Avocados have become one of my favourite foods to spread on toast for a healthy yet tasty breakfast, but I used to find buying them frustrating because they tend to spoil quickly. I would cut open an avocado to eat in the morning, and then the very next day the remaining slice stored inside the fridge would be going mushy and brown, so I would have to throw it away.
It felt like such a waste of both food and money, but I have now realised I was storing my avocado slices completely wrong, as it is not enough to simply wrap them up in tin foil. After doing a little research, I discovered avocados lose freshness quickly when exposed to air, which sounds bizarre, but it causes the healthy fats to break down at a faster rate.
Why do avocados spoil do quickly?
When the enzymes inside an avocado react to oxygen, it causes a reaction called oxidation, which changes both the flavour and texture of the fruit.
This causes avocados to begin turning dark brown, and will then accelerate spoilage to cause the fruit to become soft, sour or even mouldy.
Avocados also have a thin skin that does not provide them with much protection once they have been cut open, so you need to cover them properly if you want the fruit to stay fresh.
I have now realised that tin foil is too loose and will still expose the avocado to too much air, but the best way to way avocados last longer is to simply pour a little lemon juice on them.
How to store avocados properly to keep them fresh
After looking online, I found out that lemon juice creates a seal over the fleshy part of an avocado, which acts as a protective barrier from oxygen and any bacteria.
How to store avocados properly to keep them fresh
After looking online, I found out that lemon juice creates a seal over the fleshy part of an avocado, which acts as a protective barrier from oxygen and any bacteria.
This simple baking ingredient is also acidic, which helps stop oxidation as it lowers the pH level on an avocado and slows down the enzymes that causes the flesh to turn brown.
You need only place your leftover avocado slice on a plate and lightly coat the avocado flesh with lemon juice.
I used the back of a teaspoon to spread the lemon juice evenly to make the sure the surface was completely covered.
Then, all I did was wrap it in cling film to make sure no air could reach it, and then store it in the middle of my fridge.
I have been using this storage method for a few months now, and I am genuinely impressed with the results. My avocado slices stay green and perfectly fresh for up to a week, and sometimes even 10 days longer than they used to.
Lemon juice not only keeps avocados fresher for longer but also helps improve their flavour to make them taste creamier, so it is a really handy ingredient to keep in the kitchen.
