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Avocados are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. They are loaded with nutrients, healthy fats, fiber and antioxidants. It’s no wonder that these little green or black fruits that are in season in the late fall and winter are considered a superfood!
But avocados are also a bit difficult to use because of the food's short shelf life when ripe. In fact, the rock-hard fruits you buy in the market can go from under ripe to overripe in a very short time. And despite your best efforts to eat a flawlessly ripe avocado as fast as possible, they will frequently turn brown before you can– due to an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase –, according to Well and Good.
Preserving your avocado’s, both whole and cut, is a bit of an art but here are five tested ways to keep your produce from turning brown.
Refrigerate Ripe Avocados
After your avocados have ripened on the countertop, you can store them in the refrigerator for a few days to a week. According to The Spruce, you can store whole unpeeled or cut avocados in the crisper section of your refrigerator.
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Purchase Apeel Treated Produce
Avocados treated with Apeel, a special freshness coating that can keep your produce fresh twice as long, is available in supermarkets in North America and Europe. The coating that is plant derived helps to slow the water loss and oxidation that causes spoilage in fruits and vegetables.
Retailers rely on global supply chains to guarantee availability of the produce shoppers want. Our global network of Suppliers For Good ensures that retailers in North America and Europe can access Apeel-protected produce year-round. https://t.co/5H4IjeiI05
— Apeel (@apeelsciences) October 26, 2021
Brush Cut Avocado With Lemon Juice
Cut avocados must be refrigerated, according to The Spruce, but that will not be enough. You can brush the exposed part of the avocado with lemon juice and tightly seal it in cling wrap. That’s because the acidity in the citrus fruit helps to stop oxidation. You can also substitute olive or avocado oil for the lemon juice. While some people believe that leaving the pit in keeps the avocado fresher longer, it is not all that effective.
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Store Cut Avocado With Onions
Another method is to store the fruit open side up over some sliced onions. That’s because the onions release sulfur compounds that act as a natural preservative. This will keep the avocado fresh for around two days if stored in an airtight container. You can use the onions when you whip up a batch of guacamole.
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Freeze Avocados
If you have a lot of avocados that all become ripe at the same time, don’t despair. Freeze instead. Mind Body Green suggests that you scoop out the flesh of the fruit onto a parchment lined plate so that the pieces aren’t touching. Then freeze until solid. The frozen pieces can be stored in a freezer bag or container. Frozen avocado can be used to make smoothies or ice cream.
