Avocados can be kept fresh for up to five days with a simple storage trick applied after purchase, according to Martha Stewart's blog. The method requires no elaborate preparation or special ingredients, making it easy to incorporate into a daily routine. By spending a couple of minutes storing avocados correctly from the start, their appearance and flavour can be preserved for up to five days.
How to keep avocados fresh
If an unripe avocado is not going to be used immediately, the most straightforward approach is to leave it on the kitchen worktop as it matures. Alternatively, avocados can be placed in the pantry if counter space is limited. Wherever they are kept, they should be separated rather than bunched together.
Avoid placing them in a bowl or stacking them, as contact can lead to bruising and spoil the flesh. When stored in this manner, avocados can generally "stay fresh for up to five days".
Storing sliced avocado and guacamole
If an avocado is sliced in half, the cut surface should be dabbed with lemon or lime juice to delay browning. It should then be covered securely with cling film, placed in an airtight container, and stored in the fridge. Sliced avocado can discolour more quickly because a larger surface area is exposed to oxygen.
To prevent swift browning, lightly brush the pieces with lime juice, then drape them with a paper towel moistened with lime juice. Wrap cling film snugly over the surface before refrigerating. These techniques should maintain a sliced avocado's freshness for roughly 24 hours.
Guacamole benefits from the same storage approach as chopped or sliced avocado. Lay a lime juice-soaked paper towel across the surface, followed by tightly pressed cling film on top. Ensure both the towel and film sit as flush against the guacamole as possible to minimise air contact and delay discolouration.
How to speed up avocado ripening
When a ripe avocado is needed at short notice but supermarket ones remain firm, the fruit can be wrapped in newspaper or placed inside a sealed brown paper bag. Position them somewhere warm, such as beside the cooker. Johnny Hernandez, chef and founder of Grupo La Gloria restaurants, explained that heat facilitates the ripening process.
Unripe avocados should not be put in the fridge, as chilly temperatures can dramatically hinder maturation. "Once ripened, avocados are at their prime and should be used promptly. But if you're not ready to use them, store them in the refrigerator to extend their freshness," said Byron Rubio, executive chef at Pasión Miami.
