Avocados. Either you’re a die-hard fan, or you seriously hate them. This versatile food can be mashed into guacamole or simply enjoyed on toast.
Imagine: you’re about to enjoy your own avocado dish, but you notice your avocados aren’t as plump as they used to be. Now you wonder: Do avocados go bad? How long do they last?
In summary: unripe avocados last 2-7 days on the shelf, and ripe avocados last 2-5 days in the fridge.
Signs Avocados Have Gone Bad
Here are the telling signs that your avocados may be spoiled:
- Texture: Testing for ripeness is as simple as squeezing your avocado in the palm of your hand gently. If doing so leaves big dents and it feels mushy overall, it has most probably gone bad. It is likely spoiled if it already looks deflated even before you test it.
- Color: The Hass variety of avocados tend to darken in color from green to brown when they ripen. If they turn a black color and feel mushy to touch, they have gone bad. Other avocado varieties that do not change color should be checked for other signs of spoilage.
- Mold: Rotten avocados may have white, gray, and fuzzy spots of mold on the inside or outside. If so, discard it immediately.
- Flesh: You can check the freshness of your avocado once you cut it open. Ripe avocado has green flesh, indicating it’s ready to consume. If the flesh is stringy with black and brown spots, it has gone bad. However, growing conditions may cause dark streaks in your avocado. Have a taste of it to ensure its ripeness.
- Taste: If your avocado has an abnormal or off-taste, toss it out.
- Smell: The usual pleasant smell goes sour or rancid when your avocado is spoiled. Make sure to get rid of it if that’s the case.
Storing Avocados
When storing unripe avocados, it’s best to place them in a dark area at room temperature or below. A pantry or kitchen cabinet is perfect. Keep unripe avocados out of the fridge as they will struggle to ripen.
However, once the avocado ripens, the fridge is the place to store it. Leaving it out at room temperature will make the flesh darken and soften within a day or two. So either eat it immediately or keep it in the fridge for later.
How Long Does Avocado Last?
Avocadoes, like most fruits, don’t last long. An unripe avocado lasts 2-7 days at room temperature. Once it ripens, it can last 2-5 days in the fridge. Avocados that have been cut open will last 2-4 days in the fridge.
In Conclusion
Having avocados can mean so many delicious recipes, especially for plant-based diets. Plus, avocado is rich in nutrients like potassium, healthy fats, fiber, vitamin K and vitamin C.
But, since avocado does not retain its freshness for long, be sure to inspect its taste, smell, and appearance often. Avocadoes may last up to a week or longer if you’re happy with the way it looks and taste. However, be sure to discard any sour and rancid-smelling or tasting avocados.
