Quick Answer: How To Determine If Your Avocado Is Bad?

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To determine if your avocado is bad, you must know how to spot a bad avocado. Some signs that your avocado is bad to include a change in color, a change in shape, a bad smell, and soft spots.

The main downside of an avocado is that it can be difficult to find the perfect balance when it comes to ripeness. They have a reputation for going off quickly.

During this time, avocados change color both internally and externally. In terms of interior, they become more brown than green. They also develop a different texture.

Avocados have become increasingly popular over the last few years. Whether you are having it on toast or using it to make guacamole, it is an incredibly versatile food. Thanks to its creamy texture and mild taste, it can be used in several dishes.

Yet, they have a very short window of usage. There are a few other ways to tell if an avocado has gone bad. Here are some of the signs that you should look out for, including the smell and feel.

6 Simple Steps To Identify If An Avocado Is Bad

How Can You Tell If An Avocado Is Bad?

It can be hard to tell if an avocado has gone off based on the outside. Often, you will have to open the avocado for signs of expiration. You can determine a gone-off it’s based on these indicators.

The Avocado Feels Mushy

A mushy texture is not desirable in an avocado. Instead, avocados should feel soft with a hint of firmness. If the avocado is mushy, then it has likely expired. When you touch it, you should not be able to squeeze it with just a finger.

Mushy avocados will not give you the texture that you desire. Therefore, if the fruit feels too soft, then it is best to avoid eating it.

Darkened Skin

While the easiest way to tell if an avocado has over-ripened is by opening it, there are a few external indicators. As an avocado ripens, its skin will start to darken. The skin will go from being green to a purplish or black color.

This is only true of certain varieties of avocado. For example, the Hass avocado, one of the most popular varieties, will go through this color development.

When it comes to varieties that do not change skin color, you will instead have to determine the ripeness of an avocado by cutting into it.

It Tastes Unpleasant

You can also tell that an avocado has gone off because of its taste. Most avocados have mild flavors. However, if you find that your avocado has developed a strong or acidic taste, then it could be overly ripe.

It Has A Gross Smell

As with the taste, ripe avocados have fairly gentle scents. They tend to smell quite sweet, with an aromatic hint of nuttiness. As the avocado ages, this smell might go from being pleasant to being unpleasant quite quickly.

When it have ripened too much, its scent will start to become quite chemical. This gross odor occurs when the avocado’s unsaturated fat is broken down.

Therefore, if you notice that the avocado does not smell as it normally does, you might want to refrain from eating it.

The Appearance Of Mold

If there is mold on your avocado, this is a surefire sign that the avocado is past its use-by. This mold can be found on the interior or exterior of an avocado.

Even if you find it on the outside, it is best to discard this avocado. This is because the mold can penetrate the exterior and make its way to the exterior of the fruit.

This mold is a sign of decay. It is best to avoid eating moldy food, as it can lead to sickness. Plus, the mold can detrimentally affect the taste of it.

Different Interior Color

As any adorer of avocado will tell you, the inside of it is meant to be green with hints of yellow. The color may change if the fruit has over-ripened. Namely, the interior will become covered with flecks of brown.

It is okay to eat an avocado with a little bit of brown on the inside. Even if you don’t want to eat these brown parts, you can merely cut them out and leave them to the side.

It is fairly common for avocados to turn brown once they have been opened. This is a result of oxidation. This is a chemical process caused by oxygen in which food starts to deteriorate.

On the other hand, if the entirety of the avocado has changed color, it is advised that you avoid eating it. For instance, if the inside is completely gray, you should steer clear of it.

Is It Okay To Eat Bad Avocado?

Generally, it is not a good idea to eat an avocado that has gone off. Though this can seem wasteful, there is simply no real benefit that you can get from consuming rotten food. It will not taste nice and it will have a disagreeable texture.

Of course, if it isn’t that bad, such as if it has only developed a few splotches of brownness on the inside, it should be okay to eat. However, if it is joined by a nasty smell, a rancid texture, and a gross taste, then you should give up consuming.

How Long Will Avocados Last?

A fresh avocado will last much longer in the fridge than at room temperature. This is because the lower temperature will slow down the ripening process. Unopened, avocados can last in the fridge for approximately a week.

Once you have cut into an avocado, it will have a much shorter use-by date. These avocados can only last between 3 and 5 days before they go bad. Preferably, you should aim to use your avocado before this, as it will slowly become less ripe.

The best way to avoid wasting your avocado is to keep a close eye on it. If you notice any signs of spoilage, then you should try to use the it immediately before it worsens.

How Can You Keep An Avocado Fresh?

When you have an avocado, you’ll likely want to keep some available for later. After all, most people are unable to get through a whole in one sitting.

As mentioned, these avocados have a habit of going off quickly. Luckily, there are a few steps that you can take to ensure that it could stays fresh for ages, such as:

Improve the longevity of your avocado by pouring some lemon or lime juice on them. In fact, lemon juice can be used on numerous fruits to fight off the signs of oxidation. For instance, this tip also works on bananas. Just don’t put too much juice on the avocado, as this can alter its flavor.
Submerge the avocado pieces in water to better preserve them. Simply place the fruit in a glass or cup of water.
Cover the fruit with plastic wrap or foil. This will stop cross-contamination in the fridge, but will also prevent the avocado from becoming too dry.

If you try one of these methods, or even multiple at once, you should find that it stays fresh for longer. Of course, you won’t be able to fight the effects of oxidation forever. Consequently, these avocados should only last for a few days before turning bad.

Can You Freeze An Avocado?

A popular method of making food last for longer is to freeze it. The reason for this is that freezing food causes the molecules to slow down. This causes the microorganisms that break down food to be kept in stasis.

This raises the question of whether avocados can be frozen. If so, how?

You can freeze an avocado and thaw it when it’s ready to use. However, the avocado’s appearance can alter during this time. It might become browner. Plus, the texture may start to develop a mushier feel.

To freeze it, you should not simply put the entire fruit in a freezer. Instead, you should cut it into smaller pieces. Then, you should move them to a freezer bag, preferably one that can be locked shut.

To prevent browning, you can drizzle a little lemon juice on the avocados. Then, place them in the freezer.

An alternative option is to transform it into a puree and then freeze it. Doing so is an excellent technique for stopping browning. To do this, simply peel and remove the pit.

Then, place the chunks of avocado in a blender. Mix in some lemon or lime juice and blend the ingredients to create a puree. Once you’re happy with the puree, put that in a freezer bag and transfer it to your freezer. Use within four months.

RELATED: How To Ripen An Avocado? Some Methods May Shock You!

What Can You Do With Expired Avocado?

Throwing out an overripe avocado will seem like a massive waste to many people. Fortunately, we have a few tips for using it even if it is a little bad.

Create A Hair Mask

Is your hair feeling a bit dry and dull? If so, you can make your own hair mask using overly ripe avocado. Avocados are unusually high in fat, which is very rare for fruit.

However, this fat content is beneficial when it comes to hair. This fat is moisturizing, meaning that it can be placed on the hair to remove dryness. Not to mention, the high Vitamin E content is sensational for the skin.

To make one of these hair masks, add some avocado to olive or coconut oil. Then, give these ingredients a thorough mix. Apply this mask to your hair and leave it to sit for approximately 30 minutes.

Once this time has passed, wash the avocado mixture out of your hair. Then use shampoo and conditioner to make your locks soft and glowing.

Make An Avocado And Chocolate Pudding

Chocolate and avocado are not often combined. Yet, it can be a brilliant ingredient in chocolate cake or brownies.

The chocolate will hide the brownness of the gone-off, so you don’t have to worry about the aesthetic of the desert being ruined. Instead, the avocado will actually add to the moistness of this sweet treat.

Create A Gorgeous Guacamole

Guacamole is always good, even if it has been made using over-ripened avocados. Consequently, if your avocados are a little brown, they can still be used to make delicious guacamole.

Most people will happily use this dip without noticing that anything is wrong with it. This is because the brown parts will be less obvious once they have been mixed into the rest of it.

You can even add some seasonings to distract people from the taste and color of the avocados. For instance, hot sauce is a brilliant way of adding some sharp flavor to the dish whilst also altering its aesthetic.

Construct A Nourishing Face Mask

Everyone should look after their skin. Interestingly, avocado not only works wonders for a person’s hair but also their face.

There are lots of different recipes online for homemade face scrubs, so you are sure to find one out there that will work for your skin. Many of these face mask recipes involve mixing it with honey.

These masks can be applied to your face and washed off to give you silky smooth skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Will Happen If You Eat A Bad Avocado?

Most people will be fine after consuming an expired avocado. However, other people might experience some unpleasant symptoms, such as stomach pains and vomiting.

The severity of your response will depend on how bad the avocado is and how much you eat. If you eat a badly expired one, you are more likely to experience these symptoms than someone who has taken a bite out of a mildly bad.

What Is At The Center Of An Avocado?

The center of it is home to the seed, also known as the pit. These seeds will vary in size. The presence of this seed is what makes an avocado a fruit and not a vegetable.

Can Bad Avocado Give You Food Poisoning?

No, they can’t. This is because they are all-natural. Food poisoning is caused by an organism that has been introduced to a portion of food. In this case, avocados are natural and have not been introduced to any other organism.

How To Identify If An Avocado Is Bad

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Active Time: 3 minutes

Additional Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Checking if an avocado has gone bad is super quick. Just check the outside first for any signs of mold. Then, make sure to cut it open and check the inside. If there is a rotten smell or the flesh is mushy, then you won't be able to eat the avocado.

Materials

Avocado

Tools

Knife

Instructions

Check the outside of the avocado: Check your avocado on the outside. Does it feel mushy or does it have a darker skin than normal? Then it is likely over-ripe. You may also spot mold which means that the avocado is rotten.
Check the inside of the avocado: Use the knife to cut the avocado into half and check the avocado's flesh. If there is an unpleasant odor or the flesh looks moldy, then you won't be able to eat the avocado anymore.

Author
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Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!