Can You Refrigerate Avocados? (& For How Long?)

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Avocados are one of the most popular fruits in America, and for a good reason. The creamy texture is perfect to add a burst of flavor to salads or sandwiches. But how do you store avocados so they won’t spoil until you’re ready to use them? Can you refrigerate avocados?

The simple answer is YES! If your avocado is ripe and ready to eat, then it can go into the fridge for up to 3 days. However, if your avocado is not quite ripe yet or has been cut open and exposed to air, it should be eaten immediately and not refrigerated as it will slow the ripening process!

In this post, we looked at everything you need to know about putting avocados in the fridge and how to store avocados in the refrigerator.

Let’s get started!

How Long Do Avocados Last In Refrigerator?

Once ripe and uncut, avocados can last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Like I stated earlier, you don’t want to store unripe avocados in the refrigerator as they may end up not ripening very well, if at all.

Cold slows down the ripening process!

When Should You Refrigerate Avocados?

Can You Refrigerate Avocados

While many people believe that avocados should be refrigerated immediately after purchase, this isn’t necessary unless you’re trying to keep them fresh for a day or two.

They will actually stay good for about a week if stored on the countertop without any refrigeration. In fact, many people believe that it is best to allow an avocado to ripen at room temperature and then refrigerate it if you don’t plan on eating it right away.

This way, the natural enzymes can continue to break down the fruit and keep its flavor fresh for weeks. Once an avocado has ripened at room temperature, store it in the fridge to slow down this process.

This will keep it good for a few days, after which time you should toss or compost it with other fruits and vegetables that have surpassed their prime.

Do Avocados Go Bad In The Fridge?

Yes, but only after they have been picked. Avocados are a perishable fruit that will most likely not last more than 3 days when refrigerated if they were not ripened before being put in there.

Once it has ripened, avocados can stay up to 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. After which, it will become overripe and start developing brown spots. And if you refrigerate an unripe avocado, it will stay green for a few days before turning brown.

So, the answer to the question of whether avocados go bad in the fridge is yes if they were not ripened before being put there. You should only allow them to be in there as long as they are ripe. Don’t refrigerate unripe avocados for more than a few days.

An avocado that has been ripened can be left in the fridge for up to 3 days at peak quality. After this, it will start to spoil and become brown. If you want your avocado without any chance of spoiling or getting brown, eat it within two days of ripening.

You should also know that avocados can’t be stored at room temperature for more than a day, or they will turn brown and go bad, so refrigerating them is the only way to store an avocado once you have picked one.

If you want your fruit to last as long as possible, the best way to store it is in a brown paper bag so that air can escape, but oxygen doesn’t.

This will keep your fruit from drying out, which causes them to go bad quicker than it would otherwise because of oxidation.

Therefore, if you are storing an avocado and don’t want it to turn brown before its time, make sure to use the paper bag trick.

How To Store Avocados In The Refrigerator

In the fridge, place them in a sealed bag or container. Keep away from any warm spots like dishwashers and ovens where they can be exposed to too much ethylene gas.

If you’re planning to use your avocado within 2 days of purchase, there is no need to refrigerate it. Only place them in the fridge if you’re storing them for more than two days.

Also, it’s advisable to store avocados in the refrigerator at a temperature of approximately 35°F. This will slow down their ripening process and allow for more usage time before they spoil.

It’s also important to remember that avocado produce is sensitive to ethylene gas, which can cause them to “brown” quicker than usual if exposed too long or stored at too high of a temperature.

How To Tell If The Avocado Is Ripe

Load up your palm with some fruit and squeeze it. If there’s a lot of resistance, they’re probably underripe; however, if the skin where you squeezed gives immediately or feels mushy, then they are most likely ripe!

Underripe avocados are hard and can be difficult to cut into, so start by checking how much resistance there is when trying to squeeze it in your palm. If they feel too resistant, then the fruit may need some time to ripen.

How to know if my avocado is spoiled: If you have stored your avocados in the refrigerator and are unsure whether or not they’ve gone bad, give them a sniff. A rotten avocado will have an odor that can’t be disguised by any other food nearby!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do avocados ripen?

Avocados will continue to ripen after they’ve been picked, so when your fruit is not fully ripe but still too hard or green, place them in a brown paper bag and store them at room temperature for about a day.

Can avocados last 2 weeks in the fridge?

Yes, avocados can be last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, but they need to be uncut. They will continue to ripen at a slower rate while being preserved in the fridge.

How do you keep avocados fresh in the refrigerator?

To keep avocados fresh in the refrigerator, cut them in half, get a glass or plastic container, fill it with water near full. Now, put the avocado in the container, cover it, and place it in the refrigerator. This will prevent the avocado from turning brown for 2 extra days.

Why do avocados turn brown in the fridge?

When avocado is exposed to air, an enzyme in it makes the flesh to oxidize, turning it to a brown color. This is why avocado is usually green beneath the pit but brown on the exposed surfaces. The surface beneath the pit is often protected from oxygen.

How long does avocado last once cut?

A cut avocado that is properly stored can last for up to 3 to 4 days in the fridge.

Do you refrigerate avocados after cutting?

Yes, you can refrigerate avocados after cutting by placing the cut avocados in an air-tight glass or container with some cut-up onion. You can then put the avocados in the fridge, and they will stay fresh for some days.

Can you leave a cut avocado unrefrigerated?

Yes, you can leave a cut avocado unrefrigerated by restricting the contact between the flesh of the cut avocado and the air. The best way to achieve this is to put the cut avocado in an airtight plastic bag, squeeze out all the air inside the bad, and then seal it.

This will help to slow down the browning process, but it cannot replace refrigeration and will keep your avocado fresh for just a few hours.

Can a cut avocado be left at room temperature?

No, you cannot leave a cut avocado at room temperature. If you do this, the cut avocado will start softening and browning within a day or two. Therefore, once avocado is cut, you should either eat it or put it in the fridge once it’s ripe.

Can you refrigerate avocados to slow ripening?

Yes, cold slows ripening. So, refrigerating avocados will help to slow down the ripening process.

Conclusion | Can You Refrigerate Avocados?

As you can see from the analysis above, you can refrigerate avocados, and they will stay safe for a few days. But remember to only put ripe avocados in the fridge, as refrigerating unripe avocados will prevent them from ripening.

So, if your avocados are not ripening yet, you may have to wait a bit for them to ripe before placing them in the refrigerator.

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