California Avocados are a staple ingredient in so many delicious recipes from savory to sweet where bountiful flavor and nutrition pair perfectly! They’re so easy to add into a variety of meals from dips, salads, smoothies and so much more, I often buy a few avocados at a time and store them in the kitchen using different techniques depending on their ripeness.

In this video and outlined below, we’re going to go through the different stages of avocado ripeness and how to properly store whole and cut California Avocados, so that you can always enjoy them at their peak ripeness!

See below for the easy steps that will ensure you’re getting the most out of your avocados, prepping them for optimal ripeness and beyond!

avocados in various ripeness stages

How do I store firm ripe avocados?

  • When you gently squeeze firm ripe avocados, they will be slightly more firm – soft but not as tender as a ripe avocado
  • Firm ripe is perfect for slicing and will be fully ripe the next day if left out on your countertop at room temperature
  • If you want to use avocados for slicing and dicing, this is a good time to refrigerate the other firm-ripe avocados so you can enjoy them longer. By popping them into the refrigerator for up to one week, it will help to keep them fresh and to not ripen as quickly

How do I store ripe avocados? 

  • For ripe avocados, when you gently squeeze the fruit in the palm of your hand, the avocado is not hard at all; instead it gives off a little bounce back and easily yields to the gentle pressure
  • The peel is a slightly darker green than other less ripe avocados
  • Ripe avocados are good for all uses and will remain perfectly ripe when kept at room temperature for 2-3 days and can be stored in the fridge for up to one week

How do I store “nearly there” avocados? 

  • For the avocados that need a few extra days, simply place them on your countertop to ripen.
  • Check the firmness daily to tell if it’s ready to go
  • Usually these avocados will have a soft-firm texture within 3 days when held at room temperature, but can be eaten by the second day
  • Help them to not ripen too quickly by keeping these avocados away from fruits that speed up the ripening process, like apples, bananas and kiwis. If you do want to speed up the ripening process, then put them in a closed bag with any of those other fruits
storing avocados with lemon and cling wrap

How do I store cut avocados?

  • If you’ve already cut into your avocado and it is not yet ready, simply put the two halves back together and seal with plastic wrap or reusable wrap
  • If you cut into the avocado and it’s ready to go, then double proof to prevent browning from oxidation
  • Keep oxygen at bay by squeezing with lemon juice and wrap the avocado fruit with plastic wrap or reusable wrap, make sure there is no air trapped, and pop in the fridge

A friendly tip, be careful to not poke the fruit or squeeze too hard because that can bruise the fruit!

Marie Reginato

Marie Reginato is a two-time cookbook author, cooking video host, chef and wellness expert named MindBodyGreen’s ‘Best New Health Food Account’.

With a refreshing approach to healthy cooking, Marie has grown her social media presence to over 65,000 sharing her daily cooking expertise through droll worthy food cooking videos and vibrant photography.

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