Let’s dive into the 5 easy methods on how to store avocados, whether whole at room temperature or cut in half with a bit of lime juice and plastic wrap. Here you’ll find all the tips for ensuring you get that perfect, velvety green flesh every time. Also, you’ll read the fun facts about fresh avocados and how you can use them in all sorts of recipes!
How do you store a whole avocado?
While the window of a perfectly ripe avocado is extremely short, there are a few methods for storing uncut avocados. Use any of these methods when making your next bowl of Homemade Guacamole (Best Ever!), Super Quick Breakfast Tostadas with Eggs, and Avocado Egg Salad (Easy Recipe!)!
Room Temperature
The best way to keep your whole avocado fresh is to leave it on your countertop at room temperature. Check your avocado daily so you know when it’s ripe and ready to open. The ripening process of an unripe avocado takes about 5 days when sitting on your kitchen counter. When it’s ripe, it’ll have the same give as firm butter (here’s more about how to ripen an avocado).
Refrigerator
If you’re wanting to use your avocado flesh a day or two after you buy it from the grocery store, placing it in the fridge will allow it to stay fresh for at least 2-3 days or up to a week. It has to be ripe before refrigerating in order for this method to work.
For the best results, place your avocado in an airtight container. You can also place it in your crisper drawer, but be aware that if you have apples or bananas in that same drawer, the ethylene gas from those fruits can speed up the ripening process.
The refrigerator method comes in handy because keeping avocados at a more controlled, cooler temperature slows down the ripening process.
Olive Oil
Believe it or not, using olive oil to seal your avocado is a great method to store this fruit. It’ll produce the ripe, perfect avocado you want in any dish because olive oil acts as a preservative that forms a protective barrier against oxidation.
Simply brush your avocado skin with a thin layer of olive oil and seal it in a covered container. It can stay fresh for up to 4 days in the fridge before brown spots form.
How do you store a cut avocado?
To store a cut avocado, you need to prevent the exposed flesh from oxidizing and slow any additional ripening. Covering or sealing it in some way and then refrigerating your leftovers are your best bet.
Here are a few methods for storing a cut avocado.
Lemon Juice / Lime Juice
Citrus juice is commonly paired with avocados, especially your mashed avocado guacamole. The more lime or lemon juice you use, the longer your guacamole lasts before you see brownness. A little lemon juice or lime juice contains a rich amount of citric acid, which is a natural preservative. These juices can also be considered a protective sealant to avocados because the citric acid is reactive to oxygen.
To preserve your cut avocado, simply squeeze the juice over the flesh (or over any exposed surface), cover it with plastic wrap, and place it in your fridge. The cold temperature will slow down the browning process and will give you a few more days to remain fresh before browning. You can also do this with olive oil.
Can you freeze avocado?
Yes, you can freeze an avocado but you’ll need to store it properly in order to have pretty good results. Follow these steps for the perfect frozen avocado:
- Only freeze ripe avocados.
- Rub lightly with either olive oil or lemon/lime juice.
- Cover with plastic wrap, especially exposed flesh.
- Place in an airtight container or freezer bag.
How do you thaw an avocado?
For long-term storage, simply take out your avocado and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight OR on your countertop for an hour. Keep it in its plastic-wrapped form until you are ready to use it. The room temperature will oxidize the avocado and it’ll the skin will turn that dark brown color you’re looking for.
Can you submerge a whole avocado in water?
No, the Food and Drug Administration recommends not fully submerging your whole avocados in water. The reason behind this is because there is a risk of human pathogens like listeria monocytogenes that can seep into the avocado. FDA scientists have found that while your avocados sit there in that water, those human pathogens are likely to multiply.
What’s the big deal about listeria monocytogenes? The main concern is that research has shown that it potentially infiltrates and internalizes into the flesh and pulp of avocados when submerged up to 15 days.
This is one of the worst kinds of food poisonings to get, especially if you’re pregnant. Even washing avocados before using them would not remove the contamination that’s already done.
If your avocado has been infiltrated by listeria monocytogenes, it will squirt out flesh when it’s cut into. Dispose of it and find a new one that does not do this.
What are avocados?
Avocados are a fruit that are high in healthy fat and contain many vitamins and minerals like magnesium, folate, vitamin C, and vitamin B6.
The most popular kind of avocado in the United States is the Haas avocado. It is typically grown in California and is usually smaller in size with pebbled skin. The Florida avocado’s skin is smooth and thick and lighter in taste. Finger avocados look like pickles and have a light, creamy flavor and texture.
How long do avocados last?
Avocados can last anywhere from 1-7 days. There are 3 main components to consider when buying an avocado and eating it at its peak ripeness: touch, color, and stem.
Touch
If you want to eat your avocado within the day or next day, pick an avocado that is soft. Ideal ripeness is when the top of the fruit has the same “give” as a stick of cold butter (here’s more on how to ripen an avocado).
If you aren’t eating it for several days, choose harder, firmer avocados and let them ripen at room temperature on your counter.
Color
Haas avocados will be a dark purple (almost brown) when ripe. Florida avocados will have a deep green color when ripe.
Stem
Underneath the stem should be green when removed. It should easily come off when your avocado is ripe.
The Best Avocado Recipes
There is nothing like cutting into the velvety goodness of a perfectly ripe avocado. Make the most of this delicious, healthy fruit with some of these tips and recipes:
