A perfectly ripe avocado is a beautiful thing. This soft, creamy fruit tastes great no matter what avocado roll sushi it’s in: blended, blitzed, smashed or smoothied. Want to use them right away?

Read our guide on how to ripen avocados and our step-by-step guide on how to cut and prepare avocado safely. UK supermarkets only stock a handful of the many avocado varieties, the most popular being Hass, Fuerte and Pinkerton. The squeeze test:Other than slicing it open, there’s no definitive way to tell if your avocado is perfectly ripe, but there are telltale signs you can look out for, one being the firmness of the avocado. Give the fruit a gentle squeeze, it should have a little give, but shouldn’t be soft or mushy. Don’t worry if you cut it open to find it’s not quite ready, you can always cook your avocado in one of the recipes below. The stem test:The other method for telling if your fruit is ready for eating is by looking at the colour under the stem.

If it’s stubbornly clinging on and the skin underneath is brown, your avocado’s overripe and the flesh won’t be at its best. The most popular variety worldwide, it is medium-sized with a thick, dimpled green skin which turns to purple-black when ripe. The flesh is creamy and smooth. Longer and thinner than Hass, Fuerte has a smooth vibrant green skin, which peels easily when the fruit is ripe. The flesh is a lighter colour than the Hass but just as creamy. Generally larger than its cousins, the Pinkerton is only just beginning to make its debut on supermarket shelves.

The skin is very thin, slightly lighter than a Hass in colour, similar in shape to the Fuerte but offering more creamy flesh. The beauty of avocado is that it’s so versatile and goes well with a myriad of flavours. Sweet and savoury, strong or mild, you name it, avocado is the perfect pairing. Get a taste of this beautiful green fruit with our top 5 avocado toast recipes, they make a delicious way to start the day. 10 new ways to eat avocado1. Avocado makes a great green base for any fruity smoothie and packs in extra nutritional goodness. The addition of avocado to smoothies adds a slightly nutty flavour.

This simple chocolate pudding doesn’t skimp on flavour. Avocado naturally lends itself to blending, with its neutral taste and creamy flesh, it’s perfect for swirling into a beautiful dessert. We all know avocado is a great savoury snack but try something different. Smash up your avocado into a tasty green dressing for pasta. The naturally buttery soft flesh won’t overpower other flavours.

Just whip them up then store in the fridge. Our key lime pie has a raw crust and zesty dairy-free filling that’s so sumptuous, you’ll keep coming back for more. Or, make our creamy avocado lollies for a refreshing summer dessert. Pack your avocado with the filling of your choice for an easy snack or light lunch.

Avocado makes a great addition to any sushi roll. These rolls make an ideal lunchbox filler or bite-sized canapé. Use a small knife to cut away the skin, place your avocados on the griddle and they’ll be soft and smoky before you know it. Plus, the charred lines on the flesh gives them an interesting new look. The archetypal way to serve up avocados: au naturel.