How Long Do Avocados Last

Avocados are one of the most versatile fruit in any chef’s kitchen. They can be used in a wide array of dishes, from salads to salsa and everything in between. Avocados have been popularly cultivated throughout Central America for thousands of years. Still, they make their way to many kitchens across the globe today due to their rich taste, durability, and health benefits.

This blog post will help you learn how to pick the perfect avocado at the grocery store and store them so that you can enjoy them for a long time. You’ll learn about the different types of avocados available in the market today as well as how long they last – whether cut or uncut!

How to Pick Avocadoes

It is essential to know how to pick avocados so that they are perfect when you cut into them. Avocado experts suggest the following tips:

• Look for firm avocados that give a little when you press lightly with your fingers. If an avocado gives too much, it’s probably overripe.

• In case you are going to buy Hass Avocadoes, rember that they should have a dark green color and be unblemished.

• If you plan to use the avocados in a few days, buy them when they are still quite firm, as they will ripen on your countertop in a few days.

How Long do Avocados last?

The Avocado is an evergreen tree that lives for about 25 to 35 years and can grow up to 15 meters high! Avocados grow between November to March in Florida, California, and Hawaii. Avocados are green when they are unripe. Avocados ripen quickly at room temperature, which is why essential to check them every day or two for ripeness.

Avocados will typically become dark green, black, or brown when ripe, depending on the variety of avocados. They should not be refrigerated until they are ripe and ready for use. Ripening avocados at home is also possible, but it may take up to a week for the fruit to ripen. Avocados can be stored in a paper bag and placed in a dark area if you want to hasten the ripening process. 

How Long Do Avocados Last in the Fridge?

Store whole unripe avocados

Avocados that are firm but not fully ripe yet will last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. The avocados will continue to ripen but at a slower rate in the fridge. It is still important that you periodically check your avocados to test their ripeness level. You can store the avocados directly in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator or a plastic bag or plastic wrap.

Store whole ripe avocados

You can store ripe avocados in the refrigerator to increase their life span. These avocados can last up to a week, depending on their original ripeness level. When you are storing ripe avocados in the refrigerator, you need to be extra vigilant because avocados can go from ripe to overripe very quickly.

How Long Do Uncut Avocados Last?

Avocados can stay fresh for several days if they are stored uncut. If your uncut avocados are not fully ripe, leave them in a bowl on the counter for a few days so that they can ripen. You can squeeze the avocados slightly to check their ripeness. If you don’t plan on using the avocados immediately, store them in the refrigerator, where they can last for up to 2 weeks.

How Long Do Cut Avocados Last?

If you already have a cut avocado that you want to store for later, you should store them in the refrigerator, depending on whether the avocados have ripened or not. We don’t recommend keeping cut avocados outside the refrigerator as they will brown very quickly and develop an unpleasant mushy texture.

If your avocados are already ripe, you can store the cut fruit for 2 – 3 days in the refrigerator without any problem. If the avocado isn’t ripe yet, you can probably keep it in the fridge for 4 -5 days. Always check on the avocados frequently so that you can use the avocados before they get brown.

Here’s how to store cut avocados:

What you need:

• Silicone brush
• Cut avocados
• Air-tight container
• Bottled lemon juice
• Cling Film

Instructions:

Storing avocado slices:

1. Lay the cut avocado you want to store on a cutting board.
2. Using the silicone brush, brush the avocado pieces with lemon juice, which will help slow down the browning.
3. Store the avocado pieces in the air-tight container and place the container in the refrigerator.

Storing avocado halves:

There are two ways to store avocado halves to minimize browning.

Option 1: Store avocado in cling film

1. Place your avocado halves on the cutting board.
2. Using the brush, brush the lemon juice liberally over the entire exposed flesh of the avocados.
3. Cover each avocado half with individual cling films. Make sure you are wrapping the avocados tightly so that they aren’t in contact with the air.
4. You can store the wrapped avocados directly in the fridge or store them in a container and then place them in the refrigerator. 

Option 2: Store avocado in water

1. Fill a container almost entirely with water.
2. Take your avocado halves and place them in the water flesh side down. Close the lid of the container and place it in the refrigerator.
3. Storing your avocados in this manner will keep them good for another two days at least!

Tips:

• If you are storing your avocados in halves, keep the pit in one of the halves. Keeping or removing the pit won’t affect the taste of the avocado; however, it will prevent extra flesh from being exposed to the air and slow down the browning process.
• You can easily peel your ripe avocado using a spoon. Simply hold one half of the avocado in one hand and hold the spoon in the other. Anchor the spoon at the point where the peel meets the skin, and simply scoop the avocado. You can use the same trick using glass as well!
• Squeezing the avocado too much can cause it to bruise. When you are squeeze testing your avocado, press it near the step to minimize the chances of bruising it.
• If you want to fasten the ripening process of your avocados, simply place them in a paper bag with an apple, and leave the bag on the counter for a day.
• Wash your hands before and after you handle avocados. Avocados contain a compound called persin which can irritate the skin, eyes, and mouth.
• Make sure your avocados aren’t exposed to direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure to sunlight may also speed up the ripening process of your avocados.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do avocados turn brown?

Like most fruits, avocados turn brown when they are exposed to air. The browning is due to oxidation that occurs when certain enzymes in the avocado are exposed to air. A perfect avocado has a light green-yellow flesh. A rotting avocado will have black or brown spots. However, a lone brown spot may be due to bruising. If your avocado has browned completely, don’t use the avocado.

How to make avocado last longer?

If you want your avocados to last longer, you can also try freezing them. Wash your avocado and dry them. If you are freezing avocado slices, put all the slices in a freezer bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. Place the bag into the freezer. Use the frozen avocado slices within 3 -6 months. You can also freeze your avocado whole. Wrap the avocado in cling film tightly and place it in your freezer for storage.

What should I do if I open an unripe avocado?

If you cut open an unripe avocado, don’t worry! Not all hope is lost; you can still ripen it! First, brush both halves of the cut avocado with some bottled lemon juice. Next, squeeze both halves of the avocado to close it and tightly wrap them using cling film. Finally, store the put-together avocado in the fridge and wait for it to ripen! Remember to check on the avocado every day to check if it has matured or not!

Conclusion

Avocado is a delicious fruit that you can use in many dishes. Avocado is rich in vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. Avocados are good for you because they are high in fiber, potassium, Vitamins A, C, and E. Avocados are not only tasty but also nutritious! Hopefully, you found this post helpful! You might also find some helpful information in our other guides here!