Whether or not you’re topping a Spiced Beef Taco Bowl for one, making ready a pared-back Ponzu Salmon Avocado Toast, or mixing a number of slices into your breakfast smoothie, maybe you’ve been left with half an avocado. Now what? There are few issues as disappointing as a ripe avocado turning grey, gummy, or desiccated earlier than you possibly can take pleasure in it. We’ve bought your again: Right here’s the right way to retailer half an avocado, so it’s nonetheless guacamole-ready for lunch tomorrow.
First issues first: Oxygen is the enemy. It’s what’s answerable for all of these brown spots while you go away an avocado out within the open for longer than a couple of minutes. Once you slice an avocado (or an apple, or a potato, or mushrooms, for that matter), you injury the plant cells. Enzymes which can be normally trapped inside these cells will now work together with one another—and the oxygen within the air. They modify colours as a protection mechanism, in keeping with Harold McGee, writer of On Meals and Cooking.
To retailer an avocado successfully, it’s all about minimizing contact with the air. Positive you may buy an avocado saver, which snugly hugs the lower facet of the avocado to keep away from publicity. However you don’t want one. Hold it easy, and do as senior check kitchen editor Shilpa Uskokovic does: “I take away the pit, go away the pores and skin on, after which place it cut-side down on a plate,” she says. “Make certain the lower floor is flush towards a plate or lid to attenuate oxidation.” You can even tightly wrap the avocado half in cling wrap, to the identical impact.
Different enemies of oxidation embrace acid and chilly, writes McGee. These enzymes can’t act as rapidly in an acidic surroundings, and cooler temperatures additionally decelerate their exercise. To place this into follow, spritz some lemon or lime over the lower facet of the avocado half, and retailer it within the fridge.
A phrase of warning: It doesn’t matter what TikTok tells you, skip storing lower avocado submerged in water. In accordance with the FDA, the skins of avocado comprise micro organism that may multiply quickly and unfold to the flesh of the fruit while you maintain the entire thing in a moist surroundings.
It doesn’t matter what you do, although, you possibly can’t stave off the inevitable. Whereas these strategies might assist stop mushiness and browning for a pair days, any longer and also you’ll be again into zombie avocado territory, so use it up as quickly as potential. Make recipes like this All A’s Spring Salad With Mahi Mahi, or this Melon and Avocado Crudo whereas your avocados are nonetheless in pristine situation.
When you’ve waited too lengthy—it occurs—a non-optimal avocado continues to be completely edible. Put it towards a recipe the place its appears to be like are cleverly camouflaged. Strive mashing into kale for Smoky Rooster and Avocado Kale Salad, blitzed into an Avocado Smoothie, or smooshed on toast.
Holy guacamole
