Love avocados but hate how quickly they go from perfect to mushy? You’re not alone. If you’ve ever tossed out an overripe avocado, this viral avocado hack might just save your fruit—and your money. A simple two-ingredient vinegar wash shared by home hack famous chef Amy is gaining attention for helping keep avocados fresh for days. It’s budget-friendly, backed by science, and super easy to try at home. Plus, there’s a surprising fruit combo that can make a real difference in how long your avocados last. Here’s everything you need to know to extend your avocado’s shelf life.
The viral vinegar wash: Keeps avocados fresh and clean
Amy shared, “My ‘secret elixir’ for washing avocados is actually quite simple and easy on the budget. It’s composed of two ingredients: cool water and five percent distilled white vinegar.” While it might sound unconventional at first, this method is backed by science. Research has shown that washing fruits—especially those with textured skins like avocados—in a diluted vinegar solution can effectively remove bacteria, mould, and pesticide residues from their surfaces, helping extend their shelf life. A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that soaking apples in a vinegar solution reduced pesticide residues by up to 90%, while another in the Journal of Food Science showed similar results with grapes. The acidic nature of vinegar helps break down waxes and chemical residues that water alone may not remove.To try Amy’s method at home, simply remove any stickers from your avocados, then soak them in a bowl of cold water mixed with 60 ml of white vinegar. “Set your timer for a precise two minutes before popping in the avocados,” Amy recommends. “But don’t leave them soaking any longer or you might end up tasting vinegar in your fruit.” Once the two minutes are up, rinse them thoroughly under the tap and allow them to air dry completely, as leftover moisture can lead to mould. In addition to cleansing, this hack also contributes to preserving the freshness of the fruit by reducing microbial growth.
Why lemons are avocado’s best friend (and apples are not)
For a longer-lasting avocado, try pairing it with lemons, please note not apples or bananas. This simple hack is more than just anecdotal. Fruits like bananas and apples naturally emit high amounts of ethylene gas, a plant hormone that speeds up ripening. Avocados are highly sensitive to this gas, so storing them near these fruits can cause them to over-ripen quickly. Lemons, on the other hand, produce very low levels of ethylene and may even help slow down the ripening process when kept close to ethylene-sensitive fruits like avocados.Amy swears by this method: “I have always stored my avocados in a drawer next to my lemons. It turns out that they help each other last longer. I won’t get into the science behind this here, but unlike lemons, apples and bananas do not mix well with avocados. They speed up the ripening process.” Research published in the journal Postharvest Biology and Technology supports this tip, showing that separating ethylene-producing and ethylene-sensitive produce can significantly delay ripening and spoilage.With just a splash of vinegar and a squeeze of smart storage, your avocados no longer have to go to waste. Amy’s simple wash method, backed by science, offers an easy way to keep them cleaner and fresher for longer, pair it with the surprising power of lemons (and keeping apples and bananas at bay), and you’ve got a foolproof formula for extending your avo’s shelf life. Give these hacks a try, you might just save your next avocado toast.Also Read| Love mayonnaise? Here’s what it might be doing to your health
