Avocados are the toast of the breakfast world, yet their luscious green allure often fades to an unappetising brown too swiftly. If you’ve ever been dismayed by the sight of a discoloured avocado after refrigeration, there’s good news: a simple, natural method exists to preserve its vibrant hue, and it involves a ubiquitous and wallet-friendly fruit.
Regina Mitchell, culinary maestro and founder of Your Friend in the Kitchen, has divulged a nifty tip for extending the life of your avocados. “Lemon or any citrus juice slows oxidation, so putting lemon juice on the avocado can be helpful,” she disclosed. “It just may change the taste a little bit.” The magic of lemon juice lies in its ability to decelerate oxidation, the culprit behind those dreaded brown patches.
Rich in citric acid, lemon juice acts as a natural preservative that reduces the pH level in avocado enzymes, thus inhibiting their interaction with oxygen and delaying spoilage, reports the Express.
Regina further advised: “Storing your halved avocado face down on a plate will also help stop any oxidation.”
Adopting this technique forms an effective shield against air exposure, safeguarding the avocado’s freshness, and it won’t break the bank—with lemons costing as little as 30p at supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
To preserve your avocado correctly, simply squeeze a generous amount of lemon juice over the inside of the slice, or use lime juice if that’s available.
Following this, wrap the avocado securely in cling film to create an additional barrier against air and moisture.
“This will help keep your avocado slices bright green, creamy, and fresh for a few days longer,” the expert assured.
Popular social media tricks suggest that keeping avocados submerged in water will maintain their freshness. Nevertheless, Regina cautioned against employing this technique.
She explained: “Avocados are soft and porous, so letting them sit in water weakens the fruit and causes bacteria to multiply in the moisture.”
This might result in a potentially hazardous avocado, so whilst water storage may appear impressive in a TikTok clip, it’s advisable to rely on established methods such as lemon juice.
As an alternative, olive oil serves as an effective natural preservative, creating a protective barrier over the avocado, keeping the fruit fresh without requiring chemicals.