How to Store Avocados? Several ways
Avocados are full of unsaturated fats and dietary fiber. Avocados are delicate fruits and don’t last long, especially if they are ripe or already cut. So the question is: how to store avocados? Many countries import avocados from South America, Africa, or Israel. So there is a need of storing avocados. In this blog, we will discuss several ways of storing avocados.
How to store avocados?
That can be done in different ways:
- You can store unripe avocados in the fruit bowl for a maximum of 7 days.
- You can store ripe avocados in the refrigerator for 2-5 days.
- Pieces or sliced avocados in a container for 2 days in the refrigerator.
- You can also freeze-cleaned avocados.
The method of storage strongly depends on the condition of the avocados. There is therefore no one-size-fits-all way to store the avocados. The various ways are explained below, which take into account the ripening process of the avocado and whether it has already been cut.
You can also make delicious guacamole from avocados. You can read all about this in our blog ‘ How to make guacamole? ‘.
Store Unripe Avocados
You can simply store unripe avocados in a cupboard at room temperature. However, if you want to speed up the ripening process, you can use tools. One of these tools is to store the avocados in a paper bag in the pantry. Outside the bag, it takes an average of 7 days for the avocados to ripen. In a paper bag this is 3 to 5 days.
To further accelerate the ripening process, place the avocados in the paper bag along with an apple, pear or banana. The apple, pear and banana give off the gas ethylene and this promotes the ripening process of the avocado. Check every day whether the avocados are already ripe.
Never keep the ripe avocados in the refrigerator, as this will stop the ripening process and the avocados may never ripen.
The avocados are ripe when you squeeze the avocado and it gives a little.
Store Ripe Avocados
A ripe avocado requires more attention because it can rot very quickly and that would be a shame.
Store the avocados in the refrigerator. You can still put it in a closed container, but this is not necessary. Never store a ripe avocado at room temperature, as this will continue the ripening process. Stored in this way, an avocado will keep for about 3 to 5 days.
Store Half Avocado
Sliced avocados can be stored well, they just require a little attention. The best storage place is the refrigerator. There are different ways of packing the avocado in the refrigerator. Always try to keep half with the pit, because this prevents discoloration of the pulp (= oxidation process). The method below allows you to store the avocado about 2 days longer.
1. In a closed container with red onion
Cut half a red onion into cubes and put it in the bowl. Place the avocado in the container with the skin on the onions. Close the lid and place it in the refrigerator. The sulfur gases of the onion counteract the discoloration. Storage time is approx. 3 days.
2. Drizzle with lemon or lime juice
Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice of 1 half over the avocado. Place in a refrigerator container with the lid in the refrigerator. The discoloration is prevented this way, but this method does affect the taste of the avocado. Storage time is approx. 3 days.
3. In a container with a lid or in foil
You can also simply place the avocado in a sealed container. However, this is not ideal. The discoloration goes very quickly and the avocado can only be kept for 1 day.
Rub with olive oil
Brush the flesh of the half avocado with olive oil. Then place in a sealed container or airtight plastic bag. The discoloration is prevented this way, but this method does affect the taste of the avocado. Storage time approx. 3 days.
5. In a cup of water
Fill a cup with water and place the avocado half in it, making sure the whole avocado is submerged. This method is fine if you want to store the avocado for 1 day. It does affect the structure of the flesh. When you process the avocado in a smoothie, this is not such a big problem.
Freezing an Avocado
You can freeze an avocado. It takes some effort but it is possible. Cut the avocado into cubes or slices. Put them in a freezer bag and take out as much air as possible. You can keep the avocado for 3 months. The taste of the avocado is slightly different from the taste of fresh avocado.
How Do You Recognize A Ripe Avocado?
You can often buy ripe and unripe avocados in supermarkets. The mature ones often go under the ‘ready to eat’ label. Which avocado you buy depends on when you are going to use the avocado. But how do you know whether you are dealing with a ripe or unripe avocado?
You can check the ripeness of the avocado by removing the pit from the top. You can easily remove this pit with your fingers when the avocado is ripe.
Before doing this, squeeze the avocado first. If it is hard, it is not yet ripe. You also don’t get the bite. If the skin and flesh spring with it, remove the seed from the top with your fingers. If the seed does come off, you will see a green color.
If the cavity of the seed has a (clear) yellow color, you know the avocado is good. When you squeeze the avocado, the flesh springs with it. The pulp will be nice growth.
If the pit of the seed is brownish and discolored, the avocado is overripe. Squeezing the avocado will leave a dent. The flesh will be brown after cutting open. You can cut away the brown flesh until you see the green flesh again.
How Do You Recognize an Overripe Avocado?
If you squeeze the whole avocado, it will leave a dent. And after removing the seed at the top you will see a brown color. After cutting open, the flesh is brown in color. These are all characteristics of an avocado that has had its day.
You will also see this color with avocados that are kept in the refrigerator. The flesh is brown, often slimy and the smell is not pleasant. You should no longer use these avocados for consumption.
How do you pit an avocado?
First cut the avocado in half lengthwise. You can now turn the two halves in opposite directions and they will come apart. Now insert your knife into the pit and move gently. The pit is now probably coming loose from the flesh.
How to Remove Fruit Flesh?
Once you’ve cut the avocado open and removed the pit, cut into strips lengthwise. Do this also in the width of the avocado. Then take a spoon and spoon the flesh from the skin.
You know!
- Did you make guacamole and have some leftover? Use a little citric acid. When the avocado is mashed, it will brown quickly. To counteract this, add a few drops of citric acid to the guacamole. The substance in the citric acid ensures that the guacamole (mashed avocado) turns brown less quickly.
- Avocados are good for your hair! The oils and vitamins contained in an avocado ensure shiny hair. It is also said to promote hair growth.
