How Long Are Avocados Good For (And Why)?

How Long Are Avocados Good For (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 3 – 7 days

Avocado, sometimes known as alligator pear, is the fruit of the Lauraceae tree Persea Americana, which is endemic to the Western Hemisphere from Mexico to the Andes. Avocados have a buttery texture and a deep, nutty flavor, with greenish or yellowish flesh.

They’re are commonly used in salads, and they’re also served as a dessert in many areas of the world. Guacamole, a traditional Mexican salsa, is made using mashed avocado as the main component. Avocados are high in thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin A, while the flesh of certain types contains up to 25% unsaturated oil.

How Long Are Avocados Good For

How Long Are Avocados Good For?

Conditions of avocadosRefrigerator
Ripe or cut avocados4 days
Whole avocado1 week

When it comes to distinguishing a ripe avocado, the sense of touch is key. A mature avocado will gently dent inwards without being crushed when squeezed. One that is overripe will be smashed. The hue of an avocado’s skin is another method to detect if it’s ripe. The skin turns from brilliant green to dark green as it ripens, and when fully ripe, it takes on a brownish color.

These two criteria must be considered to properly extend the shelf life of an avocado:

  • The avocado’s state before preservation, which can range from raw, whole avocado to ripe, whole avocado to ripe, chopped avocado to mashed avocado to raw, sliced avocado.
  • The place for storing items.

If you have already purchased ripe avocados but do not intend to consume them right away, the best choice is to store them intact in the refrigerator. Due to the low temperatures, this will slow down the ripening process.

Raw avocados should not be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, as this will hinder their normal development and maturity. This also prevents the development of natural flavors. It’s best to put whole, raw avocados out in the open or in the pantry to allow the natural ripening process to take place.

Place raw uncut avocados in a brown paper or cloth bag with an apple or a banana to ripen quicker. These three fruits are known for generating the hormone ethylene, which causes them to ripen organically.

The best approach to keep a sliced, ripe avocado from ripening anymore and extend its shelf life is to keep it refrigerated. To keep the avocado from turning black, cover it with an acid like lemon or lime juice and wrap it in the paper.

Check the look of your avocados if you’re unclear how long they’ve been stored. It’s tough to determine if an avocado has gone rotten just by inspecting its peel. This is because it retains the same dark hue as when fully ripe.

If mold is forming beneath the stem’s bottom, if the flesh begins to split, darkens, and finally becomes black and stringy, and if the stem has developed rancidity or a sour odor. As a result, before this happens to your avocado, you should toss it out to avoid infection or food poisoning.

Why Avocados Are Good For So Long?

Avocados do not have an ideal use or sale date, so their shelf life depends mainly on how they are processed. Avocados last a long time because they are stored in the refrigerator, which considerably delays any further ripening or deterioration.

Brushing the flesh of an unripe avocado with just a little citrus juice, lemon zest, or oil to prevent browning is the best way to extend its shelf life. Cover with plastic wrap or put it in a plastic container or plastic zipper bag to keep it airtight. This will prevent any additional oxygen or moisture from accelerating the decay process.

Conclusion

Avocado is a delicate fruit. Avocados’ shelf life is determined by how they are kept. Refrigeration is a powerful tool for preserving quality. Avocados are well known for their monounsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial for the heart, but their oil hydrates and toughens skin cells as well.

References

  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814610004127
  2. https://academic.oup.com/jxb/article-abstract/51/349/1471/509409
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