Love avocados?
Then you know how precise you must use them at their peak. A day or two late, and you have an over-ripe avocado at hand. And if you somehow forget about them for a week, you know you messed up.
So how long do avocados last in the fridge or at room temperature?
Unripened avocados, at room temperature, will ripe in 5-7 days. But once they are ripe, switch them to a fridge. They can last up to 4-5 days in a fridge before going bad. Cut/mashed/sliced avocados must be stored in the fridge, where they can last for 3-4 days.
Whether a sandwich or a salad, avocados bring too much to the table. Therefore, you must learn how to store avocados properly. This article will discuss how to store them and identify them once they go bad.
Stay with me to save the fruit before it’s too late!
Does avocado go bad?
Like any other fruit, avocados can go bad. And this can happen faster than you imagine. Unlike other fruits that ripen on the trees, avocado starts to ripen once plucked. The ripening process is fast and gives you a few days before the fruit can go bad. Yes. You read that right. You must eat an avocado within a few days if it is ripened. You can also store the fruit in the fridge if you don’t want them to go bad.
Also Read: Do Olives Go Bad?
An unripened avocado can go bad in 5-7 days in a pantry. But if you store the ripe avocados in the fridge, they can last for 3-5 days. Cut/sliced/mashed avocados will remain fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator before going bad.
So, how do you store avocados? Read further to know more.
How to Preserve an Avacado? Storing tips
Storing avocados will be a piece of cake with these storing tips:
- Let us begin with unripe avocados. Unripened avocados must be stored in a dry place at room temperature. Storing them at room temperature allows the avocados to ripe well and develop flavor. The pantry or kitchen countertop is the best place to store unripened avocados.
- Storing unripened avocados in the fridge will keep them firm. This will prevent the fruit from reaching its peak flavor. However, once the fruit is ripe, shift them to the fridge. Refrigerating the ripe avocados will prevent them from going mushy and soft. So refrigerate the ripened avocados unless you plan to eat them immediately.
Tip: Want avocados to ripen faster? Remember, the warmer the surrounding, the quicker the fruit will turn ripe. So, leave the unripened avocados in a brown paper bag.
- Have a half-cut avocado lying around the kitchen? Whether it’s a half-cut, diced, sliced, or mashed avocado, store them in an airtight container. Place the container in the fridge to keep them fresh.
- Want the cut/sliced/mashed/diced avocados to last longer? An effective way to extend their life is to sprinkle them with lemon juice. Lemon is a preservative that prevents avocados from oxidizing and turning brown.
How Long Do Avocados Last? Can we Freeze Avocados for Longer Shelf Life?
Yes, you can definitely freeze avocados, The right way to freeze them is by peeling the fruit’s skin. Once done, slice them, remove the seeds, and place them on parchment paper. Leave them in the freezer for an hour or two until they become hard. This will prevent the avocados from sticking to each other in the next step. Now, transfer the avocado slices into a ziplock bag. Remove excess air and put the bag in the freezer.
Tip: To prevent the avocados from going brown/black, sprinkle lemon juice. The lemon juice will prevent discoloration of the fruit.
Don’t want to peel and cut the avocado? Well, you can freeze the whole avocado and save some time. Freezing them whole will make them last up to 2-3 months. This will, however, alter the taste and color of the avocados. So rather than eating the defrosted avocados, you can blend them to make a smoothie.
How to Tell if Avocado Is Bad?
Avocados, like every seeded and thick-skinned fruit, tend to go bad. But fortunately, the signs of spoilage can be easily noticed.
Below are some common signs that tell you when to discard spoiled avocados:
1. It’s super soft to the touch or feels mushy
An under-ripened avocado will be firm like a stone. But an avocado that has gone bad will be mushy and soft (in a disgusting way). Try giving the fruit a good squeeze. If the fruit leaves a groove on the skin and appears palpable, throw it.
2. It has strings or thick fibers inside
Perhaps the most overlooked sign is the appearance of string-like fibers. The fibers appear mostly in fruits from younger trees or if the fruit is not stored properly. Although the fibers are not unsafe, they bring down the feeling of eating an avocado. So if you prefer a smooth avocado, you can say bye-bye to the fruit.
3. Most of the flesh is brown or black
The color a fruit displays can say a lot about the fruit. So if you see brown or black color on the flesh, the fruit is probably damaged. If the dark color is spotted, you can cut off the part and enjoy the rest. But if the discoloration is spread out, dispose of the fruit.
Also Read: Can you freeze feta cheese?
4. It’s moldy
Molds are easy to notice, even on fruit with thick skin. So, if you notice white or grey powdery fuzz on the exterior, toss it away. There are chances that the fruit might be ruined from the inside as well.
5. It smells rancid or sour
If you are unsure of the fruit, let your nose decide. It is edible if you smell the avocado with an avocado’s smell. But if the smell coming from the fruit is rancid or sour, toss it away.
6. The flavor is off
An unripened avocado will not give you the peak flavor. But an avocado that has gone bad will spoil the taste altogether. So, if the fruit tastes like chemicals, discard it.
Health Risks Associated with Bad Avocados
However healthy and nutritious the fruit is, once it goes bad, it must be thrown away. And yes, this goes for bad avocados as well! If you happen to consume bad avocados, you are in for a ride. Because they can make you extremely sick! My advice is to try some healthy recipes before they go bad.
This is because rotten avocados undergo a bacterial action. So, in case if you consume a rotten avocado, you can experience bloating, vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. The side effects do not stop there.
Because if in case, you eat a moldy avocado, you can suffer from serious allergic reactions. This can even take a toll on your breathing and lungs. Therefore, make sure you only consume fresh avocados to avoid getting sick.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is it OK to eat brown avocado?
Ans. A half-cut avocado gets oxidized when exposed to air. This process alters the avocado’s color from bright green to dull brown. Avocados that have turned brown can be eaten, but they won’t taste as good.
Q2. Can avocados last 2 weeks?
Ans. Yes. Avocados can last for 2 weeks if stored properly. If the avocado is ripe, you can put the whole avocado in the refrigerator. Refrigerating the whole avocado will make it last for about two weeks.
Q3. Do avocados last longer in the fridge or on the counter?
Ans. If your avocados are under-ripened, they must be stored at room temperature. However, once they are ripe, you must transfer them to a refrigerator. This will keep the fresh for a longer duration.
Q4. How do you store avocados for a long time?
Ans. The best way to store avocados for a long time is by refrigerating them. Slice and peel up the fruit and sprinkle them with lemon juice. Once done, put the sliced avocado in the fridge; voila, they can last a long time.
Q5. Why you shouldn’t refrigerate avocados?
Ans. Although refrigerating avocados is essential for making them last longer. However, if the avocados are under-ripened, they must not be refrigerated. The cool temperature will delay the ripening process, preventing the fruit to develop its flavors.
The Bottom Line
To conclude the article, here are a few key points! Make sure you allow the fruit to ripen at room temperature. Once it is ripened, transfer it to the fridge to maintain its freshness. Don’t go overboard with the fruit. Any funny smell or change in the texture, throw away the fruit. If you think the fruit is rotten, look for signs of spoilage. Only include fresh fruit in your recipes to get the most out of them.
