I press against the side and it mushes in slightly. this tells you the avocado is ripe or past ripe. When you cut it open, then if it's already browning, it's

I press against the side and it mushes in slightly. this tells you the avocado is ripe or past ripe. When you cut it open, then if it's already browning, it's gone past ripe. I agree it's a bit difficult but I used to make a few pounds of guacamole a day and it always worked great.