The Secret to Keeping an Avocado Green
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
I think most people would agree that avocados are great – they’re creamy, delicious, great on sandwiches, in guacamole and full of healthy fats. The one thing that no one likes about them, however, is that they quickly turn an icky brown color after you cut them open. I’m a visual person and I like my food to look good so this really doesn’t make me happy.
I’ve tried lemon juice, leaving the pit in, and covering them with plastic wrap but I still end up with at least some spots of brown. Recently I read a blurb in a magazine about submerging a cut avocado in water to keep it from turning brown. I promptly forgot about it, but the next time I had an avocado half leftover it suddenly popped into my head.
Could that possibly work? I put 2 avocado halves in a bowl of water, placed it in the fridge and came back 8 hours later. Do you know what I found? The avocado at the top of this post! I pulled it out of the fridge (looking perfectly green as if I just cut into it) and took a picture of it. Then I put it back in the fridge and 36 hours later it just barely had a tinge of brown.
The only issue with this method is the avocado becomes wet. If you leave the peel on, only the exposed part is wet and that doesn’t really matter for guacamole, other dips, smoothies, etc. For sandwiches or other recipes where you’d want a dry avocado, I think you could just wipe it off with a paper towel and it would probably be fine.
Do you have any special tricks for keeping an avocado green?
No. 1 — June 1st, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Thank you. I’ve thrown away so many because of the icky brown color. This helps big time.
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No. 2 — June 1st, 2011 at 1:32 pm
What?! That’s awesome! Thanks for the tip! I’m certainly going to try this! I hate eating brown avocado.
Molly @ Toffee Bits and Chocolate Chips recently posted Ridiculous Job that I Would Totally Take if I Had the Experience-Balls
No. 3 — June 1st, 2011 at 1:52 pm
I read this tip in a magazine recently. I haven’t tried it yet though – glad to know it works!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts recently posted Oreo Muffins
No. 4 — June 1st, 2011 at 2:06 pm
I heard that recently too! I normally just eat the whole damn avocado though. SO good.
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No. 5 — June 1st, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Good to know! Will definitely try this method next time I have an avocado : )
No. 6 — June 2nd, 2011 at 4:36 am
Thanks for sharing the secret tip!
Angie@Angiesrecipes recently posted Red Wine Spinach and Spinach Prosciutto Pizza
No. 7 — June 2nd, 2011 at 5:42 am
I have always wondered how to keep a avocado green. Now I know! Thanks!
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No. 8 — June 2nd, 2011 at 11:46 am
Wow go figure! Thanks for sharing that tip!
Elyse @The Cultural Dish recently posted Fresh Blueberry Pie!
No. 9 — June 2nd, 2011 at 12:15 pm
That is great tip Stephanie. I love Avocado. Thanks for sharing.
No. 10 — June 2nd, 2011 at 2:25 pm
This works: http://americastestkitchen.tumblr.com/post/4216328599
No. 11 — June 3rd, 2011 at 12:06 pm
@Nika – thanks! I’ve never tried using olive oil on cut avocados before.
No. 12 — June 3rd, 2011 at 12:06 pm
@sensiblecooking – you’re welcome!
No. 13 — June 3rd, 2011 at 12:07 pm
@Elyse – no problem! Hope it works as well for you.
No. 14 — June 3rd, 2011 at 12:07 pm
@Annie – me too! I was so happy to find this tip.
No. 15 — June 3rd, 2011 at 12:07 pm
@Angie – you’re welcome!
No. 16 — June 3rd, 2011 at 12:07 pm
@Lyndsey – great! Enjoy
No. 17 — June 3rd, 2011 at 12:08 pm
@Leanna – we must have read the same magazine (was it Bon Appetit?). I know what you mean about eating the whole thing though – avocados are dangerous like that!
No. 18 — June 3rd, 2011 at 12:09 pm
@Erin – Leanna above said the same thing – we must read the same magazines. Give it a try next time you have an avocado!
No. 19 — June 3rd, 2011 at 12:09 pm
@Molly – isn’t that great?! I’m happy to share this tip and prevent brown avocados everywhere.
No. 20 — June 3rd, 2011 at 12:10 pm
@Sandra – you’re welcome! I was so happy to discover this works and glad to share it with others.
No. 21 — June 6th, 2011 at 6:53 am
I think avocados are small for a reason, you can eat one in one sitting. We were having this discussion last night, my daughter’s fiance makes a wonderful guacamole and it just doesn’t keep well because he uses so many avocados so we have to eat it all at one sitting.
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No. 22 — June 6th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
@Medifast Coupon – that’s true, you can sometimes eat avocados in one sitting. I get really big ones sometimes (maybe because I’m in California) and I can only manage 1/2 of those at a time. Having too much guacamole is a fun problem to have!
No. 23 — June 10th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Great tip! Thanks
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No. 24 — June 10th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
@Shelly – you’re very welcome!
No. 25 — June 29th, 2011 at 12:44 am
This is awesome..fantastic tip. Now the question..How do you keep guacamole green so it cane be made ahead of time, and remain green afterward?
No. 26 — August 30th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
I just was put on a low sodium diet and was wondering how to keep the avocadoes from turning brown before i use them thanks so much for the advice
No. 27 — October 26th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
If you leave the pit in the half you are not using it will keep it fresh. You can also drop the pit into the bowl of guac and it will help keep it fresh too.
No. 28 — November 21st, 2011 at 6:20 am
thank you for sharing this lovely idea.
No. 29 — January 19th, 2012 at 7:26 am
Thanks for the tip. I’ll be trying it out tonight when I make nachos!
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No. 30 — January 20th, 2012 at 8:04 am
@Jessica – hope it worked for you!
No. 31 — February 20th, 2012 at 8:00 pm
I purchased a pint of guacamole and it stayed fresh and green in the fridge for close to a week. There must be an ingredient that when added, it keep it fresh longer. So what is it?
No. 32 — February 20th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
@Chuck – citric acid can also help keep them green
No. 33 — January 24th, 2013 at 9:39 pm
[...] will keep it fresh and prevent it from browning, but unfortunately it’s just that — a myth. One effective trick is to place the halves in a bowl of water with the peel still on. Unless you’re making guacamole [...]
No. 34 — January 27th, 2013 at 7:10 pm
[...] will keep it fresh and prevent it from browning, but unfortunately it’s just that — a myth. One effective trick is to place the halves in a bowl of water with the peel still on. Unless you’re making guacamole [...]