5 Hacks Every Avocado Lover Should Know
Natalie Bennett
| 2 min read
Did you know that half an avocado contains more potassium than one medium-sized banana? This is one of the many nutritional benefits of this tasty fruit. Full of heart-healthy fats and vitamin K, avocados are a great part of any healthy diet.
As a devoted avocado lover, I have discovered useful ways to store and prepare them. Here are my five favorite hacks to get the most out of your avocados:
Ripen Instantly
I sometimes find myself craving avocado toast, but the only avocado I have is hard as rock. To ripen your avocado, wrap it in aluminum foil and bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 200 degrees. Once you do this, you can put your ripe avocado back in the fridge if you want it to cool down before eating.
Refrigerate
Sometimes I find myself buying up to four avocados at a time knowing I won’t eat them within a week. To slow down the ripening process, store your avocados in the fridge. The cool temperatures keep the fruit ripe longer. Once you cut an avocado, store it in an air-tight container with slices of red onion to preserve it even longer.
Room Temp
If your avocados are in the fridge, they are obviously going to be cold. If you don’t want freezing cold avocado on your sandwich, take an avocado out of the fridge and place it in a bowl of hot water for about 15 minutes. This will bring your cold avocado to an enjoyable room temperature.
Use it as a Dish
Not only do avocados provide various health benefits, but they can also be used as a dish! Both environmentally friendly and delicious – these caprese-stuffed avocados are a great way to incorporate avocado into your diet. If you are a breakfast lover, try these avocado baked eggs.
Swap it Out
The creaminess of an avocado makes it a great substitute for ingredients like butter and heavy whipping cream. Two tablespoons of butter contain just over 200 calories and 164 mg of sodium while the same amount of avocado contains only 50 calories and no sodium. Try this avocado chocolate mousse recipe – I bet you won’t be able to tell there’s avocado in it!
If you’re interested in trying these avocado hacks, check out these delicious recipes:
Photo credit: A Healthier Michigan
