For anyone tired of watching their perfectly ripe avocados turn brown overnight, a new viral kitchen hack might finally offer a solution. According to YouTube creator @thecrosslegacy, the secret to keeping avocados fresh for an entire month is with one simple ingredient.
In a recent YouTube Short, @thecrosslegacy the helpful tip. She said:: “If you store avocados fresh with a lemon in the crisper drawer of the fridge, they will stay fresh for a month.” The video, which has quickly gained traction among home cooks and produce lovers alike, shows the creator placing uncut avocados alongside a whole lemon inside a refrigerator drawer.
The combination prevents avocados from browning and spoiling long before their time. Viewers have flooded the comments section, amazed by the hack’s apparent success. Some even shared photos of their own month-old avocados that still looked fresh and green.
Lemons release citric acid and natural antimicrobial compounds, which can slow the oxidation process, the chemical reaction that causes avocados to brown.
Additionally, the lemon’s subtle release of ethylene gas might help regulate the ripening process, keeping avocados at their peak for longer.
Interestingly, lemons aren’t the only kitchen ingredient that can keep avocados fresh. Healthline reports that storing cut avocados with onions can also help prevent browning.
Studies suggest that onion extract may slow enzymatic browning by inhibiting polyphenol oxidase (PPO), the enzyme responsible for discolouration.
Because PPO contains copper, scientists believe that the sulfur compounds naturally present in onions can bind to the copper within the enzyme, reducing its activity. In some cases, these sulfur-based molecules have been shown to cut browning reactions by as much as one-third.
To try this method, place a sliced onion in a sealed container with the avocado, making sure the onion touches only the skin and not the flesh to avoid altering the flavour.
So if browning avocados are causing you grief, try storing it with either a lemon on onion.
