Shelf Life Tips
- How long do avocados last? The precise answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - after purchasing, keep avocados in a dry area.
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Properly stored, avocados will become fully ripe in about 4 to 7 days at normal room temperature.
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How can you make avocados ripen faster? To hasten ripening, put avocados in a brown paper bag, close it and leave on the counter; to ripen them even faster, add an apple to the bag.
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Do not refrigerate avocados until they are fully ripe - allowing to ripen at room temperature will result in more flavorful avocados.
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To extend the shelf life of fully ripe avocados, place in a plastic bag and refrigerate; for best results, bring the avocados back to room temperature before using.
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How long do avocados last in the refrigerator? Fully ripe avocados will last for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge.
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Can you freeze avocados? Yes: (1) Peel and puree avocados; (2) Add to the puree 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice for every avocado used to prevent browning; (3) Place in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
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How long do avocados last in the freezer? Properly stored, they will maintain best quality for about 3 to 6 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - avocados that have been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How to tell if avocados are bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the avocados: if avocados develop an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, they should be discarded.
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Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
