Here's the Best Way to Store Avocados: Whole, Cut, or Mashed into Guac (2024)

The only thing worse than an unripe avocado is an avocado that's turned brown! After all, you waited until the perfect moment for your avocado to ripen so it was just soft enough to make avocado toast. And the last thing you want to do is cut it open only to realize that’s mushy and brown. This avocado mishap is just one of many that can happen when you don’t store avocados the right way. What's another avocado-based party fail? Making a homemade batch of guacamole that's no longer green by the time your guests arrive. (Gasp!) Luckily, we've uncovered all the tips and tricks you need for perfect avocados every time. Here, you'll find out how to store avocados—whether they're whole, sliced, or even mashed.

First things first: How do you know which avocados to buy at the store? If you're a big avocado family, you might want to buy a few avocados in varying stages of ripeness. Buy a ripe one that's ready to eat right away (it should yield to gentle pressure when you squeeze it), then one that's firm-ish but starting to soften (it'll be ready in a day or two) and another one that's hard as a rock and needs a few days. That way you'll have what you need for all your favorite avocado recipes, like avocado salsa and avocado salad, or even as a topping for tacos and burgers.

How do you store whole avocados?

Depending on how ripe your avocados are when you take them home from the store, whole avocados can be stored on your countertop at room temperature where they'll ripen naturally. You can speed up the process by placing them in a brown paper bag. Once ripe, the whole avocados can be eaten immediately or stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days. Keeping the ripe avocados in the fridge will extend their overall shelf life.

How do you store cut avocados?

Once you cut open an avocado, it’s best to use it right away! That's because the flesh will begin to turn brown as soon as it’s exposed to air. But if you do need to store your cut avocados, there are a few tips to keep them green.

Storing Avocado Halves:

If possible, try to store your cut avocado in halves (rather than slices). This will limit the exposure to oxygen making it less likely to turn brown. Sprinkle citrus juice (from a lime or lemon) on the cut part of the avocado—the citric acid will slow down the browning process. Then, wrap the avocado tightly in plastic wrap and store in the fridge.

Storing Sliced or Diced Avocado:

If you already sliced or diced your avocado, you can still store it by placing the avocado pieces in a shallow bowl with citrus juice and cover with plastic wrap or store in an air tight container in the fridge. Or check out our tips on how to freeze avocado! Just note that sliced avocados will turn brown quicker than avocado halves.

How do you store guacamole?

Nobody wants brown guacamole, so to make the green color last longer, here are a few simple steps to follow. Place the guac in an air tight container and use the back of a spoon to flatten out the surface and remove air pockets. Then, pour a small amount of water over the top just until it covers the surface. Seal the container and store in the fridge.