How much and how to store avocados at home, the best ways
Avocado is an exotic fruit long loved by many people. It makes excellent salads and desserts. Many people worry about how to keep an avocado at home.
Features of avocado storage
This healthy fruit can be stored at home for up to 5-6 months. The main thing is to choose the right method and follow the rules of successful storage. Factors such as:
- Lighting.
- Neighborhood.
- Temperature.
But not all copies are suitable for storage either. Lazy and sick fruits will not last long, so you need to take this procedure seriously if you want to use the product for culinary purposes in the future.
Optimal storage conditions and periods
It is very important to maintain a constant temperature, humidity and lighting. Under normal conditions, avocados will keep for up to 2 weeks in the same way as in the refrigerator and in the freezer this period is 8 weeks.Excessive moisture can lead to fruit rot and the formation of mold and other diseases. The same goes for lighting. The temperature is kept below zero.
Ripe
Once the plant is mature, it almost immediately begins to deteriorate. It is therefore necessary to provide it in a short time with the conditions for successful storage. First of all, low temperatures are the main factor in slowing down the process of fruit spoilage. Buy avocados the same day they use them. Store the plant in the refrigerator, in the vegetable drawer. There the temperature reaches about 6-8 degrees.
Before that, it is neatly and efficiently wrapped in plastic wrap. This is done so that the air does not interact with the environment in which the avocado is stored.
In order for the fruit to stop ripening, it must be protected from "neighbors" such as apples, pears, plums, peaches and similar fruits and vegetables. By following the recommendations, it is possible to preserve the exoticism for a week.
Without freezing, the fruit will deteriorate on the second day.
Maturity
With good lighting, fruits will ripen quickly, which means they will spoil just as quickly. Oxygen protection slows this process. If, nevertheless, the fruit is ripe, then it is placed in freezers.
Ways to store ripe fruit at home
There are many ways to preserve the exotic right now. But they choose it based on the later use and the stringency of the delay.
Cut
There are dishes that do not require storing the plant as a whole, which means that there are ways to save space and arrange the product on different shelves. After fruit pruning, oxidation occurs and the flesh darkens. To avoid this, wipe the cut avocado with lemon juice, which slows down this process. The natural color is also preserved.
Onion substrate
A good way is also storage with onions, which slows down oxidation processes. It is suitable because the fruit does not absorb its smell and keeps well in the refrigerator. Usually the onion is placed at the bottom of the avocado container.
Lemon juice
After the avocado is cut, it is rubbed with lemon juice, which prevents the product from rapidly deteriorating. In this way, the fruits will stop darkening and can stay longer in the refrigerator.
Olive oil
Sometimes olive oil is used, which also protects the avocado from the air with a thin film. This method will help preserve the avocado for a maximum of 2-3 days.
Vacuum bags
You can pack the avocado in a vacuum bag or container to protect it from oxygen. Before closing such a bag, air is squeezed out of it and tightly tied or twisted.
Cold water
In another case, the avocado is placed in a container of water and sent to the refrigerator. But there are also disadvantages to this method. The product becomes soft and loses its taste and aroma. But the pulp does not darken.
In the freezer
In the freezer, the avocado will be influenced by the lower temperatures. Freeze it immediately after purchase. But it is not kept fresh there. The fruit is either diced or mashed. A frozen specimen does not retain its shape, so the second method is the most suitable.
This puree is ideal for sauces, salad dressings, smoothies and other similar products.
First, it is washed, peeled and cut into small cubes. Then they are made into mashed potatoes with a blender or other device. In order for such a product to be stored longer, lemon juice is added to it. Then the mash is put in a container, tightly closed and wrapped, then sent to the freezer.
In the fridge
Ripe avocados are stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days, after which they begin to deteriorate. For storage in the refrigerator, vacuum bags or bags with locks are used. Store in special compartments for fruits and vegetables. Then the shelf life will be 6-7 days.
How to choose the right one
Before buying, pay attention to the following points.
Skin color
If dark spots appear on the peel, it means that the fruit is already spoiling and should be processed as soon as possible. It also crumbles and does not hold the fruit well, which is why it begins to rot.
A green skin indicates that the avocado is not ripe and can stay a little longer. If the fruit turns yellow, it means that it has ripened and is beginning to deteriorate, so it should be eaten.
If the shade is close to brown, it is used immediately after purchase.
Fetal hardness
If the fruit is too hard, it means it is still ripening. When the skin becomes softer, the fruit is ripe. If the pulp turns into mashed potatoes, this indicates that the avocado is overripe.
Peduncle
The stem should be healthy, not dry and hold the fruit well. If it is sluggish and has changed color, this indicates that the avocado is ripe and ready to eat as soon as possible.
BONE
Make sure that there are no manifestations of fungal infections and mold on the bone. Such signs indicate that the fruit stood in a damp place for a long time and began to deteriorate. The main thing is that there is no yellow color under the handle. Then the choice will be correct.
How to help mature
Many people want to speed up the ripening process of avocados, especially when unripe fruit is picked. There are special methods for this.
Heating in the oven
An increase in temperature and interaction with warm air will trigger these processes. This method does not take much time and effort. First, the avocado is pierced in several places with a fork, then put in the oven. Let stand for half a minute or one minute, depending on the hardness of the avocado.
Using the microwave
The avocado is washed, dried, pierced in several places with a fork and placed in the microwave. The fruit is left there for 30 seconds. Check if the fruit has become soft. If the same solid remains, the procedure is repeated again.
In a paper bag
You can wrap the avocado in a paper bag. This will speed up the ripening processes. The main thing is to keep the air inside. They also put apples and tomatoes in the bag, which will stimulate the ripening of the avocado. These fruits and vegetables produce ethylene, which helps them ripen. This gas is also found in other fruits and vegetables. It is important not to overdo it over time, otherwise the product will quickly deteriorate.
In the newspaper
This method is similar to the previous one. But here the newspaper is wrapped around the fruit. Wrap carefully and let rest. At the same time, the air temperature is maintained at about 18-24 degrees, no more. Due to the interaction with air and ethylene, the avocado will ripen faster.
Foil
The fruit is wrapped in foil and left to stand for some time. After checking the hardness. If the skin and pulp have become softer, the avocado is immediately eaten or used for culinary purposes.
With boiling water
This method is the most popular and does not require additional resources. Only green avocados can be put in boiling water, as black ones become bitter. Boil water, then let it cool to 75 degrees. Peel the avocado and cut it in half. The bones are removed and the pulp is cut into small bars. The product is spread on several layers of gauze and immersed in water. Keep the sliced avocado in it for 2-3 minutes. Then they remove and wring out the excess water in which the gauze has soaked.
To soften the avocado, add honey if desired.
Signs of fruit spoilage
The fruit becomes too soft, the skin darkens, and dots or spots may appear on it. Also, under the petiole, the pulp turns yellow. This means that the fruit becomes unusable. You should therefore keep track of the time and the amount of fruit already stored so that you do not have to throw away the avocado afterwards.
Common Mistakes
Do not leave avocados in the sun or indoors at all. The fruit will lie down for a day and begin to deteriorate. It is worth placing the avocado in the refrigerator or freezer to prevent it from spoiling. You should not take overripe fruits, they will not last long.
Additional tips and tricks
Green avocados are also best suited for storage, which will sing slowly and can still be eaten fresh. Do not pour boiling water over the fruit all at once, otherwise it may cook.