We’ve all forgotten half an avocado in the fridge only to find it brown a few hours later. This blackening is frustrating, especially since a lawyer is expensive and anti-waste matters. The culprit is contact with oxygen: the less air there is on the cut flesh, the greener the avocado remains.
To limit this contact, a tip created a buzz on Instagram before being relayed by Marmiton. The duo
@jimmy_laura_tips share it on Instagram. Laura says: “Stop cutting your avocados lengthwise!” and recommends slicing them “widthwise”then keep the half with core, turned upside down in a cup.
Cut the avocado widthwise and put it in a cup: the Jimmy and Laura method
Concretely, all you have to do is lay the avocado flat and turn the knife in a circle, in the middle of the fruit, to cut it widthwise around the stone. Separate the two halves by gently turning them. We eat half without the pit, then place the other, pit side down, in a small stable cup and store in the refrigerator. “This way, the avocado will oxidize much less quickly.” Laura concludes.
This position limits the surface area of flesh exposed to the air and the cup serves as a small bell. Indeed, browning comes from enzymatic oxidation: the enzyme polyphenol oxidase reacts with oxygen and forms brown pigments.
The core only protects the area it covers, so it remains useful but insufficient. Moreover, a started avocado can be consumed within 48 hours in the refrigerator.
Why avocado turns black and how lemon slows down oxidation
Faced with this phenomenon, other tips exist, such as “putting lemon on the avocado, to slow down oxidation”. In fact, the citric acid contained in citrus fruits helps slow down the oxidation of the fruit.
You can also combine this lemon juice with a piece of cling film, firmly placed on the flesh, then put everything in a small airtight box in the refrigerator. Note that, although a blackened avocado is not very appetizing, it is generally not dangerous for your health.
Which method to choose for your started avocado without wasting
For a few hours or a dinner the same day, the cup method is often enough: quick, no additional materials, easy to adopt. For the next day, you can complete the trick with lemon, contact film and an airtight container in the refrigerator. They also mention that cold water, olive oil or red onion act as air barriers.