About the avocado
Avocados are both a fruit and a vegetable. Thanks to their exquisite, mild flavour and soft, creamy consistency, they can be combined with almost any type of food.
The avocado tree is an evergreen tree native to the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Central America. These trees can grow to 65 ft (20 m) and does not produce any fruit after 4-7 years of age. The fruit is pear-shaped but it can also present a cucumber or apple-like size. The skin is green but textures and shades may vary depending on the variety. The flesh is creamy and green and surrounds one large, non-edible, brown seed.
How to preserve and consume avocados
Avocados are considered to be ripe and perfect for consumption if the fruit stone inside moves when you shake them or when they yield to gentle pressure.
If you want your avocado to ripen rapidly, wrap it up in newspaper together with a piece of fruit (like an apple or a banana). You will see it ripens up to 2-3 days before time! Another way of getting your avocado ripe is leaving it at room temperature with no direct sunlight, with a temperature between 18-24ºC. It will ripen in approximately a week.
If you want to preserve your avocado already sliced, we recommend tossing it in lemon/lime juice (orange/tomato juice or a bit of vinegar will also be suitable). However, if you intend the opposite (i.e. to avoid ripening), we recommend putting the avocado inside the fridge at a temperature between 4-6ºC. Ripening time can also be extended if the avocado is wrapped in plastic film or put inside an airtight container. That way, the air will not be in contact with the fruit.
Avocado can be frozen, but first the flesh needs to be removed, well-pureed and sprinkled with lemon/lime juice.
