Unripe Avocados Should Stay at Room Temperature Hard avocados need time to ripen. Keep them on the counter at room temperature to soften naturally. Storing them in the fridge too soon will slow or halt the ripening process.
Speed Up Ripening with a Paper Bag If you need your avocado to ripen faster, place it in a paper bag with a banana or apple. These fruits release ethylene gas, which accelerates the ripening process.
Ripe Avocados Last Longer in the Fridge Once your avocado is perfectly ripe (soft but not mushy), transfer it to the refrigerator. This slows down ripening and helps maintain freshness for up to a week.
Cut Avocados Need Extra Protection If you’ve sliced an avocado, prevent browning by brushing the exposed flesh with lemon or lime juice. Store it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap before refrigerating.
Keeping the Pit Helps Reduce Browning Leaving the pit in a halved avocado can slow oxidation. While this won’t completely stop browning, it helps preserve the exposed area underneath the pit for a little longer.
Freezing Works for Mashed Avocados If you want to store avocados long-term, mash them with a little lemon juice and freeze in an airtight container or ice cube trays. Whole and sliced avocados don’t freeze well due to texture changes.