How do you know when Avocados are ripe?

[kellyhushhh]

Hello,

I have just bought some Avocados from Tescos and they say ripen at home, so how do you know when they are ready to use?

Thanks Kelly x

[cymonguk]

They should feel bouncy to the touch rather than hard when you squeeze them, they also go a darker colour on the skin as they ripen if I remember rightly (to a brown colour).

[Nikki~Nathan&Danielle]

Yep, generally no green left on the skin (unless they are the green variety) and I always test up by that little stem bit for sponginess.  The more you eat them the more you'll get to know.  If you do cut into it too soon the inside flesh will be quite tough still, but when it's properly ripe it will be kind of like butter on the inside without being brown.

[woosh]

if they do feel too firm, put them in a brown paper bag with a ripe banana.  Some enzymes??or omehing in ananas makes other fruit ripen quicker.