94 | How to Best Buy & Store Avocados – Use These 3 Grocery Pro-Tips!

Have a love-hate relationship with avocados? If so, I don’t blame you – I do too. Some days, I’m delighted to cut open an avocado and see a smooth blemish-free interior to enjoy. On other days, I’m utterly disappointed when I cut open one and find a blemished brown and ugly interior, and have to toss it away in disgust. Such a waste of money!

But with rising food and gas prices, it’s now even more important to know how to stretch our food dollars and make what we buy last longer. And I’ve discovered ways now to minimize those ‘not-so-good’ avocado days.

 

So, let’s talk avocados. In this episode, I’ll show you how to wisely pick avocados from the store, then how to best store them at home. This way, you can enjoy them more, with less stress and worry about having to use them up fast before they spoil. If you’ve never tried an avocado before, make sure to listen in too, so you can learn from the get-go how to best buy and store them, and save money and needless frustration in your plant-based diet transition!

 

 

Join -> www.plantnourished.com/ppltcourse

Contact -> [e-mail]

Learn -> www.plantnourished.com

Connect in the Facebook Community -> www.bit.ly/pbdietsuccess

Apply -> Free Rapid Health Transformation Call: https://bit.ly/plantnourished

Free Resource -> Quick Start Grocery Guide for Plant-Based Essentials: www.plantnourished.com/groceryguide

 

 

Have a question about plant-based diets that you would like answered on the Plant Based Eating Made Easy Podcast? Send it by email ([e-mail]) or submit it by a voice message here: www.speakpipe.com/plantnourished

 

 

 

 

[Plant-Based Diet, Money Saving Tips, Plant Based Eating on a Budget, Save Money, Produce Stretching Hacks, Plantbased Shopping]

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Do you have a love -haterelationship with avocados?
Some days, you are delighted whenyou open one to find a smooth, light
green, blemish-free interior to enjoy.
On other days, you're utterly frustratedand disappointed when you realize the
avocado you've waited to cut has alreadyturned brown and disgusting on the inside.

(00:25):
At least, that's how I feel.
But with rising food and gas prices,it's become even more important now to
know how to stretch our food dollarsand make what we buy last longer.
So how do you make the avocados you buylast longer so you can enjoy them more?
Well, that's what we'regoing to talk about today.

(00:49):
In this episode, I'll first takeyou to the store and show you how to
choose the avocados you buy wisely.
Then we'll look at how to takecare of those costly avocados
once you bring them home.
This way, you can enjoy them more withless stress and worry about having to
use them up fast before they spoil.

(01:10):
So if you're ready to save money andneed less frustration in plant-based
eating, make sure to tune in today.
Let's go!
Welcome to the Plant BasedEating Made Easy Podcast.
I'm your host, Anna Tseng, plant-basedRegistered Dietitian and Transition Coach.
Hi Friend, do you want to regain yourhealth with plant-based eating but feel

(01:34):
overwhelmed and lost about how to do it?
Do you feel it'll be hard to changeyour meat-heavy diet and impossible
with working, running the home,or chasing after the grandkids?
If so, you're in the right place.
Here you'll find simple strategies,clear nutrition guidance and
practical tips to help you thriveplant-powered with more energy.

(01:56):
So, if you're ready to ditchthe guesswork and transform
your health the stress-free way.
Cozy up now with a hot cup of tea orlisten while you walk and let me show
you how doable plant-based eating can be.
Let's do this!
To start us off, I want to first takea moment to thank a listener with

(02:17):
Apple ID ' Let's Unpack That with Alexand Grace' for her kind review of the
Plant Based Eating Made Easy Podcast.
She wrote, "Demystifiescommon misconceptions.
I absolutely love how Anna helpsdemystify and clearly breaks down
many areas of confusion when itcomes to health and nutrition.

(02:40):
Her knowledge and wisdom are evident,and her passion is also contagious, and
helps make health feel so much less likea daunting thing, but rather an area we
can all grow and become empowered in."
Thank you so much, Grace, forthis 5-star written review.
Yes, the plant-based world can seemvery overwhelming and big, especially to

(03:04):
someone who is new to it, and has grown upon a regular meat-based diet for decades.
I know because I was one of them.
That's why I know it can really helpthose in transition to break tips
and information down into simpler,digestible, bite-sized pieces.
This is a key reason why I created thisPlant Based Eating Made Easy Podcast.

(03:29):
And I agree with you.
Moving to better health shouldn'tfeel daunting or overwhelming.
It is really an area we can allgrow and become empowered in.
Keep listening and continuing tolearn and move towards better health
with me through this podcast, Grace.
Friend, would you like tosupport this podcast too?

(03:52):
It will definitely help reachmore people like Grace to
support them in transitioningto a plant-powered lifestyle.
If so, all you need to do is take aquick moment to leave a rating and
written review on Apple Podcasts.
If you have an Apple device,find the Apple Podcasts app icon.
It's a purple square with white circles.

(04:14):
Open it, then search forPlant Based Eating Made Easy.
Once there, scroll all the waydown past the five star symbols,
then click on 'Write a Review'.
Leave a star rating.
Write your review and then tap 'send'.
You can also leave a review if you haveiTunes downloaded on your PC computer.

(04:36):
Tell me how this podcast ismaking a difference in your
life, health or otherwise.
And I may pick your review tospotlight on an episode like this one.
So please take a moment now to or at theend of the episode, to leave a review.
Follow and subscribe to this podcast too,so you won't miss any future new episodes.

(04:58):
Now let's talk about savingmoney and enjoying avocados.
Let's face it, avocados generallyaren't cheap, and it can be pretty
disappointing to pick up an avocado,anticipating to enjoy it, only to cut it
open, and find it already riddled withbrown spots and spoilt on the inside.

(05:20):
Every time I have to throw one away,I'm frustrated and cringe at the
thought that I've just lost a fewprecious dollars worth of produce.
Has this happened to you before?
Well, let's not waste these preciousnutrient-rich avocados any longer.
I want to give you now three grocerypro-tips to help you maximize

(05:41):
their shelf life and enjoymentthe next time you buy them.

The first grocery pro-tip is this: pick according to planned use. (05:46):
undefined
Not all avocados are created equal.
This means you can't just go inand grab the first avocado you see.
If you really want to maximize the qualityand shelf life of the avocados you buy,
be smart with your avocado picking.

(06:09):
In order to do so, consider firstwhen and how you will use your
store-bought avocados in the near future.
Then, you will be able to pickthe best avocados for your needs.
So, at the store, decide first how soonyou want to eat the avocados you buy.
Will it be the next dayor in a week's time?

(06:31):
If you plan to eat them soon withinthe next day or two, you can pick
avocados that feel a little bit softto the touch when held in the hand.
But, on the other hand, if you want themto last longer at home for 5 to 7 days
before eating them, look for avocadosthat feel hard and firm to the touch.

(06:51):
I hope this makes sense.
Now here's a second grocerypro-tip: split, then store.
Once you bring home your avocados, decidehow quickly you want to eat them and how
many you want to ripen at the same time.
For example, our family usuallyenjoys 1 to 2 avocados at a

(07:12):
time and about 2 to 3 in a week.
So since unripe avocados usually takeabout 3 to 4 days to ripen naturally,
I generally buy a bag of avocadosbut split and store them at home.
This means I would usually put one totwo avocados on the kitchen table or
countertop to ripen on their own, whilethe rest goes into the refrigerator

(07:36):
in a produce compartment drawer.
After I use up those ripened avocados,I will then take out another one to two
to ripen naturally at room temperature.
This method allows our family toenjoy avocados over an extended
period of time, without havingall of them ripen all at once.

(07:57):
Keep in mind though, that theripening process can be quicker
or slower depending on the climateyou live in and the internal
temperature of your home environment.
So if you live in a humid and hotatmosphere, then the avocados will likely
ripen much faster at room temperature.
But if you live in a home withcolder temperatures, the ripening

(08:19):
process can take a little longer.
Let's move on to a third grocerypro-tip: monitor for ripeness.
Any regular avocadoeater can tell you this.
Avocados seem to have an uncanny abilityto ripen on the sly, in an instant.

(08:39):
One day they can feel rock solid,and then the next, they are already
fully ripe and ready to be devoured.
So in order to enjoy an avocado witha creamy, unblemished flesh, you'll
need to keep an eye on the avocadosyou have out and monitor them to catch
them when peak ripeness is reached.

(09:00):
Don't just leave them there andthen check on them 2 3 weeks later.
But here's something importantyou'll need to know as well: how to
gauge an avocado has ripened enough.
Now this actually depends on the typeof avocados you buy, because a few
different varieties can be sold in stores.
Some have vibrant and smooth skins,while others have much darker olive

(09:24):
green and leathery textured skin.
For instance, a Haas avocado usuallychanges color as it ripens, from
dark green to a purplish black color.
But a shepherd avocado tends to staythe same green color as it ripens.
In both cases though, as theavocado ripens, it should begin

(09:46):
to get softer to the touch andalso get softer near the stem.
You can test for this by very gentlypressing anywhere on the outside
of an avocado or near its stem.
Enjoy your avocado soon whenit gets to this right softness.
But if an avocado skin begins tolook dried out, is very soft to the

(10:08):
touch, gets some lasting indentationsunder the skin when you press it, or
feels empty in places when you presson it, it has likely become overripe
and won't look good when you open it.
Now if the avocado is ripe but you'renot quite ready to use it, here's
a little secret bonus hack for you.

(10:31):
Here's what to do.
Once your avocado is ripe, put it back inthe refrigerator in the produce drawer,
and it should keep there in its ripenedstate for at least one to two more days.
This way, if you can't use the avocadoright away, this produce-stretching hack
will help you extend the shelf life ofthat avocado for just a little bit longer.

(10:55):
So today we looked at three grocerypro-tips to help you save money
on avocados and enjoy them more.
These are to 1.
pick according to plant use.
2.
to split then store, and 3.
to monitor for ripeness.
Now here's an action step you can take.

(11:15):
Keep these 3 grocery pro tips inmind, and the next time you buy
some avocados, try these tips out.
Now, if you're listening to this andyou're someone who has never tried
avocados before, I hope this episodewill give you the confidence to
buy and try one in the near future.
Friend, if you enjoyed today's episodeand want to learn more about the

(11:39):
plant-based world and to build yourconfidence and knowledge in plant-based
eating and key ingredients, check out thePlant-Powered Life Transformation Course.
This self-paced 6 module onlineCourse will teach you key essential
skills, practical lifestyle successstrategies, and tasty, simple to
make whole food plant-based recipes.

(12:01):
Through this Course, you'll be able toeasily master the basics of plant-based
eating and enjoy your new lifestylewhile saving money, time, and energy.
Find out more details atplantnourished.com/ppltcourse or
see the link in the show notes.
I hope this Course will help youin your plant-based diet journey.

(12:27):
Thank you so much for listening.
If this podcast has inspired,encouraged, or helped you in some
way to transform your health,I would love to hear about it.
Please take 30 seconds to rateand leave a written review on
Apple Podcasts to let me know.
It will encourage me so much tohear how this podcast has positively
impacted and made a differencein your journey towards wellness.

(12:51):
And share about this podcast witha friend or loved one so we can
all thrive in the best health.
Remember, plant-based eatingcan be easy and doable.
See you in the next episode, my Friend.