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Avocado 101: How to Pick an Avocado, Ripen It, Store It & More!

Go ahead, they won't mind the paper bag. Credit: nate steiner

Go ahead, they won’t mind the paper bag. Credit: nate steiner




How to Store Unripe Avocados

Unripe, firm or green fruit can take four to five days to ripen at room temperature (approximately 65 to 75 degrees, avoid direct sunlight). To speed up the avocado ripening process, place unripe avocados in a brown paper bag with an apple or banana at room temperature for two to three days until avocados yield to gentle pressure.

How to Store Ripe Avocados

Whole Avocados: To slow down the avocado ripening process, place ripe and ready-to-eat avocados uncut in the refrigerator; they will last for several days or longer so that you can enjoy them when you are ready.
Cut Avocados: Sprinkle cut, mashed or sliced avocados with lemon or lime juice or another acidic agent and place in an air-tight container or tightly covered clear plastic wrap. Store in your refrigerator; if necessary cut away darkened surfaces areas before consuming.
Guacamole: Guacamole often contains other ingredients that may affect how well and how long the guacamole can be stored. For most guacamole recipes, adding an acidic agent (like lemon or lime juice or vinegar) can help prevent oxidization when added on top of the guacamole. To store guacamole, place it in an air-tight container and press clear plastic wrap right on the surface of the guacamole before covering. Store in the refrigerator. If refrigerated guacamole or cut avocados turn brown during storage, discard the top oxidized layer and enjoy the rest.
Next: How to Cut or Slice Avocados in Half

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Comments

5 Comments
  1. T says:

    I have become so tired of buying avocados that are bruised and brown on the inside. I have started buying them green and hard as I can find them. If I buy them early in the week, they are ready by the weekend. I just leave them out on the counter. If I am not ready for them yet I store them in the refrigerator in a green bag for sometimes 2 to 3 weeks and they are still pretty on the inside and spread like butter. I rarely have to throw any out now. No more finger print bruises on the inside.

  2. It’s tough when all the avocados at the store are at the same stage of ripeness. You buy a batch to last several days and none are ripe and suddenly there are too many at once!

  3. LISS says:

    OK HAS ANYONE EVER BOTTLED AVOCADOS BEFORE I LOVE THEN & WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BOTTLE THEN WHEN ITS TIME TO DO MY BOTTLING TOMATOES PEACHES ALL KINDS OF JUICING COBBLER MIX EXTRA ? I CANT FIND ANY THING ON BOTTLING AVOCADOS THANKS

  4. Melanie says:

    Another tip: this requires special equipment, but if you have a vacuum sealer, this is an excellent way to store a cut avocado, no lemon juice or mashing required. Just put the open fruit in a bag and seal it up. It will go bad in the fridge before it turns green! I rarely bought avocados before I had the sealer because I wasted too many of them. This is a great solution.

  5. Elliott says:

    Useful information. Thanks for your sharing!

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