Trouble with avocado

[tvillemom]

The past several times I've bought avo's I think they are close to ripe, but when I've tried to cut them they are hard inside, and I can't get the seed out. Then when I KNOW they are soft, they are getting brown on the inside....how do I tell when it's JUST RIGHT? They are way too expensive to waste, and now I'm scared to buy them :mad: I love a good one, but they are few and far between for me!
Wendi

[flyinion]

Buy them hard, wait for them to get to that slightly soft point, they should be perfect then. If I try to find a ripe one at the store it's almost always brown inside, I find for some reason buying organic ones will reduce this chance though.

[SamuelWilson]

Look for dark brown or black ones and pick them up. If they give to slight pressure, then they are ok to use the same day you buy them and maybe the following day. Otherwise buy green or brown ones and store them in a paper bag and check them every day. You do not have a large window of opportunity for avocados as far as being ripe is concerned. Also, I just learned from experience, if you go to the store to buy an avocado for a recipe and it calls for one avocado, never buy just one. There is nothing more frustrating to realize the one avocado you purchased is spoiled and you do not have another one to go in your recipe.

[Sharon in Colorado]

You may have gotten a funny batch. Once in a while that happens to me too - where the outside is soft but it's hard on the inside, or where it seems ripe but it's gone too far and gets brown and stringy and has a smoky odor.

Usually when it yields to gentle pressure, it's good.

[tvillemom]

Thanks ya'll! I guess this just comes from experience! I'll try putting them in a paper bag at home!
Wendi