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Avocados and water: busted?
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Author:  TheFuzzy [ Sat Sep 14, 2013 12:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Avocados and water: busted?

Folks,

I can't find the threads now, but there's been several tips on the board regarding preventing browning of cut avocados, and of guacamole, with a layer of water. Kenji is a fan of this: http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/01/the- ... ening.html

I finally had a chance to do some experimenting this last week, and I have to say that the water method was a bust. I did two experiments.

1) Cut Avocado: In one, I took the cut half of an avocado and floated it cut side down in water for 3 days to see if that would work to prevent browning better than our standard method (oil and plastic wrap).

Result: the submerging did mostly prevent browning. However, the floating avocado absorbed water, becoming unpleasantly mushy and slimy. We threw it out. Busted?

2) Guacamole: I had quite a bit of guac leftover from taco night. So I put it in two containers; one where I used our standard method (pressing plastic wrap onto the surface and then sealing the container) and one where I used the tip method, smoothing it and covering it in a 1/2 layer of water.

Result: after 2 days, the plastic wrap guacamole had browned down about 2mm, more in streaky spots where there were air bubbles. The water guacamole had browned almost twice that depth, and the top layer had a nasty, slimy waterlogged consistency to boot. So, definitely busted.

Anyone else try these methods? What were you results? Is it something in San Francisco Water which is different from where Kenji is?

Author:  wino [ Sat Sep 14, 2013 12:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Avocados and water: busted?

Seriously, as I've noted before, we never have any of either left over; on average we eat at least one each day - guac bumps that up, of course, and we'd never let it go 2 days.

Author:  gardnercook [ Sat Sep 14, 2013 1:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Avocados and water: busted?

Timely post Fuzzy as I am taking guac to a football game watching party tomorrow. I am tempted to make it today, but after reading your test results, I will make it tomorrow morning and transport it with plastic wrap.

Author:  Amy [ Sat Sep 14, 2013 2:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Avocados and water: busted?

Josh,

Use milk. It's works great, but not for extended periods of time, i.e., only store them in milk for a day or so. And, it's better with avocado that's been sliced or diced.

For avocados that are cut but aren't being used right away, store with some red onion.

Amy

Author:  TheFuzzy [ Sat Sep 14, 2013 2:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Avocados and water: busted?

Amy,

Store with red onion how? Press face-to-face? In a sealed plastic container?

Author:  Amy [ Sat Sep 14, 2013 2:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Avocados and water: busted?

Josh,

Just in a sealed plastic container, or sealed plastic bag. And, I always leave them in the skin when doing this, i.e., when I'm storing half an avocado.

Amy

Author:  pepperhead212 [ Sun Sep 15, 2013 7:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Avocados and water: busted?

I have not been able to figure out the browning problem. I make guac pretty much the same all the time, and one time it will store overnight perfectly, with no hint of brown, other times just the very top will brown, while occasionally the entire mass will turn brown! Lime juice, either in the guac or brushed on it, before covering with plastic, didn't seem to help, and acetic acid in small amounts did not help. Good thing: I really don't notice a difference in flavor, though the appearance is not as nice.

Author:  Paul Kierstead [ Sun Sep 15, 2013 11:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Avocados and water: busted?

Is this where we get to make up new crazy techniques just to see if Fuzzy will try them?

If the browning is oxidization, then an anti-oxidant like ascorbic acid might work.

Author:  TheFuzzy [ Sun Sep 15, 2013 2:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Avocados and water: busted?

Paul,

What, like curing the hiccups? ;-)

That's it, I need to cover my guac in Vitamin E!

Actually, here's something for someone else to try -- put your guac in a vacuum cannister and lower the air pressure.

Author:  marygott [ Sun Sep 15, 2013 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Avocados and water: busted?

I put a thin coat of sour cream or mayo over mine and then mix it in before serving. That works best for me. It isn't high on the leftover list here either, though.

Mary

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