Nothing is better than biting into a ripe avocado mashed into toast for breakfast, but if you only want a slice of one, then the cut half can easily become spoiled after only a few hours.
Avocado halves often become brown when the flesh is exposed to air in a process called oxidation, which is when the enzymes in certain fruits react to oxygen.
Many people believe the solution to cut down on food waste is to store avocado slices in water, but not only does this not work but it is dangerous as it causes harmful bacteria to grow in the fruit.
Instead, Caroline Kaufman, a dietitian nutritionist has shared that the best and most natural way to store avocado slices is not in water but with a splash of lemon juice.
Caroline said: “Sprinkle cut, ripe avocados with lemon or lime juice, place in an air-tight container or cover with clear plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to a day.”
Lemon juice is acidic and contains ascorbic acid (also known as vitamin C), which slows down the enzymes responsible for spoilage and browning.
It creates a thin layer over the avocado flesh which acts as a protective barrier to stop the fruit from being exposed to air.
Simply drizzle the lemon juice onto the avocado slice, wrap it up in cling wrap and store in a lidded container in the fridge.
This will help keep your avocado slice fresher for much longer and is much safer than submerging it in water.
However, if you want to keep whole avocados fresh, first store any hard and unripened ones at room temperature.
The best way to stop avocados from spoiling is to keep them in cold temperatures, but this completely stops the ripening process, which means your avocado will not have any flavour.
Caroline said: “Avocados won’t ripen in the cold, so leave the hard ones at room temperature for four to five days.”
If you wish to ripen avocados quickly, then there is a simple paper bag trick which will get them green and soft in just one day.
Once the avocado is soft and ripe, wrap it in clingfilm or tin foil and store it in the fridge until you want to use it.
Your avocados will not only stay fresh for much longer but will be bursting with flavour, so you can enjoy a delicious breakfast without worrying about wasting food.
