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Tuesday 26 October 2021

Ways To Stop Avocados Going Brown

Avocados are so good for us. Not only are they an amazing source of healthy fats but they are also rich in essential micronutrients like magnesium. Magnesium is responsible for more than 300 reactions in the human body, all of which are essential for keeping us alive, and as a single serve of avocado contains 7% of the recommended daily intake of magnesium, I think I will carry on eating them ...


Sometimes, however, they do tend to go brown, so I am sharing five ways that may help you to stop avocados going brown. Hopefully there is a way that works for you.

1. Keeping The Pit In
This method is an oldie, but a goodie, and most avocado lovers will be familiar with it. But what you’ve likely found is that the fleshy parts around the pit are still prone to oxidization (that’s mixing with the air around it) and browning. But when you pull out the pit, it’s still perfect underneath. You could invest in an avocado hugger, which is a reusable silicone cover that works to prevent your fruit from browning. Keep the pit in, belt the avocado up, store it in the fridge, and it’s good as new!

2. Storing The Avocado In Water
All you need to do here is put your remaining avocado in a glass jar of water, seal it, and pop it in the fridge. It usually prevents the avocado from going brown, but it does leave it with a slightly mushier texture. Recommend this if you’re looking to make a big batch of guacamole, but if you’re after a firm avocado, there’s likely another method for you.

3. Covering It In Cling Film
If we’re trying to prevent the oxidization of the avocado, cling film is a great choice. While it’s not entirely fool-proof, and the use of single-use plastic is a growing burden on the environment, it’s a quick and easy option. Simply wrap the avocado nice and tight (and that part is key) in the cling film of your choice. If you’re looking for a more sustainable option, try a reusable beeswax wrap.

It is important to mention that this method proves quite successful for keeping guacamole fresh for a longer time. When storing it, gently press the wrap down onto the surface of the mixture in a bowl or container to remove all of the air, and you’ll have fresh guacamole for days.

4. Storing The Avocado With Onion
This idea seems a little excessive, but if you’re someone who likes your avocado savoury, it’s worth a try. Simply popping your avocado in an airtight container with a few slices of onion, before storing it in the fridge, is one of the most effective ways to keep the fruit fresher for longer. This is because of the incredible sulphur compounds found in onions that exert a protective effect on the air around them. You’ll find your avocado stays fresh for an extra couple of days with this method.

5. Drizzling The Avocado In Lemon Juice
A quick squeeze of lemon juice over any fresh avocado works as a truly natural preservative. This is due to the ascorbic acid (aka vitamin C) found in lemon or lime juice, adding citrus to an opened avocado helps create a barrier against oxygen that reduces oxidation. As the oxygen reacts with the acid in the juice, it slows down the chemical reaction and prevents browning for a few days.
The above words, and more, can be seen in article here

Have you tried any of these methods? Perhaps you have some tips?
Please share your thoughts and any tips in the comments below.

Related Posts
When Is An Avocado Bad, signs that may tell - see post here
Reasons To Love Avocados - see post here
Sail Away on a delicious Avocado Boat - see post here

If you don't like avocados (and not everyone does) how about these avocado substitutes see here

autumn inspired bowl
perhaps there should be an avocado in it too 😉

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

35 comments:

aussie aNNie said...

Love the post, my avocardo's go brown so quick and inside as well so then they are wasted..

Christine said...

Thanks for the tips.

DVArtist said...

Avocados anytime. Thanks for the tips.

Practical Parsimony said...

I suppose using ascorbic acid would do the trick, too.

J.P. Alexander said...

Yo suelo hacer el primero y el ultimo consejo. Te mando un beso

Lorrie said...

My youngest daughter once did a Grade 7 science project on keeping guacamole from going brown (we lived in Ecuador and had our own avocado and lemon trees). The key was grated onion in the guacamole, for just the reason you gave. And it tastes so good, too!

Lee said...

My apologies for being very remiss in commenting of late...for a week or so I was without phone, internet and streaming services.

I'm considering reverting to tom tom drums, smoke signals and carrier pigeons!!

So now I'm catching up reading blogs...I've a lot of running to do! :)

Fun60 said...

Some good advice.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I have used both cling wrap and lemon juice, but I eat my other half the next day, so never have any trouble with mine. Of course, I appreciate the tips, none-the-less.

Elephant's Child said...

Eating it is the very best way I have found to stop them going brown. Lemon juice and keeping the pit in work pretty well too.
I hadn't heard the onion one, and will try it. Thank you.

Margaret D said...

A good read and not fond of them at all.

Valerie-Jael said...

Thanks for the tip! Valerie

eileeninmd said...

Thanks for the tips!
Take care, have a great day!

Tom said...

...something that I never have.

Jeanie said...

I love avocado but the only one of these I knew was lemon (or lime) juice. Thanks for some excellent ideas, especially before they are cut open.

Carla from The River said...

Thank you for the tips.

https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com said...

I've tried most of these methods. Sometimes they seem to work great then other times not.

happyone said...

I don't have this problem - avocados are one of the few foods I just don't like. :)

DeniseinVA said...

I badly needed this, I have just had to throw a couple out. Thanks Jan :)

Kim said...

Super tips! We always have brown avocados and then no one wants to eat them.

William Kendall said...

I have never had them.

DMS said...

I have tried the lemon juice trick- but none of the others. Lemon Juice has worked well for me in the past- but I may try keeping the pit too. :)

Thanks-
Jess

peppylady (Dora) said...

Glass of water sound so easy.
Coffee is on and stay safe

At Home In New Zealand said...

It is avocado season here at the moment, and I had some for my lunch today. We always leave the pit in and then cover it tightly with cling-wrap (it must make contact with the flesh of the avocado). Then pop it into the fridge, where it will last a couple of days (well, it usually gets eaten before then!).

Sami said...

I love avocados. Thanks for the tips, I've only used the cling film one.

Snowbird said...

Great tips, I'll certainly be trying them. Love your autumn inspired bowl.xxx

Yvonne said...

I am an avocado aficionado, but guessing when an avocado is at its perfect stage of ripeness isn't easy for me. Once in a while I'm having to toss one in the garbage.

Luiz Gomes said...

Boa tarde. Obrigado pelas dicas maravilhosas, aqui no meu quintal temos dois tipos de abacateiros.

Christine said...

Jan I thought you would enjoy this very educational article on the evolution of our garden strawberry over the centuries, a story of genetics and chance really. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/big-strawberries-spy-chile-france?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-gastroobscura&utm_content=later-21523223&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio

Lowcarb team member said...

Christine said...
Jan I thought you would enjoy this very educational article on the evolution of our garden strawberry over the centuries, a story of genetics and chance really. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/big-strawberries-spy-chile-france?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-gastroobscura&utm_content=later-21523223&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio

Hello Christine

Many thanks for this interesting link ... appreciated.

All the best Jan

Lee said...

Avocado trees are here in this area where I live...on this mountain...in abundance. Roadside stalls sell them, the local market sells them. This property upon which my rented humble little abode sits boasts about 12 avocado trees....trees that are most generous.

bread&salt said...

Very useful tips! Avacado comes here from the abroad and they are expensive. Thanks for the tips.

Francisco Manuel Carrajola Oliveira said...

Excelentes dicas.
Um abraço e bom fim-de-semana.

Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
Livros-Autografados

David M. Gascoigne, said...

We keep ours in the fridge until the day before we plan to eat them, and that seems to work. We always eat the whole fruit once we open it!

Teresa said...

Me encantan los aguacates, tus consejos son muy buenos. Besos.