Because avocados were designed to be eaten by large animals, their seeds are enormous. In the absence of a considerable mammal capable of dispersing the avocado’s seeds, the fruit was destined for extinction. We humans moved in to fill the void left by the extinct megafauna, which is to our great benefit.
To persuade animals to eat seeds, nature has devised fruits. However, for the seeds to travel far from the mother plant, they must be transported in a fashion that allows them to be dropped in a pile of fertile dung, germinate, and grow into a new plant, thereby expanding their range.
Avocados are a fantastic option, no matter what kind of fruit you prefer. They were intended to be eaten with their seeds intact by evolution. But, unfortunately, you and I aren’t allowed to consume them, but extinct species with enormous throats and digestive systems.
We’ve done a lot of damage to the environment. We’ve wiped out innumerable species, including the avocado’s massive companions. It’s not hard to see how our advent in the Americas has been linked to the extinction of the continent’s large mammals. We may have helped conserve the avocado, though, as one of the few species.
It’s more possible that our ancestors understood how simple it is to pick up a lot of avocados, take those with you to a different location, and then enjoy them there at your leisure. So it wasn’t long until we figured out how to plant them intentionally, ensuring their continued existence to this day.
What Is the Big Ball In An Avocado?
Although all avocados appear to be the same, three distinct varieties are West Indian, Guatemalan, and Mexican. It’s not just the three races that make up most of the population.
The avocado’s seed is located in the fruit’s middle. Avocados are classified as fruits because of their seed, ranging in size from petite to enormous. Therefore, avocado varieties produce a wide range of seed sizes.
There is a tiny seed in the core of the Pinkerton avocado, which is a winter variety. There are Reed avocados and Lamb Hass avocados, which contain medium-sized seeds. There is a medium to large seed found in the mid-winter type of Bacon avocado.
The avocado’s innermost layer, the endocarp, lies between the fruit’s flesh and the seed. As a result, the avocado fruit’s endocarp can be challenging to distinguish from the fruit’s flesh. For example, the endocarp might appear as a film over the seed when ripe, giving it a frosty or white appearance.
The avocado’s edible and most plentiful component, the mesocarp, is also known as the fruit’s meat. The look of the avocado’s flesh also changes depending on the cultivar.
Avocados of the Bacon and Pinkerton varieties have greenish-yellow flesh, whereas those of the former have pale, creamy green flesh. The flesh of the Zutano avocado is smooth and light green in hue.
Does The Size of the Avocado Seed Matter?
It’s a common misconception that tiny avocados aren’t as flavorful or nutritious as their larger counterparts. However, according to the facts, an avocado’s size has no bearing on its flavor or maturity.
The seed of an avocado grows with the fruit; therefore, the seed-to-fruit ratio is always the same. So whether you’re considering a quick snack or a single serving of your favorite cuisine, small ripe California avocados are the answer.
If you buy an avocado labeled as “pitless,” you can count on finding a smaller pit or none at all because the growers who produce it have opted to avoid cross-pollination.
As a biology lesson for kids, starting an avocado seed in the window with a little jar of water makes it easy to see how it grows. You may even decide to produce your avocados with the help of your small sapling. But you should realize that if you want to develop avocado trees, you’ll have to put in a lot of time and effort.
Avocado trees, with their brilliant green foliage, make lovely houseplants. Some patience and the appropriate conditions can provide beautiful blooms and tasty fruit. Mexican-born avocados thrive in both California and Florida and in their native Mexico. However, most avocado cultivars require moderate temperatures and high humidity to thrive in the wild.
Is It OK To Eat an Avocado with A Small Seed?
Most of the avocado seed’s nutritional profile consists of phytochemicals, fatty acids, carbs, and dietary fiber. The avocado seed also contains some protein and a minor amount of protein. Approximately 13% to 18% of an avocado’s weight comprises the seed and its hard shell.
A fully ripe avocado should feel warm and familiar when you plunge your knife into the pit—only to slip through and come clean through the entire avocado. Then, a few curse words and band-aids later, you question if this food is safe to eat…after all.
Starch makes up most of the carbs in avocado seeds, which have a dry weight of about 75%. As starch is made up of sugars, researchers look at its possible use in food products.
Some plant chemicals found in avocado seeds, such as trypsin inhibitors and cyanogenic glycosides, have been linked to adverse effects in laboratory animals. Animal studies are currently the only method of testing avocado seed safety. In a Nigerian trial, the avocado seed extract was given to rats for 28 days with no adverse effects.
There are pitless varieties and tiny seeds even in the most famous avocado breeds, which are generally cross-pollinated to maintain the pit seed size that chefs and cooks are used to. As a result, Haas avocados are often mistaken for a close relative by marketing teams.
The powder can be incorporated to make smoothies, drinks, sauces, or dips. However, because of this potential reduction in antioxidant content, you may not receive the full advantages of drying out your seeds before using them.
The seed is bitter, so be aware of that. To counteract the sourness, you can add fruit like a banana or some berries to your smoothie to provide some sweetness.
