Color: For ripe avocados, dark skins are good, but skins that look dried out or black are probably overripe. Touch: Always test avocados ripeness by touch. You want the avocado to just give slightly when pressed. I liken it to a ripe orange. If an avocado feels firm or hard to your touch, it isn’t ripe yet. These will ripen in on the counter or refrigerator over several days, however.