How Long Does Avocado Last in a Sandwich?

Seriously, who doesn’t absolutely adore avocado? Not only is it truly delicious, but it is pretty versatile, being used in many different dishes, or even enjoyed on its own.

With the popularity of avocado growing, and avocados being made more readily available in grocery stores, one fact remains – avocados in sandwiches take the sandwich to the next level!

Avocados used in sandwiches are great, and you might want to pack an avocado sandwich for lunch, only hesitating with one question…

How long does avocado last in a sandwich before it goes bad? Avocado on a sandwich will begin to turn brown within 3 to 4 hours, however, it will still be fine to eat. Keep the sandwich refrigerated if you are only planning on eating it later, but make sure to eat the avocado sandwich before the end of the day.

Avocados are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as important Vitamin E and potassium. Avocados help to increase the absorption rates of other nutrients, making them a perfect snack throughout the day.

There are some really handy ways to keep avocado fresh and green, which come in handy when you are taking avocado out for a picnic, or looking forward to it as a lunchtime snack!

How to Keep Avocado Fresh for Lunch

Depending on how you prepare your avocado for lunch, there are some ways to ensure it stays as fresh as possible for when you are ready to eat it.

Cut Avocado

If you have cut your avocado to pack for lunch, you should sprinkle the avocado pieces with some lemon or lime juice. This stops the flesh from browning. Place the cut avocado pieces in a plastic zipper bag and place it near an ice pack to keep the avocado chilled until you are ready to eat.

Whole Avocado

It is easier to keep a whole avocado fresh, compared to cut-up chunks. You should rinse the exterior of the avocado and dry it thoroughly. Place the avocado in a plastic zipper and place it in a lunch box with an ice pack to keep it chilled. Remember to include a knife in your lunch bag to use to cut the avocado.

Guacamole

To keep guacamole fresh, you should place it into a small container and layer a small piece of plastic wrap onto the surface of the guacamole. Close the lid, ensuring it is airtight. Keep the guacamole chilled in a lunch box with ice packs.

How Long Does Avocado Last?

Kept in different forms, and stored in various ways, avocados have varying life spans. Understanding how long your avocado will last will allow you to plan when you are going to eat it so that your avocado never goes to waste!

• Avocados tend to discolor very quickly when they are cut. To prevent sliced or cut avocado from turning brown, sprinkle a small amount of lime or lemon juice onto the flesh of the avocado, and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. To extend life further, place the wrapped avocado in an airtight container and place it in the fridge.
• Avocados can last up to 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator if stored properly, and wrapped in plastic wrap with a sprinkling of lemon juice.
• Many people do not know that you can freeze avocado. To do this, you will need to peel and puree the avocado and add ½ tablespoon of lemon juice per avocado. The puree should be placed in a freezer bag or airtight container before being placed in the freezer.
• Avocado stored this way in the freezer can maintain its quality for between 3 to 6 months. They can be consumed after this amount of time, but will not have the same quality.
• Avocados that have a bad smell or appearance should be discarded.

Tricks to Keep Avocados from Turning Brown

One of the only downfalls of avocados is that they turn brown fairly quickly. This does not always affect the taste, but brown avocado is nowhere as appealing as a fresh, green slice.

Avocados turn brown due to the enzyme polyphenol oxidase, which is found under the skin. When the avocado is cut, this enzyme comes into contact with the oxygen found in the air, which turns the surface of the avocado flesh brown.

The below tricks are some of the best ways to prevent your avocados from browning too quickly.

Lemon Juice – Sprinkling some lemon or lime juice on the cut avocado is a good way to stop the surface from turning brown. The avocado will brown over time if not eaten, but the lemon or lime juice does prevent this from happening too quickly.

Plastic Wrap – Wrapping avocado in plastic wrap prevents air from reaching the surface of the flesh, which prevents browning. The top of the sliced avocado might turn slightly brown, but the flesh underneath this will still be green.

Pit – One of the easiest ways to keep an avocado from browning completely is to leave the pit in the leftover avocado half. The area that is in contact with the pit will be the last to brown, however, some of the further pieces of the avocado might turn a very light brown, but is still okay to use in a sandwich or salad.

Olive Oil – Just like plastic wrap, brushing the avocado with olive oil stops air from reaching the surface of the avocado, which encourages browning. When brushed with olive oil, the surface of the avocado might experience light browning, but the inside flesh will still be a wonderful green color.

Water – Immersing avocados in water stops the avocado flesh from being exposed to air, which helps to prevent browning. Avocado can be kept in water for up to 48 hours.

The surface of the avocado might turn slightly slimy after this amount of time, but the inside will be perfectly green, and completely fresh-tasting when eaten.

Onions – You can chop up a quarter of a red onion and place it at the bottom of a sealable container. Place the avocado skin side down on the onion.

The vapors emitted from the onion prevent the avocado from browning, but there will be no transfer of flavor between the onion and the avocado as the flesh of the avocado will not be in contact with the onion.

Avocado Sandwich Suggestions

Most of us would be happy having avocado with almost anything, but there are certain ingredients that pair beautifully with an avocado to make the most delicious sandwich.

• Tomatoes
• Lettuce
• Onion
• Egg
• Olives
• Red pepper
• Hummus
• Feta
• Cucumber
• Chicken

There is an insane amount of ingredients that taste great with avocado, it is up to how creative you are, and how well you store your avocado!

Avocados and Sandwiches

Thankfully, there are quite a few tips and tricks on how to extend the life of an avocado, preventing it from turning brown too quickly. When used on a sandwich, the avocado should be refrigerated in a tight storage container and consumed within a few hours.

Waiting longer than this will not necessarily mean the avocado will spoil, but it will turn an unpleasant shade of brown that will not be appealing at all. 

With the right preparation and storage, you can keep your avocados fresher for longer, eliminating any waste and allowing you to enjoy more avocados!

Related Questions

Is It Okay to Eat a Cut Avocado After One Day?

Avocados can be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days if stored properly. Avocados are delicious, but they can be expensive as well, so to make the most out of your avocado, learn how to prepare and store it to ensure it lasts long enough to be fully consumed.

Want to cut your entire sandwich in a creative way for your kiddos or to brighten your own day? Check out these cookie cutters that are perfect for sandwiches!

Can You Eat Brown Avocado?

Avocados turn brown from a chemical reaction when the green flesh is exposed to oxygen in the air. The browning of avocado does not necessarily mean it has spoiled. The brown area might taste slightly bitter, but it is fine to be eaten. If your avocado has a spoiled smell or mold, you should discard it.

Can You Eat a Whole Avocado a Day?

With there being so many ways to eat an avocado, on its own, on a sandwich or in a salad, it is really easy to eat a whole one a day. It is fine to eat an avocado a day, but if you are trying to watch your weight, you should look to eat only half an avocado a day. Avocados are a healthy source of fat, but too much can increase weight gain and work against a diet.

Can Avocado Go Bad?

Avocado, like any other fresh produce, can go bad. The best way to tell if your avocado has gone bad is to look for brown or black spots throughout the flesh. A spoiled avocado will also have an unpleasant smell. Any of these signs means you should throw the avocado away and not consume it.