Avocados are everyone’s favorite! But they are pricey too, which makes it all the more important to preserve them from rotting. A popular hack to preserve avocados that is going viral these days is, in reality, not as great as it may seem. The FDA has repeatedly issued warnings against it so that people refrain from using this hack.
Anny Lane/Pexels | Avocado skin has a lot of pathogens and bacteria on it
The TikTok Hack
Newsweek recently covered a viral TikTok food tip, which had over a million viewers. The video showed viewers how you could store avocados in the fridge for a month by keeping them in water. The same method had gone viral on Facebook a few months earlier too and had grabbed the attention of major outlets like Today.
The FDA’s Stand
The FDA has a clear stance against the practices shown in the video and stated that using water to preserve avocados isn’t as foolproof a method as is implied on social media. The FDA did not recommend this practice at all. Their main concern was the residual human pathogen that could come on the surface of the avocado. Storing avocados can provide them a chance to multiply when submerged in water.
Polina/Pexels | Refrigerator can keep fruits and vegetables green for a longer time
The FDA’s Research
The FDA published a research study in 2018 which stated that over 17 percent of avocados have contamination on their skins! Due to this reason, the government recommends cutting the rind or peeling it off to enjoy the wholesome goodness of an avocado. It is also important to wash the fruit before cutting it so that bacteria isn’t transferred onto the knife and into your body.
Furthermore, the FDA debunks the claim that you can preserve avocados for up to a month. Research performed by the FDA shows that Listeria monocytogenes can infiltrate right into the pulp when stored in refrigerated dump tanks. In this scenario, peeling off the fruit before eating would be of no use!
Rodnae Productions/Pexels |Preserving avocados for a long time can allow you to enjoy delicious avocado recipes
In reality, none of the research put forth by the FDA debunks the viral hack. It’s also true that submerging avocados in water and keeping them in the fridge keeps them green for a long time but the FDA has clarified that doing so increases the chances of the consumer getting ill. So, now that you have the reality and research explained to you, it's time you made an informed decision and choose which way you want to preserve your avocados!
