# Avocado toast **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [March 23, 2023, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550 "2023-03-23T16:22:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/41 "2023-03-23T22:02:15Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I don’t eat at McDonald’s. That’s my idea of a bad burger. The comparison wasn’t for quality, but for rather that “no tomato, no lettuce” is hardly a weird idea. Most of the burgers people do order there have lettuce and tomato, but the basics omit it, which is my personal baseline for burgers. Hell, even Chicago hot dogs I will not put tomatoes on because they are sad, sad things unless they are fresh. I’d rather sully it with ketchup at that point. But that depends on where you are. I’ve gotten reasonable tomatoes on West Coast burgers, so I’m okay with tomatoes on burgers there. Though most of the time they do still end up detracting. But – back to the OP of sorts – avocado on a burger I’ve never quite understood. The beef just kills the flavor of the avocado, and the avocado adds extra unnecessary richness to the burger. Then again, I think bacon on burgers is awful for similar reasons (though all in the direction of unnecessary killing the flavor of the beef and adding unnecessary richness.) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/42 "2023-03-23T22:03:34Z")
My parents loved avocados when I was a kid, so I grew up with them. The two “food fads” in my family that I can remember were avocados and “bran”. (This was the 80s.) I’m from the west coast but the general Seattle area, so pretty far from California. I remember my mom used to try to grow avocados in her windowsill by suspending a pit over a cup of water, held in place with toothpicks. Much like this photo: [![](https://housefur.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/avocado-mason-jar-819x1024.jpg) ](https://housefur.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/avocado-mason-jar-819x1024.jpg) I don’t remember it working very well. I didn’t try avocado toast myself until a few years ago. Sabra (the company probably best know for hummus) makes a to-go pack with pieces of crunchy toast/crackers and an avocado spread. I found it at an airport convenience store place and gave it a try and liked it. So it’s my default “stick in an airport” snack. I should probably try the “real” stuff someday. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/43 "2023-03-23T22:07:07Z")
We grew some pretty impressive plants from old avocado pits. But never planted them outside. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/44 "2023-03-23T22:11:55Z")
My kids and I started several avocado plants, all of which grew quickly to about a foot high, developed four leaves, and then died. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/45 "2023-03-23T22:31:05Z")
You guys know what goes good on cheeseburgers? Avocados! 🙂 Posted before I saw this: > [@pulykamell](#): > > But – back to the OP of sorts – avocado on a burger I’ve never quite understood. The beef just kills the flavor of the avocado, and the avocado adds extra unnecessary richness to the burger. Then again, I think bacon on burgers is awful for similar reasons (though all in the direction of unnecessary killing the flavor of the beef and adding unnecessary richness.) I disagree. Avocados on burgers are great. Bacon on burgers are great. Bacon _and_ avocados on burgers are great! (Another great thing on a cheeseburger is a mild green chile.) > [@InternetLegend](#): > > My kids and I started several avocado plants, all of which grew quickly to about a foot high, developed four leaves, and then died. I grew an avocado plant from a seed when I lived in L.A. I put it out on the railing outside of my apartment, and one of my neighbours stole it. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/46 "2023-03-23T22:32:41Z")
Is this a whoosh? It’s become kinda common knowledge that you let avos ripen on the counter until soft-ish, then refrigerate. You can keep them perfectly ripe for a couple weeks…[quote=“Ulfreida, post:20, topic:981550, full:true”] > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Whoosh? no. They are tropical (really, subtropical). They should be held at room temperature like other such fruits. Do you put tomatoes in the refrigerator? Bananas? I never have put any fruit in the fridge, really. I know it’s a thing in benighted non-californian areas. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/47 "2023-03-23T22:46:51Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > (Another great thing on a cheeseburger is a mild green chile.) On that we absolutely agree! (Though make mine as spicy as you got 'em.) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/48 "2023-03-23T22:51:10Z")
If I want spicy, I just put a metric buttload of pickled jalapeños on it. [Full disclosure: I always have jalapeños at the ready. I seldom have ‘Ortega chiles’.] ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/49 "2023-03-23T22:51:54Z")
Apples keep much better in the fridge. I don’t interact enough with avocado to have an opinion. I grew up in the northeast. Avocados were something we knew about, but they were exotic, like shrimp. Neither of which are exotic today. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/50 "2023-03-23T23:02:20Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’ve noticed that here in Western Washington, the open-faced burger is what I grew up with as being a chili size. I came across this menu just now. It’s in Eastern Washington and has a chiliburger but served ‘open face sandwich style,’ no size in sight. [https://old.reddit.com/r/VintageMenus/comments/11zhxsx/1940s\_eds\_drivein\_menu\_spokane\_washington/](https://old.reddit.com/r/VintageMenus/comments/11zhxsx/1940s_eds_drivein_menu_spokane_washington/) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/51 "2023-03-23T23:06:41Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Avocados on burgers are great. Bacon on burgers are great. Bacon _and_ avocados on burgers are great! (Another great thing on a cheeseburger is a mild green chile.) Oh, yummmmmmmmm. Dinah’s Pancake House has a relleno patty melt, which is basically a patty melt with a couple of whole Ortega chiles. So good. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I seldom have ‘Ortega chiles’.] Sometimes I want the flavor and not just the spice/heat. Too many chiles can blow out my taste buds. But I do love pickled jalapenos. They’re great on pizza. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/52 "2023-03-23T23:09:57Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Sometimes I want the flavor and not just the spice/heat. Too many chiles can blow out my taste buds. But I do love pickled jalapenos. They’re great on pizza. That’s what the green chiles excel at. Even at their hottest (at least the ones I’ve had), they’re not overwhelming (at least to me.) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/53 "2023-03-23T23:23:17Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > It’s in Eastern Washington and has a chiliburger but served ‘open face sandwich style,’ no size in sight. This thread is the first place I’ve seen “size” used as a noun representing a type of sandwich. At least, i think people are using it that way. If i saw “chili size” on a menu, i would be confused, and expect options like “small” and “large” next to it, telling me how large a bowl of chili i was ordering. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/54 "2023-03-23T23:24:27Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > the avocado adds extra unnecessary richness to the burger. Unnecessary richness? Does not compute. Do you not add beef marrow shiitake butter and fried eggs to all of your hamburgers 😀? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/55 "2023-03-23T23:27:48Z")
You got me there a little bit – I do like fried egg on a burger, though it’s been a donkey’s age since I’ve had one. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/56 "2023-03-23T23:46:25Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > If i saw “chili size” on a menu, i would be confused, and expect options like “small” and “large” next to it, telling me how large a bowl of chili i was ordering. I’ve always seen it (but I haven’t seen it in ages – it vibes as an old time dish to me) it’s an order of chili with a hamburger patty in it. Maybe toast on the side, but it’s not a sandwich. I haven’t the faintest idea why it’s called chili _size._ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/57 "2023-03-24T00:09:40Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > it’s an order of chili with a hamburger patty in it. Maybe toast on the side, but it’s not a sandwich. It’s an open-face sandwich. Toast the bun. Slice the top bun in half. Put the bottom bun on a plate, and put a top-bun half on each side. Put the burger patty on the bottom bun. Pour chili over the top, and top with shredded cheese and chopped onions. > [@carrps](#): > > I haven’t the faintest idea why it’s called chili _size._ It’s explained in the other thread. It’s a SoCal thing. Reportedly Ptomaine Tommy’s had two ladles: A chile-size for bowls of chili, and a smaller, hamburger-size for putting chili onto a closed burger. The open faced burger with chili-sized ladle of chili on it became known as a ‘chili size’. The story may, or may not, be true. But the open-faced sandwich was always a ‘chili size’ when I was growing up and living in SoCal. [Here’s a 1975 Denny’s menu](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0019/2770/8741/products/8edddba2-8bd6-4315-85d7-60acfe4493fa_grande.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/58 "2023-03-24T00:35:25Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > A chile-size for bowls of chili, and a smaller, hamburger-size for putting chili onto a closed burger. Wasn’t the larger size called “steak-size”? And the “hamburger-size” shortened to just size? A chili size is smaller than a bowl of chili. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/59 "2023-03-24T00:46:10Z")
I’ve never heard of ‘steak size’. A bowl of chili is about a cup, which is what’s on a chili size. For a closed burger (like a Tommy’s burger), you put on about a quarter of a cup. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550/60 "2023-03-24T00:51:07Z")
I’ve still never actually seen avocado toast, just heard of it. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > My wife told me this morning she’s decided she doesn’t like guacamole. ‘If it’s a good avocado, it doesn’t need tomatoes and onions and all that other stuff.’ I love guacamole, but plain avocado is … kinda plain. My experience with guacamole makes me think that basic avocado should have more taste than it actually does. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avocado-toast/981550.md?page=4)