What color is the flesh of a ripe avocado?

The flesh of a ripe avocado is green.

Avocado flesh is usually green, with the shade varying from pale green near the skin to deeper yellow-green toward the center. This color comes from natural plant pigments, including chlorophyll and carotenoids, and differs somewhat among avocado varieties.

The skin can be misleading. Some ripe avocados, especially Hass avocados, develop dark purplish-black, bumpy skin, while other varieties remain green when ripe. Ripeness is better judged by gentle pressure: a ripe avocado should yield slightly in the palm of the hand rather than feel rock-hard or mushy.

Avocados are climacteric fruits, meaning they mature on the tree but generally ripen after being picked. Once cut, the green flesh can turn brown because of enzymatic browning caused by exposure to air. Lime or lemon juice, along with limiting oxygen exposure, can slow that change. The flesh is creamy and relatively high in monounsaturated fat, which helps give guacamole its smooth texture.