Stop Letting Your Avocados Turn Mushy and Brown—Here’s How an Avocado Grower Says to Store Them
Air is not your friend.
I buy avocados sparingly because they’re expensive and finicky. They’re either too ripe or not ripe enough, and if I let them sit for just a smidge too long, suddenly they’re too mushy to eat. But every so often, I get an avocado that’s creamy, buttery, soft and firm enough to hold its shape—and just like that, my love affair starts again. It’s a vicious, delicious cycle.
While choosing an avocado at its ideal ripeness is its own beast, storage is another issue altogether. To learn the best method for saving avocados once they’re ripe or after they’ve been cut open, I reached out to an avocado grower and member of the California Avocado Commission, Maureen Cottingham. She recommends keeping firm avocados on the counter and out of direct sunlight, so they can ripen naturally. While this process takes about two to five days, depending on how firm they are when purchased, she says you can also place them in a paper bag with a banana, apple or kiwi to hasten things along. Once ripe, Cottingham suggests moving them to your refrigerator.
As for storing a halved avocado, Cottingham says, “the biggest challenge is keeping the exposed flesh from turning brown or oxidizing, which happens when the fruit is exposed to air.” Her fix? Leave the pit in place, brush the cut surface with lime or lemon juice and seal the whole thing tightly with plastic wrap.
With these tips and tricks in mind, I scoured Amazon to find the best avocado storage tools, including Bee’s Wrap wrapsan Emile Henry fruit bowland Soopleu avocado savers. I even found a clever PrepWorks container to prolong the life of my guacamole.
Best Avocado Storage Tools
- 7uyuu Fruit Bowl$19 (was $28)
- Emile Henry Large Fruit Storage Pantry Bowl$183 (was $200)
- Soopleu Avocado Saver, Set of 4$13 (was $14)
- Bee’s Wrap Beeswax Wraps for Food, Set of 3$19 (was $20)
- PrepWorks ProKeeper Fresh Guacamole Container$17
7uyuu Fruit Bowl
$28
Since Cottingham suggests keeping avocados on the counter while they ripen, you’ll need a stylish yet functional fruit bowl to store them in. Now $19, this chic wire basket can be used for avocados, bananas and more.
Emile Henry Large Fruit Storage Pantry Bowl
$200
I’ve owned this Emile Henry bowl for years, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any friend or family member. While larger and more expensive than the aforementioned option, I love that it has two levels. The lid is a great place to store avocados, bananas and lemons, while the interior compartment is ideal for garlic, onions or potatoes. The cork top is another bonus, as it supposedly repels fruit flies.
Soopleu Avocado Saver, Set of 4
$14
“The key to storing avocados is limiting air exposure, since oxygen is what causes the fruit to brown,” said Cottingham. Given this, it’s a no-brainer to grab this silicone food hugger set. With shapes to accommodate avocados, tomatoes, onions and citrus fruit, this 4-pack is absolutely worth the money. One Amazon shopper was “amazed” by how well this avocado saver worked, writing that it “genuinely prevents them from getting brown.” Of course, the avocado should still be refrigerated after covering to further slow oxidation.
Bee’s Wrap Beeswax Wraps for Food, Set of 3
$20
While Cottingham suggested plastic wrap as a way to keep halved avocados from going bad, Bee’s Wrap Beeswax Wraps are more economical. The cotton fabric is infused with beeswax, plant oil and tree resin to create a cover that’s flexible, washable and reusable for up to a year. Simply wrap one of the sheets tightly around your avocado half, making sure to press it directly against the surface of the fruit, before storing it in the refrigerator.
PrepWorks ProKeeper Fresh Guacamole Container
This genius PrepWorks container preserves guacamole for “at least one week,” according to one Amazon shopper. It’s so successful at keeping this temperamental dip from turning brown because the lid sits flush against your guacamole, not above it. Simply push down on the top to create the tightest seal possible.
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