Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: Reading your article about the person who felt that putting the avocado seed back in the guacamole would prevent discoloration (It doesn’t help. – Heloise) prompted me to think about sharing my hint for keeping avocados fresh.

My hint is especially helpful for us single people who don’t always need an entire avocado for our meal but hate watching the remainder go to ruin if not used.

When I cut open an avocado, I cut it all the way around, lengthwise, then “twist” it open. The pit usually remains in one half. I use the pitless half to eat and put the half still with the pit in one of my re-sealable (vacuum pack) plastic bags and vacuum-seal it. The pit prevents the avocado from getting mushed, and the airtightness of the package keeps the avocado fresh and green for more than a week. Hope this helps. – Jeffrey, via e-mail

Good advice. It’s air that is the culprit. – Heloise