Did you know that the avocado is a fruit and not a vegetable? It doesn’t even compare to the strawberry or apple as it’s unique appearance and taste are often confused for a vegetable. Shockingly, it’s high in healthy fats and doesn’t have a high carbohydrate count of other fruits. So it’s safe for keto and other low-carbohydrate diets. Thus, it’s smart to freeze avocado to ensure you’re always stocked up on this treat.
The avocado has healthy benefits that are supported by research. The only problem with this fruit is that it turns brown quickly. It’s not like the apple that can sit on your counter for weeks. You must use it or lose it when it comes to this green wonder.
To freeze avocados is not tricky. However, before you can freeze them, you must know why they turn brown so quickly and what you can do to stop it. The freezer will halt browning, but it may need a little assistance.
Why Do Avocados Brown So Quickly?
If you find a great deal on avocados, you may be leery of buying them in bulk since they don’t last exceptionally long. If you put them in the refrigerator, you may get 24-48 hours before they start to discolor and become mushy. Oxygen is the enemy of this fruit.
Once you expose an avocado to the air, it’s going to start the process of oxidizing. This fruit’s skin is made up of oleic acid and linoleic acid, which has a low carbohydrate content. Unlike other fruits that ripen on the vine, these green dreams don’t ripen till they are picked.
Inside the avocado are phenolic compounds, which mix with the air and start the decaying process. The same process causes apples to darken too. Keeping the fruit whole and intact buys you a little time to prevent it from discoloration.
You can prevent browning by using either lime or lemon juice on the inside of the avocado or in your guacamole. It’s essential you know this before you freeze avocados as it can help them to last longer. If you make guacamole, you’re not going to get as much shelf-life from it as you would the whole fruit.
Lastly, if you split the fruit in half and only use one of the halves, wrapping the other side tight in cling wrap can slow the browning process. Since the cling wrap seals off any air, it extends the shelf life.
How to Freeze Avocados?
First, you must decide if you are going to freeze them whole or in cubes. The cubes make it easier for you to produce guacamole. However, the entire fruit makes it easier to eat them by the slice or have avocado toast.
It’s best to use a food sealer with specialized bags to freeze avocados. You can freeze up to six halves or three whole fruits in one of the more significant storage baggies. Start by peeling off the skin and removing the pit from the fruit.
Next, you want to rub lemon or lime juice all over it as it will start to discolor quickly. Then, if you are going to freeze it in halves, place them on a plate to flash freeze. This step is crucial because avocado is quite mushy, and it doesn’t do well going through a food sealer if you want to keep it whole.
Now, if you want to freeze them in cubes, there is no need to do the flash freeze cycle. The cubes will probably be used for guacamole later anyway. So you need to make sure that you understand there will be a little mush using this method.
If you want to make guacamole and freeze it, it’s not a problem. Just make sure that you use the lemon or lime in the mixture to keep things from oxidizing. You can freeze avocados using any of these methods.
8 Interesting Facts and Nutritional Benefits of Avocados
The avocado comes from the Persea tree. It has a high nutrient value, which makes it a great additive to many dishes. Did you know that you can even make keto-friendly ice cream out of this fruit? Some people also include it in smoothies.
Health-conscious individuals love this superfood because of its health properties. Here are some interesting facts that you may not know about this fantastic fruit.
1. You’ll Find Either Round or Pear Shape
The avocado comes in two shapes, and the skin can be anywhere from green to black. They can weigh as little as eight ounces, or they can be as large as three pounds.
The most popular variety is grown by Hass. Hass has nicknamed its fruit the “alligator pear” because of its bumpy flesh and green hue.
2. They Have More than 20 Vitamins and Minerals
A 3.5 ounce serving of this super fruit can provide you with the following benefits:
•Vitamins C, K, B5, B6, and E
•Folate
•Potassium
•Thiamine
•Riboflavin
•Niacin
•Copper
•Iron
•Zinc
•Phosphorous
•Manganese
•Magnesium
Calorie wise, this fruit is not too bad either. On average, this fruit has around 160 calories. However, it has 15 grams of heart-healthy fats and two grams of protein. The carbohydrate count is high at nine, but thankfully, seven of those grams are fiber. The net
They have no sodium or cholesterol, and the fat content is low. So those on restricted diets due to their cholesterol or blood pressure won’t have any issues consuming these fruits.
3. They Have More Potassium Than Bananas
It sounds crazy, but one avocado has twice the amount of potassium of a banana. Potassium is essential for your body’s cells as it helps with various functions. Bananas have 10 percent of the recommended daily allowance, while avocados have a whopping 14 percent.
When you consume higher potassium levels, it can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
4. They’re Loaded With Heart-Healthy Monounsaturated Fatty Acids
One of the best nutritional benefits to these fruits is they have heart-healthy fats. Though some may look at the label and think it’s a high-fat food, most of those are beneficial fast your body needs to thrive.
They have oleic acid, which will reduce inflammation in the body and can do as much good as taking an aspirin or ibuprofen. This high-fat content also makes them resistant to heat-induced oxidation so that you can add them to recipes, and they will retain their color.
5. They’re Full of Fiber
If you have problems with constipation and irregularity in your bowel schedule, then avocado may do the trick. Their high fiber content helps to keep your digestive system flowing, and it can help to prevent glucose spikes in those with diabetes.
6. They Will Lower Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels
Having high cholesterol levels can be dangerous. Forget statin drugs because they are known for their harsh side effects. You can use this fruit to keep your levels in check. Now you know why you should freeze avocados.
7. Those who Eat Avocados Tend to be Healthier
An NHANES study was conducted with over 17,000 participants. The review was to look at the dietary habits of those who regularly consumed this fruit. The results were shocking. They found that people who daily consumed avocados had better health than those who didn’t consume this wonder fruit.
Even more shocking is the people who regularly ate them had a lower BMI, better cholesterol levels, and fewer had heart disease. So it appears that eating just an avocado a day may keep the doctor away, and the apple though it had all the advantages.
8. Their Powerful Antioxidants Can Protect Your Eyes
One of the biggest concerns for the aging crowd is cataracts and macular degeneration. Your eye health means everything. Since avocados have such a high antioxidant level, they help to stop these conditions by giving your eyes the nutrition they need.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are the primary antioxidants that keep your peepers seeing clearly, and avocados have ample amounts of each.
Final Thoughts on Freezing Avocado to Keep Them on Hand Always
Whether you want to freeze avocados or eat them right away, you have learned some valuable information. Rather than just having an occasional bowl of guacamole, avocado should be included in your daily food intake.
Why not have a beautiful piece of avocado toast, some ice cream, a green smoothie, or some mouthwatering guacamole? Your heart and body will thank you for making this a part of your regular consumption. So go ahead and stock up on these beauties. Since you can freeze them, there’s no reason to limit your purchases anymore.
