6 tips to prevent avocados from turning brown

Avocados are a wonderful creation. Whether a meal consists of devouring avocado toast, garnishing chili or smashing avocados into guacamole, there is always room for this creamy fruit on the plate.

Although the fruit is a delicious addition to a meal, often only half of an avocado is used. It can be a challenge to use avocados as fast as they ripen. Following the six tips below can help keep avocados looking as fresh as they taste.

1. Store with citrus
Adding lemon or lime juice to a sliced avocado or a bowl of guacamole will help slow down the browning process for about a day. This technique also provides a boost to its flavor.
2. Add oil
Brushing a light amount of olive or vegetable oil on the surface of a sliced avocado will act as a blockade to oxygen, ultimately preventing browning. This will also save a step when mixing up guacamole as a good drizzle of olive oil is a tasty touch.
3. Store with red onion
Guacamole benefits from a crunch of red onion, but onion also helps keep this dip as green as when it first hit the serving dish. If you're storing half of an avocado, dice some red onion and store it alongside in an airtight container to keep the avocado from browning.
4. Use plastic wrap
Wrapping plastic wrap airtight around the fruit keeps it from transforming into that darker hue because it cuts off access to oxygen. If the pit has already been removed, smoothly apply the plastic wrap along the well where the pit was to avoid any air getting trapped inside.
5. Leave the pit in
The lucky half of an avocado that has the pit will stay that bright green color longer, so if the plan is to enjoy the other half of an avocado later on, start with the pitted half. The pit assists in blocking air from reaching the majority of the fruit, but the surrounding areas may start to brown after a couple of hours so this is only a short-term solution.
6. Cold water bath
Another trick to keep oxygen away from avocados is to give them a cold water bath. By submerging avocados in a freezing cold water bath, they will stay vibrantly green for up to four hours.​