Grocery stores often sell ripe, ready-to-eat avocados, but they also may sell avocados that need to be ripened at home. If you are planning to serve the avocados soon after purchase, look for fruits that are already ripe; otherwise, buy several unripened ones a few days in advance.http://www.avocado.org/how-to-choose-and-use/ To tell if an avocado is ripe, gently squeeze it in your hands. If it is firm but has some "give," then it is ready to be cut and served. If it is still too firm and solid, it needs a few days to ripen. If the skin sinks in easily or there are dark mushy spots, it has started to rot and should not be eaten.http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodtip&dbid=16

To ripen avocados at home, place them in a brown paper bag and store them at room temperature for as long as it takes them to soften, which may be two to six days.http://www.avocado.org/how-to-choose-and-use/ To speed up the process, place a apple, banana or tomato in the bag with the avocados to produce more ethylene gas. Ripening will then take one to three days.http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodtip&dbid=16

Using a large, sharp kitchen knife, cut the avocado vertically around the pit. Twist the two halves and pull apart. To remove the pit from one half of the avocado, gently strike your knife into the pit so it sticks. Once you twist, it should come out easily.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9o1DoW5ZgU It may take some practice to learn how much pressure it takes to puncture the pit. A safer alternative to this method is to simply remove the pit with a spoon.http://www.avocado.org/how-to-choose-and-use/

If you are making guacamole, you can scoop out the avocado with a spoon or slice it while it remains in its skin.http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_cut_and_peel_an_avocado/ To slice the avocado, hold one half firmly in the palm of your hand. With the knife, start cutting vertical lines from the top of the fruit to the bottom. Be sure not to cut through the skin. Then slice horizontally in a cross-hatch pattern, which will create small avocado cubes or chunks.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9o1DoW5ZgU You can then use a spoon to scoop out the chunks, or turn the avocado over a bowl and push them out with your fingers.http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_cut_and_peel_an_avocado/

Once you have cut your avocados, prepare them for serving or eating. You can serve the avocado in slices for hamburgers and other sandwiches, or serve them in chunks for salads.http://www.avocadosalad.com/ For guacamole, you can use a food processor or potato masher to chop or mash the avocado into a creamy dip. You may then add red onions, diced tomatoes, lime juice and salt to serve with corn chips.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4ofAUSQ4cE

Like apples, avocados tend to oxidize and turn brown very quickly once exposed to air. To prevent discoloration and prolong the greenness, sprinkle the avocado with lemon juice, lime juice or white vinegar.http://www.avocado.org/how-to-choose-and-use/ You can also keep the avocado pit in the bowl with the contents, which will also help preserve its freshness.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9o1DoW5ZgU