Avocados are a delicious and popular fruit, which are rich in healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. When avocados are in season or are sold in stores, it's tempting to stock up. The ripe fruit, however, quickly spoil and become brown and mushy. To keep a ripe avocado longer, you can try freezing it. However, freezing has some negative effects on the quality of the fruit.
Freezing an avocado destroys its characteristic smooth and creamy texture. After defrosting, the avocado becomes slimy, watery and mushy. If you don't want to eat it on its own, you can remove the unpleasant texture by blending it into your smoothie or pureeing it to make guacamole or a salad dressing.
Avocados turn brown when exposed to oxygen in the air. Before freezing, these fruit are often pureed or cut into halves or pieces. Defrosted avocados can turn brown quickly, so proper preparation and storage methods are essential.
To reduce the risk of them turning brown, you can brush small amounts of lemon juice or vinegar on the avocado before freezing it. Merchants when freezing avocados usually add ascorbic or citric acid. If you use vinegar or lemon juice to prevent it from turning brown, they may alter the flavor of the fruit slightly. However, those flavors won't be as overpowering if you mix avocado into your guacamole.
It is important to leave as little air touching the fruit as possible to prevent it from turning brown or burn in the freezer. You also need to make sure you seal the fruit completely. Improper sealing can cause freezer burn, which can cause discoloration and drying out.
Label and date the avocado if desired, then freeze and store it for up to 6 months in the freezer.
Nutrient content of avocados
Avocados are rich in nutrients, including healthy fats and fiber, as well as copper, potassium, folate, niacin, and vitamins B6, C, E, and K.
Freezing itself does not significantly affect the calorie, fiber, or mineral content of foods, but it can reduce their levels. No research has analyzed exactly how much nutrient loss occurs when avocados are frozen, but you should expect some loss—especially in cases of longer storage.
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