avocado101

As with all fruits and vegetables, wash avocados before cutting. Check out our tips for how to choose and use California Avocados

Today we’re sharing a few tips to help keep your avocados fresher longer.

First, let’s talk about why you often find your avocados browning soon after cutting them. Avocados brown once the cut surface is exposed to air due to a reaction with oxygen, also called “oxidation.” There are several things we can do to mitigate this natural process.

Preventing Oxidation in Avocados

The first tip is to squeeze lemon juice on the exposed surface of the avocado. Citric acid keeps fruit from browning because it is full of ascorbic acid. The oxygen reacts with the ascorbic acid before the avocado itself. Citrus juice is also a natural preservative!

The next tip is to store the cut avocado in clean water. This will help keep it from oxidizing and the avocado will not absorb the water. 

Finally, storing the avocado cut side facing down against a flat surface will help the oxygen from getting to the surface of the fruit

Now let’s talk about how to store prepared avocados, like those found in guacamole. You might have heard that storing the seed in the guacamole may keep it from browning. There’s actually no magical property in the avocado seed that will keep guacamole from browning. The only way to preserve it is to keep oxygen from making contact with the surface of the guac. You can do this by pressing a piece of plastic wrap directly against the guacamole and storing it in the fridge. If some browning occurs, just scrape off the top layer to reveal that fresh and vibrant avocado green color underneath! 

More tips on How to Choose and Use Avocados

Be sure to look for California Avocados at your local supermarket especially during their peak season in the spring and summer months, and always keep an eye out for the iconic California Avocado label.

Dzung Duong

Honeysuckle is a food and lifestyle channel hosted by Dzung Duong whose dedication to simplifying gourmet recipes, lifestyle design, and responsible beauty has allowed her to grow into a YouTube sensation. Dzung has been cooking since she was 8 years-old, when her grandmother taught her authentic Vietnamese recipes with a twist. Her exceptional content, produced with a playful edge, has made her channel a destination with a full video production business, which she runs with her business partner husband. Her most viral videos include 25 epic toast ideas, the 45-second breakfast sandwich, and decadent Nutella filled cookies. Her mission is: to “inspire young women across the globe to use food and lifestyle choices to develop creativity, self-confidence and community in everyday life.” She and her husband live in Los Angeles with their 1 year old daughter, Erisy, and border collie.

Dzung is a brand advocate. Their content on the California Avocado Commission website and/or blog is part of their partnership with our organization.

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