Avocados, a brunch staple loved by many and packed with healthy fats, have one major downside – their short shelf life. Their dark exterior makes it difficult to judge their ripeness until you slice into them, often revealing an unappetising brown mush.
The window of peak ripeness is typically only a couple of days. However, if you’re looking to extend the life of your avocado, there’s a trick you should know. Amy Cross from The Cross Legacy, a food waste reduction expert, shared the hack on YouTube – and it literally takes two minutes.
She suggests giving your avocados a quick wash when you return from the supermarket – but not just with water.
According to Amy, using white vinegar can help maximise the lifespan of your avocados and prevent them from browning too quickly, reports The Mirror.
This simple hack is perfect for those looking to reduce their food waste. Not only this, but it’ll also help you save money too, which is always an added bonus – especially at this time of year.
Simply fill a large bowl with water, add a quarter cup of distilled white vinegar, and let your avocados soak for two minutes.
This should be enough time to cleanse them properly, without allowing the vinegar to actually penetrate the avocado skin and affect the taste.
Then, place them on a towel, ensuring they are thoroughly dry before you put them in the fridge, in order to avoid any excess moisture which can accelerate spoilage.
And when it comes to storing them away, consider putting them in the crisper drawer with another popular staple – a lemon.
Amy explained: “Lemons and avocados are produce buddies, and they actually keep each other fresh longer.”
This method is claimed to keep avocados fresh for ‘a month or longer’ – making it worth a shot if you’re fed up with discarding rotten avocados.
