Avocado is a powerful superfood that became part of any time meal all over the world.
People enjoy them in smoothies, in salads, on toasts, for their breakfast, with eggs, with almost everything. And why not!?
They are one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. They are among the richest in fibre, folate, potassium, vitamin E, and magnesium among all fruits. This nutrition profile makes it a worthy Superfood.
Apart from vitamin C, avocados are an excellent source of vitamins E, K, and B6, as well as riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and potassium, all of which benefit the heart and cardiovascular system.
They also provide lutein, beta carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Eating avocados brings other health benefits too. They are high in fat with 60 per cent of this being monounsaturated fats, which research suggests helps to protect against heart disease and lower blood pressure.
But there is a big dilemma when it comes to avocados – Can you eat one every day?
Many nutritionists and researchers found that in fact eating an avocado every day can help improve bad cholesterol levels in overweight and obese people. And not only that but may protect the heart in a similar way as olive oil and nuts do in the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet.
How you can have them fresh even after months? – Freeze your avocados!
Lifeshelf of Avocado and When to Freeze Avocados!?
Now, of course, you know that avocados do not really last for a long time especially not the ripe ones. The best ones have a bumpy texture of the skin. When you apply pressure to the avocado, it should still be somewhat firm. After a day or two at room temperature, these avocados will be ripe and ready for you to enjoy!
But what to do when you have lots of ripped avocados?
Well apart from making delicious meals out of them, or some use them as a beauty product to enhance the skin, do not throw them away!!! Freeze them!
6 Smart Ways to Freeze Avocados
- First and most important do not freeze super green avocados, but make sure they are ripe.
- If you freeze the whole avocado the fruit will not turn brown, however, this can destroy the creamy texture making it watery and mushy. So, you should better peel, then cut, mash, or purée the fruit before freezing it.
- Brushing or squeezing a little lemon juice can help prevent browning.
- Arrange the avocado pieces on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze just until hardened, about an hour or two. This step will keep the avocado pieces from sticking together in one big clump.
- Transfer the frozen avocado pieces to a freezer bag or into an airtight container. Try to remove as much air as possible from the bag.
- Lebel the bag or container with the date of freezing, and if you wish, you can write the weight if it’s mushed or simply add how many avocados are in the bag/container if they are cut chunks.
For how long they can be frozen?
Frozen avocado has a shelf life of 4–6 months, but commercial products may last even longer due to added preservatives.
How to defrost Avocados
Avocados may be brown after thawing, so use them right away.
When you’re ready to defrost an avocado, make sure you use it. An easy way to defrost an avocado is to run it under hot water and let it sit on your counter for around 30 minutes. Once you can press your fingers into it, cut the skin in quarters with a knife. When you peel away the skin, you’ll find a fresh, ripe, and creamy avocado you can use in any dish you want.