How to Store Avocados So They Don't Turn Brown

Store unripe avocados in the fridge [3]. They won't turn brown nearly as fast, and they won't ripen in the cold temperatures. Take one out every day, so it can ripen on the counter, which takes a couple of days. This ensures you always have a perfectly ripe avocado [4] when you want one, and the others won't go bad by the time you need them.

How to Ripen and Avocado Faster

To ripen an avocado faster [5], all you need are a banana and a brown bag [6]. Bananas contain a natural plant hormone called ethylene that speeds up the ripening process. So when you place your hard avocado in a closed brown bag with a banana, the ethylene gas gets trapped, surrounds your avocado, and helps to soften it faster than if your avocado was just sitting on the counter.

How to Save Half an Avocado

All you need are two things: a piece of aluminum foil and some oil. Apply a light layer of oil [7] to the light green flesh, cover your avocado with the foil, and store it in the fridge. Spray oil will make this easier, but you can also brush the oil on or use your fingertips.

The oil will act as a barrier to prevent oxygen from reaching the flesh of an avocado, which is the reason it turns brown [8]. Your half an avocado will stay perfectly green for a couple of days.

How to Make Your Avocado Toast Low-Carb

Now you can enjoy your beloved avocado toast and still follow a low-carb diet [9]. This recipe swaps traditional bread with tofu [10]. The secret is using superfirm tofu: Trader Joe's Organic High Protein Super Firm [11] is my absolute favorite. You cut it into thin slices, sauté it in a pan, and it becomes firm and slightly crunchy, just like toast made from bread.

But this slice is much lower in carbs and much, much higher in protein! Each slice of plain tofu is 117 calories, 2.5 grams of carbs, and offers 12.5 grams of protein. For comparison, a regular slice of whole wheat bread is 100 calories, 22 grams of carbs [12], and four grams of protein. If you enjoy two slices of this recipe, it's 361 calories, 12.5 grams of carbs, and a whopping 25 grams of protein!

How to Add Avocado to Oatmeal to Help You Lose Weight

When I make overnight oats [13], I use half a cup of rolled oats. They offer complex carbs for energy, but registered dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, author of The Anti-Inflammatory Kitchen Cookbook [14], said oatmeal lacks healthy fats to help with satiety.

She explained that healthy fats are essential for weight loss because they "keep us full and satisfied since they are digested slower than carbohydrates." Seeds like chia or hemp [15], ground flax meal, nuts, nut butters, almond flour, and coconut milk [16] are great oatmeal add-ons, but avocado [17] was a shocking ingredient she said I could also use. Avocados are not only great sources of healthy fats, but they also offer fiber [18], which adds to the satiating feeling.

Mash in one-quarter of a ripe avocado into your jar [19], then add all the other ingredients for your overnight oats. You won't notice a flavor change since avocado tastes so mild, but what you will notice is an extra creamy texture and feeling fuller for longer.

How to Save Leftover Guacamole

In order to prevent oxygen from touching your precious guac [20], try this simple hack: smooth out your guacamole in a bowl, then pour a thin layer of water on top.

It sounds weird, but guacamole is dense enough and fatty from the avocados so the water won't affect the texture or taste. Store your bowl in the fridge, and when you're ready to chow down, grab a bag of tortilla chips and pour out the water. Give it a good mix, and start dipping — the water doesn't make it soggy at all!

Save Avocado Without It Browning!

While you can save half an avocado in the peel by spreading a little oil on the green flesh, what about leftover mashed avocado? This genius hack from nomnomkids [21] isn't just for kids. Take a reusable food pouch, fill it with mashed avocado, squeeze out all the air, and store it in the fridge.

You can buy the Nom-Nom Kids pouches if you live in the UK [22], or order these WeeSprout Pouches from Amazon [23] (six for $17). They're washable and easy to pack in lunch boxes — way more convenient than bringing a whole avocado that'll end up getting knocked around and bruised.

It's not only easy to squeeze out onto toast, sandwiches, burritos, tacos, salads, or crackers, but it stays the same gorgeous green color when you use it the following day. No more wasted avocado, which saves money and tears!