Avocado is a fruit that has earned a place in our kitchen. Its great versatility and creamy texture have made us eat it alone, incorporate it into salads and even add it to our desserts. This fruit is here to stay. The problem is that once opened it doesn’t last long and turns black right away. Traditional tricks, such as plastic wrap or lemon juice, can work, although they do not guarantee that our avocado will stay as good as the first day.
For this there is an infallible remedy that will keep our avocado fresher for longer. We will only need olive oil. Always versatile, liquid gold has traditionally been used as a preservative. It is a natural preservative that acts in a similar way to, for example, honey. Prevents food spoilage by isolating it from the outside. Due to its density, it seals our food and keeps it out of air attacks. In the case of avocado, it prevents oxidation very effectively.
To preserve avocado in olive oil you just have to spread this fruit with the oil. Apply it generously and leave the avocado on a plate so it doesn’t drip. If you don’t want the refrigerator flavor to stick to it, also wrap it with plastic wrap. This will allow your avocado to last longer than the first day.
Why does avocado turn black?
After hours of opening, the avocado undergoes an oxidation process similar to that of the apple. Although avocado is made up mostly of vegetable fats, it also has phenolic groups – also called vegetable alcohols -. These are released when the fruit splits in two and comes into contact with oxygen.
Precisely this oxidation process, although it makes the fruit take on an unappetizing appearance, protects the properties of the avocado from external elements. The protection provided by phenols when oxidized transforms them into quinones, with bactericidal action, which prevents the avocado from rotting.
How to find a good avocado
Preventing your avocado from going bad is something you can do before it arrives at your house. When you buy avocado, there are signs that the avocado is ripe, hard, or soggy. An avocado at its ripening point will last longer open, and you will be able to enjoy it more when eating it.
- Do not handle them: we recommend that you avoid touching them too much. It is a delicate fruit that spoils easily, so if you touch it too much it can become soft. It is true that logic tells us that fruit and vegetables should be touched to check their state of ripeness, but it is not ideal in the case of avocado. If you still prefer to check the condition of the avocado by touch, pay attention to how the skin reacts when you squeeze very gently. If it gives a little, it is ripe; If nothing gives in, it takes time.
- The color of the stem: the key to checking how ripe an avocado is lies in the stem. You will see that the avocado has a small tail. It can be easily removed by pushing it with your finger. The key is in the color of the avocado under the stem. If the stem comes out easily and the color under the twig is yellowish, we have an avocado in a perfectly ripe state. If the color is dark, the avocado will be stale, so you should avoid buying it.
What to do with black avocado
Let’s say these tips come to you late and your avocado has already turned dark. If this is the case, you don’t have to throw it away. Keep in mind that the flavor, texture and properties will have changed, but it will still be suitable for consumption. If the avocado gives off a strong odor, grows moldy, or you are suspicious that it may be in good condition, throw it away immediately.
If it is just oxidized, but you don’t want to eat it as is, you can always add it to your creams or desserts:
- Avocado smoothie: clean an avocado, a banana and three handfuls of dates and blend them with one and a half glasses of cold milk. You will have a nutritious and delicious smoothie in minutes. The banana will add flavor to the mixture.
- Yogurt and avocado: If you want a quick snack you can always mash your avocado with a fork, and mix with sweetened yogurt and a little honey. You will barely notice the avocado in the mixture, and it will be like enjoying normal yogurt but much more nutritious.
How to preserve avocados
When we see an avocado, we instinctively think about putting them in the refrigerator. The same happens with other equally delicate fruits, such as grapes, cherries or strawberries. This keeps them as the day we bought them.
However, if our avocado is hard, leaving it out is the best option. Outside they will finish ripening, and we will be protecting the fruit. If you want to speed up the process, the rest of the fruits you have at home can be your best allies. Bananas or apples release ethylene, a key compound in fruit ripening. This gas is very present in apples and bananas, so if you store the avocado next to these two fruits you will be able to speed up the ripening process. If you want the process to be even more efficient, wrap the fruit in newspaper.
If, on the other hand, you do not want your avocado to ripen, pay attention to where you put them in your refrigerator and avoid them getting together or sharing a drawer with fruits that release ethylene.
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