXTENDING THE LIFE OF AVOCADO

Store ripe avocados in the fridge, and unripe ones on the counter.

To prolong your avocado mash or a sliced avocado, drizzle lemon juice on it. The vitamin C in the acid will help prevent oxidation, which turn the avocados brown.