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No need to toss those leftovers.
If you’ve ever sliced into a perfectly ripe avocado but only need to use half, you’ve probably faced the same frustrating question: What’s the best way to store the rest without it turning brown?
While there are plenty of internet hacks, from storing it with an onion to submerging it in water (a trend that went viral and was later cautioned against by the FDA), not all of them are equally effective. Fortunately, there are a couple a simple methods that helps keep leftover avocado fresher for longer.
How To Store Half An Avocado
Leave The Pit In
If you’re only using one half of the avocado, leave the pit in the unused half. While the pit doesn’t prevent browning across the entire surface, it does protect the flesh directly underneath it from being exposed to air.
Minimize Air Exposure
The biggest culprit behind a browning avocado is oxygen. As soon as the flesh is exposed to air, a natural enzyme reacts with oxygen in a process called oxidation, causing the surface to darken.
To slow this process, press a piece of plastic wrap directly against the cut surface of the avocado so there’s as little air trapped as possible, then store in an airtight food storage container.
According to the World Avocado Organisation (WAO), you can also use the empty avocado half to cover the remaining avocado.
Add Acid
A light squeeze of lemon or lime juice over the cut surface can also help delay browning. The citric acid slows oxidation while adding only a subtle flavor that pairs well with avocado.
“Grab a lemon or lime and squeeze a few drops of the juice onto the exposed flesh, or you can lightly brush the avocado half with olive oil, sealing all in an airtight container and transfer into the fridge. Then, over the next few days, your avocados will still be perfectly ready to eat,” the WAO says.
Refrigerate
Once wrapped or sealed, place the avocado in the refrigerator. Cooler temperatures slow the oxidation process and help preserve both flavor and texture. For the best quality, plan to eat the leftover avocado within one to two days.
Does Submerging Avocados In Water Keep Them Fresh?
While a viral video on TikTok from 2021 suggested that submerging avocados in water keeps them fresher, longer, the FDA cautions against this method.
“The main concern is with the possibility that any residual human pathogens (i.e. Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., etc.) that may be residing on the avocado surface may potentially multiply during the storage when submerged in water,” an FDA representative said in a statement to Good Morning America at the time. “In addition, research performed by FDA scientists has shown that Listeria monocytogenes has the potential to infiltrate and internalize into the pulp of avocados when submerged in refrigerated dump tanks within 15 days during refrigerated storage. In this case, even surface disinfecting the avocado skin prior to slicing would not be able to remove the contamination.”
Read the original article on Southern Living
