You have to agree that avocados are some of the trickiest fruits to handle. There’s a very slim window between a ripe avocado that can be used as a delicious toast topper and it becoming too mushy to eat.
With the right storage approach, however, you can keep your stock of this popular green fruit fresh long enough to enjoy them as you’d planned.
Read on to learn tried and tested ways to store avocados the right way.
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How to Identify a Perfectly Ripe Avocado?
Identifying an avocado that has the right amount of ripeness is an art. A perfectly ripe avocado is slightly darker than a bright green unripe one. It also yields to gentle pressure.
But if it feels mushy or shows indentations, you’re dealing with an overripe avocado.
If you’re an avocado fan, you would’ve noticed that this fruit is particularly prone to browning. Peeling or cutting it exposes the flesh to oxygen, triggering a chemical reaction that results in discoloration.
It’s still safe to eat, although you may not enjoy its texture or flavor as much. That said, if you cut open an avocado and find its flesh already showing signs of significant browning, it’s best to toss it into the trash.
Browning in unpeeled avocados is usually due to rotting or fungal infestation and not because of oxidation.
Remember, if you’re not planning to consume them immediately or within three days of purchase, it’s best to go for unripe and firm avocados.
Can You Store an Avocado in Water?
Heard about the viral TikTok hack of storing avocados in the water? The hack involves dunking almost-ripe, unpeeled avocados in an airtight container filled with cool water and then placing it in the fridge.
Those who swear by it say that you can keep them stored this way for days until you’re ready to eat them. The trouble with this trick is that it doesn’t account for contamination.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), storing whole or halved avocados in water makes them unfit for consumption.
Dangerous food-borne pathogens like Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes present on the peel tend to multiply in water and eventually make their way into the pulp.
The contamination may be so strong that even disinfecting the fruit won’t free it of these infection-causing organisms.
How to Store Whole Ripe Avocado?
In our experience, whole avocados are easier to store than sliced ones simply because they have their peel intact. With the skin protecting the pulp, there’s no chance of oxidation.
That said, the right method for storing whole avocados depends on the stage of ripeness. If they are perfectly ripe, we strongly recommend eating them right away or refrigerating them to prolong their life.
Your refrigerator’s crisper drawer is the best spot to store them.
Related Article: What is a Crisper Drawer?
Remember to tweak the humidity to low. Using this method, you can keep whole, unpeeled avocados fresh for about two to three days.
Another thing to keep in mind about this tasty fruit is that it is sensitive to ethylene gas.
It’s a good idea to store them in the fridge well away from any produce that vents off ethylene gas, like apples, tomatoes, bananas, melons, and pears. Placing them close to these will just hasten the ripening process in avocados.
How to Store Whole Unripe Avocado?
If you’ve bought bright green, firm avocados that are not yet ready to consume, leave them on the kitchen’s countertop in a cotton mesh produce bag.
On the countertop, they will ripen naturally through a process that can take up to four to five days. Be sure to keep it out of direct sunlight and check on the ripeness level.
A ripening avocado will have a dark green skin and yield to gentle pressure. We also recommend keeping some space between two avocados to avoid bruising.
There might be times when you’ve purchased avocados that are way off their perfectly ripened stage and may need a bit of help getting there.
In that case, simply wrap the unripe fruit in a newspaper or put it in a brown paper bag. Seal the top of the bag and place it in a warmer area in the kitchen. Once ripe, use them in your favorite dips or pop them in the fridge to slow down the ripening.
How to Store Ripe Cut Avocado?
Avoid cutting into an avocado unless you are ready to eat it whole. Once exposed to air, avocado pulp quickly browns and loses its texture and flavor.
However, there are a few tricks that can help you keep a sliced or halved avocado fresh and tasty.
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Sliced Avocado
Who doesn’t love a freshly sliced avocado as a toast topper? It is delicious and satisfying, not to mention super healthy. But if you’ve somehow ended up with more slices than your toast or tummy can handle, grab a container and stash the slices in it.
Adding acidity by lining the container with lime juice or lemon juice also helps slow down oxidation. Use air tight container and protect the sliced avocado from the air.
You could also soak a paper towel in lime juice and place it on top of the slices before securing the container. This creates double-tier protection from oxygen.
The ultimate storage goal in the case of cut avocados is to prevent air pockets in the container and avoid exposure of unpeeled pieces of avocado to oxygen.
Next, place the container in the crisper unit of your refrigerator. When stored this way, avocado slices typically stay fresh for up to a day.
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Halved Avocado
If you’re looking to store a ripe, unpeeled, halved avocado, do this: Coat the pieces in lime juice, lemon juice, or olive oil as they help slow down browning.
Leave the skin on as it stops air from browning the flesh. If you’ve got perfect halves instead of pieces, press them back together and wrap them tightly in an air tight container with a cloth bowl cover.
Now, put them in an airtight container and stash them in the fridge’s crisper drawer. With this storage hack, avocados generally keep for up to two days.
How to Store Mashed Avocado?
The recommended approach for storing mashed avocado or homemade guac is pretty much similar to the way you would store cut avocado.
Related Article: How to Store Apples
You need to minimize exposure to air. Transfer the uneaten dip to a resealable container and cover it with a lemon juice-soaked paper towel.
Secure the contents by placing it in a container with cloth bowl cover over it and pop it in the refrigerator.
This way, your guacamole should last for up to two days. If you notice browning on the top layer, scrape it off and enjoy the rest of your delish spread.
How to Freeze Avacado
You can absolutely freeze avocados, though they may lose their signature smooth, creamy texture. But all in all, freezing is a great way to make ripe avocados that last for about four to six months.
There are two popular ways of freezing avocados:
Halved
- Cut the avocado in half, peel it, and remove the pit.
- Rub some lemon or lime juice on the exposed flesh to slow down browning.
- Wrap the halved avocado tightly in a container.
- You can also use a resealable bag. To avoid freezer burn, remember to press out as much air as possible before sealing it.
- Label the container and freeze.
Pureed
- Freezing avocado as pureed makes sense if you’re planning to use it in a smoothie or as a dressing.
- Remove the skin and pit, then put the avocado in a blender with a teaspoon of lemon or lime juice. Blend until smooth.
- Transfer the puree to a resealable bag. Remove excess air by hand or using a vacuum sealer to prevent browning and freezer burn.
- Label the container and freeze.
The steps for freezing pureed avocados can be used to freeze them mashed or as a guacamole dip.
The only thing you need to remember in the case of guac is not to add onions, tomatoes, or any veggies to avoid excess moisture.
Just stick to mashed avocado, some simple seasoning, and lime juice, and you’ll be good to go.
How to Thaw Frozen Avocado
You can thaw frozen avocados by putting them in the fridge overnight or on the countertop.
At room temperature, thawing usually takes about an hour. If you’re in a rush to use the avocados, thaw them using the defrost feature on your microwave.
Just know that thawed avocados may have undergone changes in texture and flavor, but they are perfect for adding to smoothies, dips, or salad dressings. With some clever seasoning, your guests won’t be able to tell the difference.
Final Thoughts
Avocados are rich in healthy fats, minerals, and vitamins, and it would be a pity to see them go to waste. With this storage guide, you’ll be able to prolong the freshness and shelf life of your avocados.
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