Help with avocados?

[Sweetness]

I've tried avocado once and hated it. It's touted as a perfect baby food and my child hated it as well. :) Now, there is a good chance that i didn't pick a good one or it wasn't ripe.

Any tips on avocado buying? I'd -like- to like these because they're in so many recipes and very healthy.

If I can't get over the avocado-dislike, is there something that works as a substitute for when av would add 'creamy'?

I also dislike cilantro because it tastes soapy to me, I'm one of those whacky super-tasters but *thankfully* a lot has worn off as I've gotten older. It wasn't until I was 19 that I could eat basic veggies like carrots. I was in my early 20s before I could eat broccoli.. I'm now almost 34 and can eat the majority of veggies - basically force myself to taste various things - but still haven't gotten into tomatoes (which I REALLY want to like!!) and chunks of onion. I can eat cooked sweet onions.. or onions that the vitamix has pureed.

The thing is that I don't want to be a picky eater. I want to have full range of the gorgeous veggies out there. I am happier with raw because most vegetables are way easier to eat this way. For instance. I can eat red peppers til the cows come home if they're raw, but they trigger a gag reflex if cooked.

SOooo.... how can I get a GREAT avocado? :)

Thanks!

[TheRawPilgrim]

No advice but I'm the same way. Raw tomatoes, raw onion, avocados, cilantro, I can't stand these either but wish I did :( .

[OnMyJourney]

What color was the outer shell of the avocado you had? I find that riper ones have a creamier, yummier taste to me. I buy them green (not ripe) ones and let them sit out until they are ripe (dark). Sometimes I'll buy the ripe, but will keep them in the fridge so they don't over ripe before I can use them. Hope that helps. :)

[How?]

Ripe avocados are just barely soft to touch. Sometimes ripe ones are bruised though so any grey areas on the inside are like bruised fruit. They are probably my favourite part of the raw diet. I have a constant rotation of unripe,nearly ripe, and ripe floating around! Maybe try eating some seeds or salt with one.

[Pitaya]

do you eat organic cilantro?? i've never had that soapy-taste experience

i find avocados vary greatly depending on where they are from, who harvested them etc etc - I am travelling alot so not able to set myself on one fave, and thus give you advice on that, but I can say the dressing and adjustingn it makes a big difference.....i LOVE mine with olive oil and salt and apple cider vinegar, on top of sunflower sprout or other salad....

bless! :)

[OnMyJourney]

do you eat organic cilantro?? i've never had that soapy-taste experience

i find avocados vary greatly depending on where they are from, who harvested them etc etc - I am travelling alot so not able to set myself on one fave, and thus give you advice on that, but I can say the dressing and adjustingn it makes a big difference.....i LOVE mine with olive oil and salt and apple cider vinegar, on top of sunflower sprout or other salad....

bless! :)

I agree with you on this (I forgot to address this earlier). I buy mine organic and have never had the soapy taste.

I'd like to add though, that some of this just might take a while for your taste buds to adjust.

[MightyKong]

Avocado, onion, tomatoes, cilantro.... That's the recipe for my favorite homemade salsa! Hahaha....

[DebB]

I think there's a huge difference in the eating experience between cutting open an avo and just eating it and say mooshing it on a massaged kale salad.

So, you may like to try it a couple different ways before tossin' in the towel. Or blended in an energy soup, things like that - they're not going to scream, "Avocado".

It took me a while to be able to determine just when an avo is ripe as How? suggests. I buy the 5 packs at Costco. As soon as they yield to the slightest pressure, I pop them right into the fridge. *Ü*

[Raw.N.It.Out]

What color was the outer shell of the avocado you had? I find that riper ones have a creamier, yummier taste to me. I buy them green (not ripe) ones and let them sit out until they are ripe (dark). Sometimes I'll buy the ripe, but will keep them in the fridge so they don't over ripe before I can use them. Hope that helps. :)

lol this is EXACTLY what I do with mine too!! ;)


I LOVE to make pudding's with Avocado's. Blend them with a couple of frozen Banana's, or kiwi (not frozen). Or nuts. Whatever!! :D it makes it thick & creamy..

[joya]

I agree with you on this (I forgot to address this earlier). I buy mine organic and have never had the soapy taste.

I'd like to add though, that some of this just might take a while for your taste buds to adjust.

Cilantro tastes like soap to me too. I read it's genetic. (?) Some people just don't like cilantro, organic or not. Seriously, there are websites all about hating cilantro! LOL Personally, I abhor it.

Regarding avocado... the best thing about them (IMO) is that you can use them as a base and add whatever flavor appeals to you. Do you like chocolate? Maybe starting off with the choco-avo pudding might ease you into them?

****
edited to add: BTW, since we're talking about avocados... does anyone know, is it okay to eat them after they turn brown? It's sad that my beautiful guacamole has such a short green life. And I can't bring myself to eat it the next day, it's all brown and runny. I just want to make sure it is still okay to eat once it turns.

[ShelShel]

I buy three avocados at a time. One very ripe, on almost ripe and one green. I can eat the first one the day after I bring them home, and one each of the following days. I love them on salad instead of dressing. With tomato on the side. A little piece of avo and tomato together in one bite...yum. I like them a bit on the firm side, but still soft. But I was raw for a while before they became appealing to me. I think as you let your taste buds change gradually, they may become delish to you too! :p When completely raw, I enjoy plain raw celery. :eek: Now come on...that's just not me normally. :D LOL Raw...she's a life changer!

[kidkid]

hahaha! My dad HATES HATES HATES cilantro. And my boyfriend can't taste it at all. To him, it's just a texture. They have told me that there are three kinds of people when it comes to cilantro -- people who can't taste it, people who taste it and it's pleasant, and people for whom it tastes like soap. Apparently it is genetic.

Maybe something similar is happening with avocados since you and your kid don't like them!

But maybe not. How do you feel about guacamole? Like, mixing avocado with a whole lot of those onions you like, plus cumin, salt, cayenne pepper, lime...

[punpkin]

Avocados are just about my favorite part of being raw. I like them with something salty on them- noma shoyu, salt- I absolutley love avocados!!! Not crazy about them in my smoothies, though. But they are welcome everywhere else. They are like my delicacy! I would definitley reccomend trying different recipes- also, David Wolfe says they are known by so many different names around the world and all the names really shed light on the beauty of the avocado. Saw on the Internet where they said avos are good for 'female parts' and that the avocado takes nine months to ripen- that's kind of fascinating to me! Good luck!

[OnMyJourney]

Cilantro tastes like soap to me too. I read it's genetic. (?) Some people just don't like cilantro, organic or not. Seriously, there are websites all about hating cilantro! LOL Personally, I abhor it.

Regarding avocado... the best thing about them (IMO) is that you can use them as a base and add whatever flavor appeals to you. Do you like chocolate? Maybe starting off with the choco-avo pudding might ease you into them?

****
edited to add: BTW, since we're talking about avocados... does anyone know, is it okay to eat them after they turn brown? It's sad that my beautiful guacamole has such a short green life. And I can't bring myself to eat it the next day, it's all brown and runny. I just want to make sure it is still okay to eat once it turns.

Well, I'm glad that I have the 'good' gene!! :D I didn't realize there were entire websites devoted to hating cilantro.:confused: I find that quite interesting. I guess I never would've known, had you not pointed it out, since I have no reason to go searching out for it. Maybe if I get curious enough I'll go fiddle around and see.

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

I buy them green (not ripe) ones and let them sit out until they are ripe (dark).

Not all varieties will turn dark when they are ripe. Some actually stay bright green.

[OnMyJourney]

Not all varieties will turn dark when they are ripe. Some actually stay bright green.

Thanks for letting me know, I haven't seen/had any of that variety. I buy Hass avocados and those turn dark. Cool to know though.

ETA: Maybe that's a part of the OP's issue...the variety she's been trying.

[January Noir]

YUM!

Avocados are one of the best things about being Raw. I can eat one or two everyday. :D When going out with friends to a SAD restuarant and I see fresh guacamole on the menu? :eek: It's on! :D

[Kalehua]

I always go by touch when picking out avocados.

Avoid anything with bruises or scars. Give it a slight squeeze. A ready to eat avocado should yield slightly but still be some what firm. If it's too soft and the skin feels loose, it's over ripe and likely has brown spots. A rock hard avocado is not ripe and will take days to be ready.

Another way to check if it's ready is to push on the stem. If it gives, it's on the ripe side. Some people like to check if they can pull it off but I find pushing on it works fine.

One of my favorite ways to snack on avocados is to slice and roll in Lydia's Organics raw seasoning which I buy at Whole Foods. Gives it kind of a breaded like texture.

Also, avocado milk shakes are wonderful! I highly recommend them. My none raw family + kids even enjoy them!

[moo]

edited to add: BTW, since we're talking about avocados... does anyone know, is it okay to eat them after they turn brown? It's sad that my beautiful guacamole has such a short green life. And I can't bring myself to eat it the next day, it's all brown and runny. I just want to make sure it is still okay to eat once it turns.

I've never heard that it's unsafe to eat when it oxidizes (turns icky), but it definitely changes flavour and I find that flavour 100% inedible. I love the food network and Alton Brown (a food show host) recommends adding a healthy dose of lemon or other citrus juice, putting it in a bag or container where you can squeeze out the excess air, and never keeping it in a stainless steel container -- they're all supposed to extend the life of the guacamole. I find, when I have guacamole (which all comes fresh from restaurants because I can't pick a good avocado to save my life!), that it's best to keep it in a tall, narrow container. That way you can scrape off the top part that oxidized, and eat the still delightful guacamole underneath.

Man, now I want an avocado!

[k8sl8]

I find that to keep a half avo in the frig for later use, leave the seed in the remaining half and use the other half skin to cover exposed flesh. Wrap all in plastic wrap, tightly. This works abougt 90%.

[ArcturusXIV]

Avacadoes vary severely in flavor! Try again... And don't buy them from Wal-Mart, they taste like they've been regurgitated by a giraffe. You might as well take a fresh one and eat it after it falls out the other end, it will taste fresher!

As far as buying, make sure it has a little give, but is not squishy! Just ripe enough to pop back out again when you give it a tender squeeze...

If you let it ripen too long, it will also taste rotten.

Trick is, find an entire rack of them that have good give, that means they are not underripe, overripe, or from a giraffe's a$$.

And cayenne pepper helps. Just saying!

PS: If you use salt, go for himalayan rock salt! it is the best, in my opinion. Celtic salt is second, sea salt third, no salt last, and table salt doesn't count at all, if it's white, don't bite!

[ViolinCyndee]

No advice but I'm the same way. Raw tomatoes, raw onion, avocados, cilantro, I can't stand these either but wish I did :( .

All my favs!!! <drool> (I'm on Day 15 of the MC, too)

[Raw Angel Mom]

I always buy as green as possible and then ripe them at home. Just let them sit on the counter. Once you touch it and it is a little soft, put them in the fridge.

The reason, i buy them green is because many time the store will put them in the fridge before they rippe and the inside doesn't turn to a nice green but black.

You can ask the store if they place them in the fridge at the end of the day. If not, you can buy a ripe one (dark green pill with medium soft when you press with your finger, too soft will be black inside)