Preserving avocados: UK TikToker's ingenious method reduces spoilage and waste
Avocados have seen a surge in demand over the past decade, making them one of the most imported products in the UK. They are nutrient powerhouses, laden with essential fatty acids and devoid of cholesterol. Instead, they're rich in plant sterols or 'phytosterols' and are a good source of potassium, phosphorus, copper, iron, and magnesium. That's not all. They are notably high in calories, with a 100 gram serving of avocado containing approximately 160 calories. There's one problem though. Once cut open, the flesh of the avocado quickly darkens and deteriorates. However, we have a simple home remedy to prevent this.
Make a fruit bath for your avocado
A user known as Jax shared an effective method to keep avocados from spoiling on her TikTok handle, @jaxfoodhax. It appears that there is no need to toss your overripe avocados after all. You can prolong its shelf life using ordinary items found at home. All you need is a touch of water, a lemon, and a plastic container.
Per Jax's advice, pour a dash of water into a prepared container. You don't want it brimming with water, around 120 millilitres of lukewarm water will suffice. This could either be boiled or from the tap. Follow this by spritzing lemon juice into the box, which equates to roughly one tablespoon. Then place your leftover avocado in this ready-made bath, cut side down. The final step involves refrigerating your container.
Public response to the TikToker's suggestion
@jaxfoodhax wholeheartedly believes that her proposed technique helps slow down the desiccation and discolouration process of avocados. Her proposal has been warmly received online. Many admire the energy and inventiveness of this TikToker, as expressed in the comments. One user inquired whether this trick could also be applied to guacamole. She responded that if prepared in large quantities, the guacamole could be placed in a container, smoothed over, and topped with a thin layer of water. Another asked if this method may affect the taste of the avocado. Jax reassured the user that one day in the fruit bath won't alter its flavour.
