Avocados are quickly becoming a favorite in many homes, and it’s easy to see why. After all, who doesn’t love a zesty bowl of guacamole with a side of chips? We’ll show you how to keep avocados fresh on the kitchen counter, in the refrigerator, and freezer.
The creamy texture and neutral flavor of this stone fruit make it extremely versatile and useful in many different recipes. It tastes great as a spread for sandwiches or a dip, in a salad or smoothies, and even on its own, seasoned with pepper and salt.
Not only is it delicious, but it’s packed full of healthy fats and nutrients. While it’s tempting to keep a bunch of avocados on hand for snacking, these fruits do not last very long if stored improperly.
Unripe avocados last the longest but aren’t edible for a few days, and ripe avocados tend to spoil faster. Therefore timing is key when choosing and storing these fruits.
Keeping Avocados Fresh with Proper Storage
It’s easy to keep avocado fresh longer and prevent them from turning brown using a few simple storage techniques, whether you decide to preserve avocados at room temperature or keep them in the fridge and freezer.
How Long do Avocados Last?
When considering how long do avocados last, it’s important to determine their ripeness and how they’re stored.
An avocado that is brown from the grocery store does not last as long as a green fruit, and frozen avocado has a longer shelf life than refrigerated.
Avocado Storage Life
Firm, unripe avocados last about a week at room temperature and up to two weeks in the refrigerator, while ripe ones expire after a few days.
Mashed and halved avocados keep in the fridge for up to two days. Freezing is another alternative to storing these fruits, and frozen avocado lasts up to six months.
Using the proper way to store avocados ensures that you have fresh fruit whenever you want it, whether you make guacamole or another favorite dish.
Keeping Avocados Fresh at Room Temperature
Keeping avocados fresh on the counter is relatively straightforward, just like how you keep bananas fresh. However, a few handy methods help keep them fresh longer or speed up the ripening process.
Table-Top Storage
First, determine if the avocados are ripe. Unripe fruit is bright green with smooth skin, while ripe avocados have a bumpy texture and a darker green color.
The ripe ones safely sit in a bowl at room temperature for a day or two or refrigerate avocados to keep them a bit longer.
If they are unripe and you’re impatient, place them in a brown paper bag and fold over the top to seal it shut. The fruit releases ethylene gas in the sealed bag, encouraging it to ripen faster.
How to Keep Avocados Fresh in the Refrigerator
Storing whole avocados in the fridge slows the ripening process and is the perfect way to keep your fruit if you cannot eat it right away. Keep basil leaves fresh in the fridge, as well as most other fruits and vegetables, if you plan to eat them within a short period of time.
The refrigerator is also useful for storing cut avocado. How long do avocados last in the fridge? Whole fruits last up to two weeks, and halves last a day or two.
There are two ways to store cut avocados in the fridge. The first is the easiest, and all you need is a sheet of plastic wrap.
Set the avocado half on the plastic, sprinkle the top with lemon juice, wrap it tightly and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat it.
The second option is to place the avocado, flesh side down, in a container of water, cover with a lid, and keep it on the refrigerator shelf for a couple of days.
Storing Avocado Halves in the Freezer
Freezing is usually the “go-to” method of food preservation. It will make strawberries last longer and it is great for avocados.
While you can freeze a whole avocado, it alters the freshness due to the pit and skin. Removing them before freezing takes only minutes and is the best way to retain flavor during the freezing process.
Slice the avocado in two, take out the pit, and peel away the outer skin. Squeeze some lemon juice on each half and then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap.
Place the wrapped fruit into a freezer bag, write the contents and date on the top, and set them on the freezer shelf.
When you’re ready to thaw the halves, remove them from the freezer and set them on the counter at room temperature for approximately one hour.
How to Puree and Freeze Avocado
Making avocado puree is a quick task, and freezing puree is a convenient way to store avocados for baby food, smoothies, and other recipes. Make avocado cubes or store puree in containers.
Wash the outsides of the avocados and then slice them in half. Remove the pit and carefully slice away the outer skin before cutting the flesh into chunks.
Place the pieces in a blender, add one tablespoon of lemon juice for every two avocados, and puree them into the desired consistency. Pour the puree into a freezer-safe storage container and set it in the freezer.
If you prefer cubes, scoop the mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze them until solid. Pop the cubes from the tray and set them in a freezer bag. Don’t forget to write the contents and date on the top before placing it in the freezer.
Pickling Avocados for Longer Shelf Life
Pickled avocados are the newest trend in preserving these delectable fruits, and they last up to two weeks in the fridge. If you enjoy the texture of avocados and the flavor of pickles, this recipe is for you.
To prepare the avocados, wash them under cold water, cut them in half, remove the pit, and then peel them. Slice them into large chunks and then pack them into a Mason jar.
Pour water, vinegar, and salt into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Remove it from the heat and pour or ladle the brine carefully over the avocados to submerge them.
Screw the lid in place and allow the jar to cool completely before storing it in the fridge. Give the pickles 24 hours to allow the flavors to meld before eating them.
Making and Storing Guacamole with Leftover Avocados
Guacamole is one of the most favored recipes for avocados, and it only takes five minutes to prepare. It’s a perfect topping for sandwiches, salad, and potatoes or paired with your favorite chips.
Slice the fruit in two and use a large spoon to remove the pit. Carefully slice away the skin, and cut the fruit into small sections. Place the pieces into a bowl, squeeze in the lime juice, and add the minced garlic and salt.
Use a potato masher to smash the avocado until all ingredients combine. Guacamole always tastes best eaten fresh, but it’s safe to refrigerate it for a short time by covering it tightly with plastic wrap.
Press the plastic down into the bowl until it touches the guacamole to prevent browning.
Avocados are a healthy snack for curbing the appetite between meals, whether you slice them on toast or flavor them with olive oil and seasonings.
Not only are they convenient to store on the counter, but they last even longer in the fridge and freezer using a few simple techniques.
Now that you know how to keep avocados fresh and store them long term, why not share our avocado storage guide with your family and friends on Pinterest and Facebook?