Buying them firm and letting them ripen is the best strategy.

Neither was a good option.

This feels like a universal problem.

A perfectly ripe avocado cut in half, showing the pit inside. The avocado is on a small cutting board, which is sitting on a green checked kitchen towel

Simply Recipes / Getty Images

Avocados are seemingly either bruised and mushy or woefully underripe, but finding the perfect avocado is possible!

You just have to know how and where to look.

Inspect the avocado for any blemishes before placing it in your cart, too.

Chunked-up avocado in a shallow bowl with a fork; a lime sits to the side

Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock

Her recommendation is toalways choose avocados that aren’t ready to eat yet.

These factors also influence flavor.

“Oil content and dry matter are what gives avocados their great texture and flavor,” says Laenen.

“So always look for a piece of fruit that is as local as possible.

Why a Perfectly Ripe Avocado Is Hard To Find

“Avocados dont ripen on the tree.

They only start to ripen once they are picked,” Laenen says.

How To Store Avocados

Unripe avocados should be kept on the kitchen counter at room temperature.

“A good quality avocadocan last in the fridgefor up to a week once it is ripe.”