how can i tell if an avocado is ripe?

[spottyzebra]

if its got black strips inside on th flesh, does that mean its not ripe?

Give it a squeeze. If it's hard then it's not ready. Springy and soft is ripe.

I bought two on Saturday and they're ok now.

It should be soft but not too soft. If it is rock hard and you need to speed up the ripening process, put it in a brown paper bag with a banana in the airing cupboard.

ok thanks
ive only eveer had it in shop sandwhiches chicken and avocado etc

black stripes on the flesh (after you've peeled it) I generally think that's gone off, or bruised, and i cut those bits off.

You can tell an avocado is ripe by gently pushing in where the stem was at the top. If it gives, it's ripe, if not, pop on the windowsill in the, ahem, sun (if you live somewhere sunnier than me!)