Apricots must not be washed until ready to eat. Avocados Selection Normally avocados are available at the markets hard and unripe so they must soften at room temperature for a few days. A good avocado is heavy, unblemished and has an unbroken skin. It should yield to gentle pressure. If fingers stay marked it means it is overripe.
Most avocado varieties stay green even when ripe others turn purple or black.
Storage Ripe avocados will keep in the refrigerator for four to five days , but longer storage at cold temperatures will cause discoloration of the flesh and unpleasant changes in the flavour. Unripe avocados should not be kept in the refrigerator, as they will never ripen properly. Bananas Selection Bananas should be plump, firm, and bright coloured. They must be unblemished. Occasional brown spots on the skin are normal, but sunken, moist looking dark areas indicate bruises on the fruit.