How-To Store Avocado With Ease [7 Tips]
Are you tired of finding that once-delicious-looking avocado half you stored in the fridge has turned inedibly brown?
If you enjoy avocados, chances are you've experienced this frustration. You didn't finish the entire avocado, so you saved the other half in the fridge, only to discover it has lost its green appeal and taken on a brown hue.
It's a disappointment, but fear not – there are ways to keep your avocado green and fresh!
In this article, we'll explain why avocados turn brown and provide seven different methods to help you extend their freshness.
Table of Contents
Store At Room Temperature
You should store an unripe avocado at room temperature. Otherwise, you prevent it from ripening, and you get those ugly brown spots on the meat.
If, on the other hand, you want to stop the ripening process, you should put it in the fridge. Store in the refrigerator if they are becoming overripe and you actively want to stop the ripening process. For example, when you feel that you do not have time to eat or cook them in time.
The risk with keeping your avocado in the fridge is that the texture of the avocado can change. It might become stringy. So you miss out on that creamy, smooth texture that we all love.
Why Does Avocado Turn Brown?
Avocados, like apples, turn brown when exposed to oxygen. It oxidizes. It's a chemical reaction.
Compounds in the avocado flesh react with oxygen, using enzymes, to produce brown pigments called melanin.
The brown part of avocado may look unpleasant and may taste bitter. But it is generally safe to eat up to a certain point when it becomes rotten. You notice that on the smell.
Because of the oxidation, you should never take off the little stem on the avocado, to check how ripe it is. Especially in the store.
That stem is the avocado protection from oxygen. Taking it off will result in a brown avocado. How to select the best avocado (without taking off the stem) can you read about in How You Can Make Sure Your Avocado Is Perfect Every Time
7 Methods For Keeping Your Avocado Fresh
There are several methods you can use to prevent your avocado from turning brown. Or at least slow down the process. We will give you the seven best options to help you keep your avocado fresh a bit longer.
1. Use red onions to save your avocado
Here is one trick to keep avocados fresh!
Save the half where the avocado core remains.
Chop a red onion roughly and put it in a plastic jar or bowl.
Place the avocado half on the onion and close with a lid or plastic wrap, and the avocado will stay green for days!
The vapors secreted by the onion can help preserve the green color and freshness of avocados.
2. Use lemon juice to keep avocados fresh
Another trick is to use lemon juice!
The citric acid in lemons dramatically reduces the oxidation process. You sprinkle lemon juice on the portion of avocado you want to keep fresh.
Another option is to place a large slice of lemon on top of the avocado if it has no core.
Put everything in an airtight container, and the avocado will be fresh for 2-4 days longer.
Using lemon is my preferred way to perfect to keep avocados fresh.
3. Use the water method to keep your avocado green
Coldwater can protect an avocado from turning brown.
Restaurants will often place avocados in ice water to keep them fresh when preparing ingredients in advance.
As soon as you cut your avocado, place it in ice water, and it will be green for about 4 hours. You can also rinse your avocado in cold water to avoid the brownish color coming so quickly.
It helps keep the oxygen away from the avocados so that they stay fresher longer.
4. Olive oil method
Olive oil is a natural ingredient that does not change the taste or aroma of avocados you want to keep fresh.
All you have to do is spread olive oil on the part of the avocado you want to keep fresh and then store it in an airtight container.
The oil stops the avocado from coming into contact with the air and oxidizing.
5. Plastic foil method
Plastic foil is excellent for storing avocados for a long time. Just cover the avocado tightly in plenty of plastic and then put it in the fridge.
Even if the top turns black after a day or two, the part underneath will still have a green, fresh color.
6. Crush the avocado
If you do not want to lose any part of your uneaten avocado, a good idea can be to make an avocado puree if you want to store it for a longer time.
Just mash the avocado and add a tablespoon of lime juice for each portion of the avocado used. The acid from the juice helps prevent avocados from oxidizing and changing color.
To be even safer, you can place the avocado puree in an airtight container, cover it with plastic foil and then put the lid on. The plastic foil and lid prevent oxygen from reaching the surface of the avocado, which prevents it from oxidizing.
Later, you can use the avocado puree to make your special guacamole or even use it in a salad.
7. Put your avocado in the freezer
Did you know that avocados can be frozen?
It is a great idea to freeze avocados that are not eaten and are at risk of going bad.
Mash the avocado or cut it into cubes, add a tablespoon of lime or lemon juice, and place in an airtight container. Perfect to take out when you want to make an avocado smoothie, puree, or guacamole.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are several ways to keep an avocado fresh a bit longer. It is quite sad to look at that brown avocado on your plate.
If you don't plan to eat your leftover avocado in a day or two, I would use the freezer. I think it's perfect to have avocado cubes in there. Being able to take out just the right amount for the occasion.
Good luck with your avocado-storing!
