You’re a fan of creamy guacamole and avocado toast? Great! Learn why there’s even more to love about avocados.

Avocados are super trendy. These rich and creamy fruits have a mild buttery flavour and are easy to mash, dice, and slice for a nice menu addition or snack. As far as we are concerned, avocados are real superfood. Have you never tried an avocado before? We give you six good reasons – and ideas – to try them.

1. Fat is fun
Avocados contain monounsaturated fat that helps to lower LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. The majority of fats in your diet should come from monounsaturated or polyunsaturated sources.

2. Fill up with fiber
Besides the good fat, avocados contain fibers. It is advised to eat 30 to 40 grams of fiber every day. With more than 10 grams of fiber, avocados have more fiber than almost every other fruit. They help to keep cholesterol levels healthy, improve digestive health, and stabilize blood sugar.

3. Get your vitamins
Avocados contain many vitamins. Vitamin C (to support strong bones and teeth), vitamin E (to support a healthy immune system), and vitamin A (to promote healthy vision).

4. The perfect avocado
Most avocados you’ll find are the Hass variety with their green skin that turns to purple-black when ripe. To test for ripeness in the store, place the avocado in your palm and squeeze your entire hand, checking to feel the fruit’s give. If it yields to pressure and springs back in shape, it’s ripe. If it yields and doesn’t spring back, it’s probably overripe. Still unsure? Try this method for picking a ripe avocado for immediate use: Try to pry off the stem. If it comes off easily and you see the green of the fruit beneath, it’s ready.

5. Good timing
For Hass avocados, the darker the fruit, the riper it is. If you need an avocado in a few days, buy it when it’s dark green and heading toward a purple-black colour. You can let it ripen on your countertop. Does it take too long? Place an avocado in a brown paper bag to speed up ripening. Is it going too fast? Put the avocado in the refrigerator to slow the process.

6. Cutting
Cut the avocado like this: Cut it in half from top to bottom through the peel and around the pit, then twist the halves apart. Place the half with the pit on a cutting board and slip a spoon between the pit and the fruit and remove the pit. For slices, use a paring knife to slice the flesh inside the peel, the scoop out with a large spoon. For cubes, use the same technique. If you want to store half an avocado, drizzle it with lemon juice and wrap it with plastic wrap. Use firmer avocados for slicing and cubing for salads and sandwiches, and use softer, more-ripe ones for guacamole, smoothies, and other recipes that call for mixing and pureeing.