Avocados are a highly popular food, and many people buy them, but then feel unsure about how to store them. If you’ve got yours waiting in your fridge, you may be wondering how long they are likely to last.
How long do avocados last in the fridge? Avocados will usually last for about three or four days in the fridge. If you buy unripe avocados, they could keep for up to two weeks, although they will go off much faster if they are peeled or sliced. Leave your avocados whole while storing them.
The answer to this question also depends a little on how ripe the avocado is at the time of purchase.
Should You Keep Avocados in the Fridge?
Yes, you should keep avocados in the fridge if you want to decrease the speed with which they ripen. Ripe avocados will quickly become overripe, so put them in the fridge promptly unless you want to eat them in the next few days.
You should put avocados near the top of your fridge or in the door, because these areas are slightly warmer. This will reduce the risk of your avocado getting a chilling injury, which can sometimes happen if the fruit is exposed to extreme cold. Don’t put it by the icebox or right at the bottom, where the air is coldest.
You don’t have to store avocados in the fridge, but you should do so if you want to keep them from ripening too quickly. The riper they are, the sooner they will go off, even if you put them in the fridge. It will slow down the process but will not stop it entirely.
Note that many people put almost ripe avocados on the counter and let them ripen at room temperature for the last couple of days before eating them.
How Long Will Avocados Last on the Counter?
If you would rather keep avocados at room temperature, they should last for a day or two if they are already ripe, or about five or six days if they are hard and unripe when purchased. You can keep them at room temperature or in a cool cupboard, but don’t put them somewhere they will get hot.
When you purchase avocados, check how ripe they are by gently squeezing them. Avocados that are hard are not yet ripe, and will keep much better, but cannot be eaten quickly. Avocados that are soft should be ready to eat, or almost ready to eat, but they won’t keep well.
Pick which suits you best or purchase a mixture so you can eat them as they ripen. However, be aware that avocados that are very unripe when purchased may not taste as good as those that are riper when picked and shipped.
You can speed up avocado ripening times by storing your avocados near either apples or bananas. These release ethylene gas, which promotes ripening in fruits and vegetables. If you don’t want your avocados to ripen quickly, try to store them far from these fruits.
How Should You Store Sliced Avocados?
Avocados last much better when they are not cut up and will quickly turn brown and unpleasant once they have been cut open. Sliced avocados must be put in an airtight container and stored in the fridge. They should last for up to four days if they are kept cold and were fresh when cut.
The best way to minimize browning is to reduce the amount of oxygen that touches the avocado, and to squeeze a little lemon juice on the slices. This shouldn’t notably alter the flavor but will slow the oxidization process.
Some people also wrap their avocado slices in plastic wrap before putting them in an airtight container, and this should further reduce the airflow, making the avocados last longer. Although these tricks help, it’s a better idea to leave avocados whole until you are ready to consume them.
Should You Leave the Avocado Pit In?
If you have sliced your avocado in half and eaten half, it’s reasonably helpful to leave the pit in the other half. It won’t slow down the oxidization process of the exposed flesh, but it will reduce how much surface area is in contact with the air.
The avocado that is behind the pit will not turn brown, because it isn’t being exposed to the air. Therefore, leaving the pit in place may help your avocado to last a little better, although it’s unlikely to make a significant difference overall.
Is it Okay to Freeze Avocados?
Freezing avocados will work reasonably well, although it may have a negative impact on the texture. If you wish to do so, peel them first so that the flesh can expand as it freezes. Some people slice avocados into quarters and remove the pit before freezing.
You may also want to squeeze lemon juice across the slices before freezing them. To make sure you can get pieces out separately, freeze them on a tray first for a couple of hours, and then tip them into an airtight container or sealer bag for extended storage.
You can thaw the avocado pieces in the fridge or on the counter but be prepared for them to be noticeably softer than fresh avocados.
How Do You Know If an Avocado Has Gone Bad?
An avocado that has gone bad will often develop a slimy texture and turn very mushy. Avocado slices may develop spots of mold or darker areas of flesh. You may find that a spoiled avocado smells sour or vinegary, and unappetizing.
Don’t try to eat an avocado that shows any of these signs. It may contain dangerous bacteria, and it will not have a pleasant flavor or texture. Once the avocado has gone off, it should be composted or thrown away.
Final Thoughts
Depending on their ripeness, avocados can last between four days and two weeks in the fridge. You can put them on the counter to increase the speed with which they ripen or store them in the fridge to slow it down. Don’t eat avocados that have become overly ripe and mushy.