Are You Storing Your Avocados Correctly?

There’s nothing like cutting open your avocado to reveal a perfect, bright green interior. But all avocado lovers know they’re notoriously fickle: it seems like one second the fruit is hard and overripe, the next it’s brown and unusable. This is not only frustrating when you’re planning on whizzing up some guacamole, but also a big contributor to food waste. So how can we store our avocados to keep them fresh?

How To Store Avocados

If you’ve bought an avocado that’s not yet ripe, it’s best to store it outside of the fridge while it ripens. Generally, an unripe avocado will last for four to five days, but it’s best to check it every day so you don’t miss the window (more on that below). 

If you’ve bought a ripe avocado, it’s best eaten straight away. However, you can also refrigerate it to extend its lifespan – ideally pop it in an airtight food storage container. 

So what about TikTok’s latest food hack, which claims you can keep avocados (whole or halved) fresh by submerging them in water? According to the FDA, this is considered unsafe, as human pathogens (such as salmonella or listeria monocytogenes) could be residing on the avocado, which could multiply when stored in water.

Instead, try this tip from Amy Lynn Cross, founder of food waste brand The Cross Legacy. Wash your avocado thoroughly to eliminate bacteria, then dry it and store it in an airtight container. ‘My “secret elixir” for washing avocados is actually quite simple and easy on the budget. It’s composed of two ingredients: cool water and five percent distilled white vinegar,’ she says. 

She recommends removing any stickers, and submerging them in the water/vinegar solution for two minutes (no longer, as the vinegar taste may seep through to the fruit). Then, rinse of the solution and allow the avocados to air dry before storing them in a container in the fridge (or in the fruit bowl if they are already ripe). 

How To Know If Avocados Are Ripe

Whether you’re examining in the supermarket or are checking on an avocado’s status at home, there are a few things to look out for.

• Ripe avocados will have dark green or nearly black exterior.
• Feel for bumpy skin – if the skin is too smooth, it needs another day or two to ripen.
• Give it a gentle squeeze – ripe avocados should yield to gentle pressure without feeling mushy.