It’s the unanswerable millennial conundrum: how do you keep an avocado from going brown? There are more ways than you think. Here at Chula’s Restaurant and Cantina of Eugene, we always serve the freshest avocados. To do that, we’ve come at this issue head-on! You cut an avocado in half, use one half, and want to save the other half for later use. But how do you keep the unused half fresh and green? We have four tips that can elongate the lives of your halved avocados.
Coat with lemon or lime juice
You’ve probably heard that a little bit of lemon or lime juice is great for preserving guacamole, but have you tried it for whole avocados? If you take an avocado half, coat it in juice, and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, you’ve got a fresh avocado for a couple more days. Due to the citric acid, the browning process is significantly slowed. This is one of the more common, well-known methods for preserving cut avocados, but there’s more where that came from.
Add onions
Hear us out… onions. Onions contain sulfur, which prevents the enzymes in avocados from interacting with the air and turning brown. The easiest way to take advantage of this trick is to cut up some onion, line the bottom of a container, and place the avocado on top with the cut-side up. Then cover and store in the refrigerator. Not only will you have a fresh avocado long after you cut it in half, but you’ll also have some pre-cut onions for your next recipe!
Brush the avocado with oil
Just like the lemon or lime juice trick, brushing your cut avocado with oil greatly slows the browning process. Pick an oil that doesn’t have a strong flavor, something like olive oil should do the trick, and brush it on your cut avocado. All you have to do now is cover and refrigerate until you need it. The oil acts as a barrier between the avocado flesh and the air, delaying the oxidization process. Allergic to citrus or want to maintain the flavor of the avocado? Choose this method over the juice option.
Submerge in water
You’ve heard it before, water is life, and this statement rings true for your avocados too. Take a container, fill it almost full of water, and place the avocado cut-side down inside the container. Submersion will keep your avocado from browning for several days. Because the water completely covers each nook and cranny of the avocado, there’s no chance of it meeting the air, eliminating the chance for browning for several days. This will only keep avocados fresh for a few days. But if you have avocado toast one day, you’ll have a leftover avocado half for brunch the next day.
If you’re like any member of our team here at Chula’s, you love a good avocado. Whether you put it on toast or enjoy it in guacamole, there’s no going wrong with avocado. Keep yours fresh for as long as possible with any one of these recommendations. But for the freshest ingredients of all, come into Chula’s Restaurant and Cantina of Eugene. Where all of our dishes use the freshest ingredients. You’re sure to enjoy yourself from aperitivo to postre.
FAQs
Coat with lemon or lime juice
How to store avocado to last longer? ›
If you refrigerate an unripe avocado, it will ripen eventually, but the texture and taste may be compromised. If your avocado is ripe, place the whole, uncut avocado in an airtight container or in the produce drawer in the refrigerator. It should be good for about two weeks, depending on how ripe it was going in.
What's the best way to keep avocados from over ripening? ›
Where to store avocado? Depending on your avocado's ripeness, you should either store it in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Stick your avocado in the fridge to slow down the ripening process or leave it on the counter or in the pantry to allow it to ripen further.
How do restaurants keep avocados from turning brown? ›
The main goal is to prevent oxygen from touching the avocado's flesh. Plastic wrap is a practical, albeit not foolproof way to slow down the natural course of fruit aging. The trick is to make sure the plastic wrap is sealed flush with the flesh.
How do you prolong the life of an avocado? ›
The method seemed simple enough: You're supposed to submerge whole avocados in cool water in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. Leave the container there until you're ready to use. Take it out, dry off the avocados, and enjoy.
How do you slow down the ripening of avocados? ›
Countertop, Fridge or Freezer? Until they're fully ripe, avocados should be stored at room temperature. Placing an unripe avocado in the refrigerator will slow the ripening process, but the same concept applies to ripe avocados: put them in the refrigerator to keep them at their prime ripeness for longer.
Can I freeze a whole avocado? ›
You can freeze them whole by wrapping an avocado in plastic wrap and placing it in a zip-top bag or you can freeze halves by cutting the avocado, then wrapping and storing the halves the same way. Some insist on spritzing the flesh with lemon or lime juice before freezing to keep it from browning.
How do you store half an avocado? ›
Storing Ripe Avocado Halves
Fresh and ready avocado halves are a sight to behold. But they won't stay that way for long. To keep them from turning brown, seal the flesh with a sprinkle of lemon juice, lime juice, or olive oil, then tightly wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Why should you not refrigerate avocados? ›
Avocados. The refrigerator will slow avocados in the ripening process, so unless you're stacked with too many avocados for your weekly use, keep them out at room temperature. The cold temperature also hardens the texture of a ripe avocado, which might not be ideal for some when it comes to mealtime.
Does putting avocados in water in the fridge keep them fresh longer? ›
A recent TikTok trend had us all believing this problem was solved. All you do is submerge the cut avocado in a sealed container full of water in the fridge for a perfectly green avocado days later. But, after further investigation, we can't recommend it.
Here are 5 telltale signs when an avocado has gone bad and shouldn't be used anymore.
- The avocado is soft and the rind is concave. ...
- The shell turns dark black. ...
- The avocado flesh is dark and black. ...
- Strange smell and taste appear. ...
- Milestones.
If your avocado is already ripe (or is getting there) you can place it in your refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for several days, depending on its level of ripeness. When putting your avocado in the fridge, it's best to store it in an airtight food storage container or in the produce/crisper drawer.
Is it OK to eat avocado that has turned brown? ›
You can safely eat an avocado or guacamole that has turned brown due to oxidation, just as you could eat an apple that has undergone the same chemical reaction. However, it certainly doesn't look as appetizing when presented on a plate, and the taste may be slightly altered (read: a tad bitter).
How to preserve avocado for months? ›
Wash the avocado, skin still on. Cut the fruit in half, and peel. If you decide to halve it, wrap the halves separately (sans pit) in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then put them in a resealable bag and freeze. (Don't forget to label and date the bag!)
How to stop avocado going brown without lemon? ›
Olive Oil. Another option is to brush the avocado flesh with olive oil, says Weintraub. This creates "an oily barrier between the fruit and air, thus preventing browning," she explains.
Can avocados last 2 weeks in the fridge? ›
A perfectly ripe avocado is best eaten right away. If this is not possible, the best way to store ripe avocados is in the fridge for a maximum of 2 to 3 days. Any longer and the avocado may brown inside. Unripe avocados, on the other hand, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
How do you keep avocado spread fresh? ›
Water is a great trick to use for storing guacamole so it stays fresh, but there are a few other options as well. Acid, like lemon, lime, or vinegar, creates a barrier against oxygen as well, so applying a thin layer will work in a similar way.
Can I freeze avocado? ›
Yes, you can freeze avocado but make sure you use ones that are just-ripe (not super soft). Scoop flesh from skin in chunks and arrange on a baking paper-lined tray. Freeze avos for about 30 minutes or until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag and expel air. You can keep avocados in the freezer for up to one month.
