If you choose to buy avocados that are not in a pack, it is easy to test for ripeness: the green skinned Fuerte should yield to a gentle pressure at the stalk end but they should not feel squashy when cupped in your hand.

With Hass it’s even easier: they are reaching ripeness when the skin is a dark purple/black colour - make sure the skin is not bruised or broken.

To accelerate the ripening process, either place avocados in a fruit bowl with other fruit or, better still, pop them in a paper bag with a banana or an apple. The ethylene gas released by the other fruit will encourage the avocados to ripen more quickly.

Ripe avocados will keep for a few days: store them in the fridge to prevent over-ripening.