Monday, September 9, 2013

How To Save An Unripe Avocado That's Been Cut

ripening avocados

Despite the best of intentions, there have been several times when I've unintentionally sliced into an avocado before it was really soft enough to eat. You want to get it before it's mushy and brown inside, but if you miscalculate, and don't give it enough time to ripen, I have good news.

Unripe avocado is starchy, flavorless, disappointing, and downright unpleasant to eat, and it used to be that I would throw them into the compost, feeling like a fool for not giving them more time to mature. Fortunately, a few years ago I came across this information: Avocados will still ripen once they've been cut into!

cut avocado

Simply put the halves back together as neatly as you can, and walk away like nothing happened. It's essential to leave the pit in place. In a couple of days, the avocado will have transformed into the rich deliciousness that you wanted all along.

I'd like to say that I'm careful enough to no longer unwittingly slice into an unripe avocado- but it happens. It's heartening to know that it no longer means the avocado is a complete waste.

half avocado
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How To Save An Unripe Avocado That's Been Cut
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52 comments

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September 10, 2013 at 12:45 AM

I also brush the avocado with a very light coating of olive oil to keep it from browning.

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September 10, 2013 at 2:54 AM

Great tip! I made the mistake of forcing myself to endure half of the unripped side and storing the other in the cold fridge (big mistake!).

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May
September 10, 2013 at 8:15 AM

Makes me so mad when this happens!

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September 10, 2013 at 9:15 AM

I did not know this! And I'm 60 and grew up in California! Love reading your blog! Thanks for sharing this! You taught me something, that I can use, today!

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September 10, 2013 at 3:05 PM

This is a great tip! This happens to me too often with our shipped from who-knows-where to the Midwest avos, and I too have chucked them into the compost. I will try this for sure.

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September 10, 2013 at 8:58 PM

Oh that's a good idea! I'll try that next time. Though it stays surprisingly green, I think because the pit is left intact. I've heard there's something about the pit that keeps avocado from browning...

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September 11, 2013 at 12:26 AM

This really is a great tip! I didn't know this and have wasted many an avocado! Thanks so much for sharing!
Tina from mommynificent.com

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Anonymous
September 11, 2013 at 8:16 AM

This is great news! We love avocados!

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September 12, 2013 at 7:26 AM

Great tip! I usually just use it on my head (great conditioner) , good to know other alternatives! Thank You for sharing at the Fluster Buster Party, Lizy party co host, have a great week Mellow

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September 12, 2013 at 9:09 AM

Oh, that is the worst! Thanks so much for sharing a simple solution!

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Anonymous
September 12, 2013 at 9:42 AM

This has also happened to me, as well as leaving them too long and I ate wasting food. This is such a great tip, thanks for sharing. Lizbeth, love your idea or hair conditioner too!

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LSP
September 13, 2013 at 6:48 AM

This is so smart. We make a lot of guacamole at our house and it's frustrating having to wait for the avacados! We'll be trying this out soon. Each Monday, I have a Meatless Meal link up. I would love it if you'd share this recipe with my readers. I realize it's not a recipe, but extremely helpful for avacado lovers like us! If you're interested, you can find the link at www.LittlestSweetPea.com
Thanks!

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September 13, 2013 at 7:26 AM

Ah great tip. I usually end up throwing them away or eating the too ripe (or eventually the extremely brown) avocado. Thanks for sharing! Stop by my Friday's Five Features and link up this post (and others)! diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2013/09/fridays-five-features-no-8.html

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September 13, 2013 at 1:13 PM

What a great tip! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen

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September 13, 2013 at 3:36 PM

Thank you for sharing! I have the worst luck with avocados and this advice will come in handy.

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September 16, 2013 at 12:13 AM

This is a great tip. I just wasted an avocado because I cut it and accidentally threw away the pit. I'll remember this the next time I cut an unripe avocado. Thanks for sharing.
dropping by from Mix it up Monday!

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September 16, 2013 at 12:50 PM

Great tip! Thanks for sharing with "Try a New Recipe Tuesday!" I hope you will be able to join us again this week. http://our4kiddos.blogspot.com/2013/09/try-new-recipe-tuesday-september-17.html

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September 19, 2013 at 11:03 AM

Great post, I also enjoyed reading the comments :) Great tips! Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! :)

Hope your week is great!

Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com

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October 11, 2013 at 1:14 AM

Thanks for sharing such a helpful hint. Stopping by from the Weekend re-Treat. <3 Kim

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Anonymous
October 24, 2013 at 8:09 PM

You wouldn't think that this post changed someones life, but I know that is what my husband will say when I tell him this! He would eat an avocado every single day but we either have them too ripe or not ripe enough. Too many times we have thrown away non ripe avocado! Not any more! I saw your post at The Weekly Creative! Don't you just love link up parties? I am having my first one ever tomorrow called Family Fridays! :/ I am a bit nervous! Maybe you can stop by and share a few links? I hope so! I will be pinning this right now! www.livinthemomlife.com

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January 24, 2014 at 7:00 PM

Gaah I just cut prematurely! Can I leave it out or should the youngster be put in the fridge... Thanks!

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January 31, 2014 at 7:15 AM

I'm sure this response is too late for that particular avocado (hope it worked out!) but in the future, they ripen best at room temp, and will continue to ripen after being cut if you put the halves back together and pretend you never cut into it ;) It will pretty much stay hard in the fridge.

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Anonymous
August 22, 2014 at 5:08 AM

any tips for an unripe banana that you've already peeled? yellow though, not the green bananas eaten in africa

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August 25, 2014 at 3:20 PM

You could certainly cook it, or add it to a pancake recipe or something. No idea if it will ripen once it's opened!

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Anonymous
May 4, 2015 at 11:15 PM

I've done this before & sadly, it doesn't work for me ;(
The avocado simply rots inside. I think it's tragic.

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June 14, 2015 at 7:40 AM

Great to see this post. Just closed it back up... hope it ripens in a couple o days....

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July 10, 2015 at 6:34 PM

This works for me, reliably, every time. If it didn't work for you with one avocado (and yes, losing even one avocado is tragic!) give it another try. I mean, don't intentionally cut into an underripe avocado, but if it happens, don't toss it. From my experience it will ripen just about as well after cutting as if you hadn't cut it.

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Anonymous
September 11, 2015 at 7:00 PM

The store put a "ripe" tag on it. I hope this works.

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October 3, 2015 at 11:09 PM

If i already cut them into slices and no way to put them back how?will it still ripe if i leave it?

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October 6, 2015 at 4:13 PM

They tagged it as ripe but it still wasn't? That's tricky of them :) Hope this method helped you out.

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October 6, 2015 at 4:14 PM

Yes, I think if it's sliced but still in it's skin, with the pit replaced, it should ripen still.

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Shamina
October 14, 2015 at 6:56 AM

Thanku for sharing such a great tip. I also tried it and got a good result. I would like to share this on my website.

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Anonymous
June 3, 2016 at 3:34 AM

can i place the avacado in a refrigerator after its cut . PS just found its not ripe ..gggahhhhhhhh

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June 3, 2016 at 6:05 PM

If you want it to ripen up, you'll need to store it at room temperature for another day or two. Ripening really slows down in the fridge!

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June 6, 2016 at 7:34 AM

After a few days on the counter, the avocado is calling out to me, "Ready or not ..." but I give it the little pushing on the stem end test to make sure it's ready. Still, sometimes I forget and it's just as you say. Good to know there's a way to save it. Thanks for the tip!

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June 6, 2016 at 3:33 PM

You are welcome! It happens to all of us ;)

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June 13, 2016 at 12:17 PM

What if i have already tossed the pit an theres no getting it back.. hubby took trash out already.. will it ripen with out the pit?

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June 14, 2016 at 1:58 PM

Give it a try! My understanding is the pit helps with ripening, but it won't hurt to try :)

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July 3, 2016 at 12:27 PM

I have done that too
It was my first time eating an avocado
What do you suggest me to do??

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July 3, 2016 at 12:31 PM

Me too so what should I do

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Anonymous
July 22, 2016 at 8:41 AM

I was waiting for my avocados to ripen and wanted them so badly that I as close to start licking them, so I have opened one and it was still hard. It is still in my kitchen, I put it in a paper bag and aas hoping for it to ripen. Till now I felt like a fool. Thank you for your post :)

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August 26, 2016 at 8:41 AM

This is good stuff to know. THanks for sharing.

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August 28, 2016 at 6:23 PM

I didn't know and so happy you shared your tips. Thank you for sharing at Dishing it and DIgging it link party.

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January 17, 2017 at 1:21 AM

Thx for the tips! Ive just cut an unripe avocado. Feel so sad after realising its unripe...just did what u mentioned. Do i seal it with cling wrap? I stay in tropical country. Its hot and humid here. Should i put it in the fridge?

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April 1, 2017 at 10:06 AM

I am same with Lyrie...open unripe avo in hot and humod country. Icebox or not?

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April 1, 2017 at 5:28 PM

I would still leave it out to ripen in a hot climate, but it's safe to assume it would be ready more quickly than in a cooler zone. So, just check it after several hours instead of the next day.

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April 1, 2017 at 5:29 PM

Probably too late for *that* avocado, but I would still leave it out to ripen in a hot climate. It's safe to assume it would be ready more quickly than in a cooler zone, so just check it after several hours instead of the next day :)

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May 11, 2017 at 4:07 PM

Tee-Hee . You said "icebox"!!lol I say this all the time. My kids know. But my niece is a smart a$$

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September 2, 2017 at 4:47 PM

(1) Take the seed out, pour in a tablespoon of lemon juice, put the halves together and seal it in a ziplock, evacuating all the air you can. It will be riper in a few hours.
(2) pickle it in cool brine and refrigerate it. You can eat it in 1-2 hours - longer if you really like pickles.

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