Apples, oranges and bananas have long been the go-to fruits in most households, but in recent years the humble avocado has become increasingly popular.
Loved for its rich and creamy texture, and versatility that means it can be enjoyed at breakfast, lunch or even dinner, avocados are now a staple fruit bowl item for many. But like all fruits it has a limited shelf life and will quickly turn from rock hard to soft, brown mush before you know it. As such, it’s important to make sure you store the fruit properly to avoid it going to waste and experts say there’s a very simple way to make it last longer without compromising the flavour.
If avocados are lovely and ripe when you buy them, the best thing to do is to store them in the fridge as this should make them last four days longer than storing them at room temperature on the kitchen worktop – and it won’t have any negative effect on the taste.
Experts at Simply Recipes explain: “A ripe avocado should last in the fridge for up to seven days vs. just one to three days on the counter. So if you think you’ll use your avocados within a day or two, there’s no need to stick them in the fridge – but also no harm in doing so.
“Tomato lovers know to never put their tomatoes in the fridge because it can give them an unpleasant mealy texture. Luckily the same isn’t true for avocados. Refrigerating avocados has no negative impact on their flavour, texture, or appearance. Hooray!
“If you are planning to use your ripe avocados within a day or two, feel free to leave them on the counter. If not, you can extend their life by transferring them to the refrigerator, where they should last for about a week.”
You can usually tell when an avocado is ready to eat by its colour, as it will be almost black with just a hint of green, and should yield to pressure.
The colour can vary depending on the variety you choose, with Fuerte, Ettinger, Reed, and Sharwill avocados staying green when ripe, so it’s best to go by firmness as well as colour to determine if the fruit is ready to eat.
Storing a ripe avocado in the fridge helps to slow down the ripening process, preventing it from turning brown and mushy too quickly. If avocados are still unripe and not quite ready to eat when you buy them, experts say you should keep them at room temperature to ripen naturally first before transferring them to the fridge afterwards to make them last longer.
Experts at Fresh Avocados – Love One Today add: “Ripe, uncut avocados can be safely stored in the fridge for up to a week. They will continue to ripen, but at a slower pace.
“Why refrigerate for up to a week? Because if the avocados are ready for smoothies or salads (pulp is deliciously creamy but slightly firm) they will last longer than if they’re ready for guacamole (pulp is creamy and soft). Take them out of the fridge when you’re ready to enjoy them.”