Avocado is a very popular fruit that’s high in nutrient content. They’re a great source of Vitamin K, Folate and Vitamin C, while being low in saturated fat. They’re also low in carbs, and a good source of fiber to help regulate your digestive system. There are different variants of avocado tree but the Hass avocado is the most popular.
However avocado oxidizes quickly once it’s been cut, which means that as soon as you’ve opened an avocado you need to either eat the whole fruit or find a way to store it to prevent the flesh from turning brown. It can be a little bit of a battle but if you follow once of these steps, you’ll be able to preserve the unused part of your avocado for at least a little while.
Florida Avocado
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How do you store avocados after being cut?
Use Lemon Juice, Lime Juice or Olive Oil
To seal the flesh of a ripe avocado, brush it with lemon juice or olive oil. Lime juice will also have the same preservative effects.
Lemon and lime juice will help preserve avocado because they contain citric acid. This antioxidant stops the avocado from being exposed to open air. Oil has a similar effect, because it creates a barrier to keep the oxygen away from your fruit.
After coating your avocado in lemon juice or olive oil, keep it in an airtight container or, even better, wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap. Store it in the fridge and it should remain fresh for at least 24 hours.
You can also use this method if you cut avocado and find that it isn’t yet ripe. Simply sprinkle some citrus juice on each unripe avocado half, place them back together (making sure to fit them around the avocado pit as best as possible) and wrap them in plastic wrap before placing back in the fridge. Check daily to see if the avocado has ripened yet.
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Use an onion
If you chop up a red onion and place it at the bottom of a sealable container, you can then place your fresh avocado half on top of it to stop it from browning. In this situation, you’ll want the exposed avocado flesh facing upwards, away from the onion. The onion vapors prevent brown avocado, but because the onion isn’t touching the exposed flesh there is no flavor transfer to worry about.
Mash the Flesh
If you don’t want to use your leftover avocado straight away, you can store it to use on toast later. Mashed avocado can be stored in a jar, or another airtight container. You could also use a ziplock bag, even freezing the mashed avocado so you can store it for weeks.
To mash the avocado so you can store it, use a fork. When storing avocado, try and remove as much air from the container as possible. That’s not possible with a plastic tub or jar, but it’s easy to do if you’ve got a ziplock bag and can squeeze the air out before you freeze it. It’s perfect for your late-night avocado snack when you’re feeling a little hungry.
Freeze the Avocado
Freezing avocado, mashed or whole, can help you to store it for longer. You can simply freeze avocado halves, diced avocado or other avocado pieces, or mash the avocado with a fork. Always store your avocado in an airtight container, then put this straight into your freezer.
Adding lemon juice to your avocado can help it last for longer when frozen. The citric acid slows the browning process, so your avocado stays fresh and green even as it begins to defrost.
When you’re ready to defrost your frozen avocado, it’s best to do this gradually and gently. Leave it in the fridge, to maintain the avocado’s original texture and color. If you’re in a hurry, you can defrost at room temperature. However, this could affect the flavor and texture of your fruit.
Avocado that’s been frozen will always have a slightly unusual texture. It’s best for avocado mash and guacamole, rather than being eaten whole.
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Storing Guacamole
Like raw avocado, guacamole must be stored very carefully. It can still go brown, and the texture might be affected. If you’re keeping prepared guacamole in the fridge, store it in an airtight container. Consider adding water, creating a protective barrier. Just add a layer of around a half-inch of water on top of the guacamole to stop it from being exposed to any air. When you’re ready to eat the guacamole, just pour the excess water away and stir any leftover moisture into the guacamole so it’s ready to eat.
Guacamole can safely be stored for 3-4 days in a fridge.
How do you store your avocado flesh? And when you’ve a halved avocado do you find that the unused half sometimes goes to waste? Leave a comment if you’ve found one of these tips useful.
