Avocados are a breakfast staple for many, but it’s disheartening to slice into one only to discover it’s gone brown and off.
It’s frustrating to throw away money and food, but many have been storing avocados all wrong – they should never be kept in water.
Amy Lynn Cross, a chef and founder of The Cross Legacy, has revealed that while dunking this fruit in water is a popular food storage hack seen on social media, it encourages bacteria growth which can ruin the fruit.
She warned: “These tips show people storing whole and halved avocados in water to keep them fresh longer. It has been all over social media. In reality, it could be making you sick.”
But don’t worry. There’s a safer and more effective way to keep your avocados fresh for up to a month longer.
Instead of chucking out spoiled fruit, the best way to store avocados is to give them a good wash to get rid of bacteria, dry them, and then pop them in an air-tight container.
Amy shared her “secret elixir” for washing avocados, which she says is “actually quite simple and easy on the budget”.
She said: “It’s composed of two ingredients: cool water and five percent distilled white vinegar.”
While it might sound strange, washing avocados and other fruits in vinegar will kill any bacteria or contamination on the skin, helping to extend their shelf life.
Start by removing any stickers from your avocado skins, then immerse them in a bowl of icy water mixed with 60ml white vinegar.
You’ll need to set your timer for exactly two minutes before plunging the avocados in and make sure not to keep them submerged any longer, as you might end up tasting vinegar in your fruit.
When the time is up, give them a thorough rinse under the tap to wash away the vinegary mix.
Afterwards, wipe them down and let the avocados air dry until they’re completely dry.
Households are advised to wait until avocados are bone dry before storing them away as dampness could invite unwanted bacteria and mould.
