If you are like myself, you have probably heard that if you eat avocado passed when it is most fresh, it could possibly give you food poisoning. Many of us are left wondering can you eat an overripe avocado, or do you have to chuck it away as waste?
In this article we will explore what counts as a spoilt avocado and what counts as an overripe avocado.
Table of Contents
- Is Brown Avocado Safe To Eat?
- Can You Get Sick From Eating A Bad Avocado?
- Can You Freeze Overripe Avocado?
- What Can You Do With Overripe Avocados?
- Refrigerated Avocado Turned Brown
- FAQs
- Double Check You Avocado If It Is Brown
Is Brown Avocado Safe To Eat?
Is it ok to eat an avocado that is brown inside? The answer to this one is a little complicated.
Yes, it is okay to eat avocado if it has turned brown inside as long as it has not spoiled. Although, an avocado turning brown or any other major differences in appearance can be a sign that the avocado has turned rancid. This means that if you consume it you will most likely end up quite sick.
When trying to work out if your avocado is rotten or overripe there are some key signs to look out for.
An overripe avocado can be described as soft and mushy in texture. When you squeeze the avocado, if it is overripe it should leave a mark on the outer avocado skin.
If you are looking to see if your avocado is spoiled there are some key differences in signs. A spoiled avocado will have a change in smell, a rancid scent. If there is a chemical odor from the avocado, the oxygen starts to break down the oils in the avocado. An overripe avocado will not have this smell.
If the avocado flesh has turned from light green to a dark yellow or dark brown shade all over, this could be another sign that it has spoiled.
If your avocado is brown inside when cut open, it still might be okay. When the light green flesh of the avocado comes into contact with oxygen, a chemical reaction happens. The flesh will start to turn from light green to brown. If it is only the top layer of the avocado that has turned brown, then your avocado should be okay to eat.
Can You Get Sick From Eating A Bad Avocado?
Can spoiled avocado make you sick? Yes, spoiled avocado if consumed can make you very ill. You may experience food poisoning if you have eaten a spoiled avocado. The presence of mold when eaten is enough to give you food poisoning.
You may experience food poisoning by feeling nauseous, having diarrhea or vomiting.
What Happens If You Eat Bad Avocado?
If your avocado has turned rancid and the taste and odor has changed from what it was like when it was a light green color then it could make you unwell. When a food goes rancid it has become there has been a formation of toxic compounds. If you consume these toxic compounds you could end up unwell with symptoms of food poisoning.
Can You Freeze Overripe Avocado?
Yes, you can freeze avocado whole or cut it into pieces if you desire. Avocado will survive being frozen better if it is cut into pieces, peeled or sliced before it is frozen.
If you would like to prevent the light green flesh from turning brown you can add lemon juice to prevent browning.
What Can You Do With Overripe Avocados?
It is safe to eat overripe avocado despite what you may have been told. Just because your avocado is overripe does not mean it has spoiled. If your avocado shows any signs of spoiling or is starting to grow mold or fungus, then you need to chuck it away immediately and make sure you do not consume it otherwise you may experience symptoms of food poisoning.
We have a unique overripe avocado recipe you can use if you have some leftover avocados that do not look appealing to eat on their own.
Here is a step by step method to make a avocado chocolate pudding with overripe avocados:
You will need:
- 4 overripe avocadoes
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp honey
How to Make Avocado Chocolate Pudding
Step 1:
Add all the ingredients, including the peeled overripe avocados to a food processor.
Step 2:
Blend the ingredients until the mixture is of a smooth consistency and fully combined.
Step 3:
Use a spatula to remove all the pudding from food processor. Then place the pudding into a large mixing bowl.
Step 4:
Cover the bowl in plastic wrap and place in the fridge to set for up to 1 hour.
Refrigerated Avocado Turned Brown
If your avocado has turned black in the fridge it may not mean what you think it means. If your avocado has turned black when you have placed it in the fridge, you may think that it has spoiled. This is not the case!
The reason your avocado has turned black in the fridge is because it has had a chemical reaction with the oxygen. When oxygen comes into contact with the light green flesh of an avocado, the enzymes can help produce brown pigments called melanin. These brown spots will not look appealing but it does not mean that they are dangerous to consume. If you consume a small part of brown avocado you will not experience any food poisoning symptoms.
FAQs
Can You Get Sick From Eating An Avocado That Isn’t Ripe?
The quick answer is no, you are more likely to get sick from an avocado if it is overripe and has turned bad. If you eat an avocado that has not yet become ripe, it will not cause you any health issues. This is because avocado that has not yet become ripe is not a toxic food and therefore will not negatively affect your body. If you eat a large amount of avocado that has not yet become ripe then you could experience an upset stomach or diarrhea due to the large amount of fiber that avocados contain.
What Does A Ripe Avocado Look Like On The Inside?
An avocado that is ripe and ready to eat will have a light green shade of flesh and have a slightly soft, creamy texture. If your avocado looks like it has brown or black spots throughout the light green flesh then this can be a sign that your avocado is overripe.
Double Check You Avocado If It Is Brown
Your avocado turning brown does not necessarily mean that it is spoiled, it could just be that it has come into contact with oxygen and has a chemical reaction. You can safely eat an overripe avocado but make sure there is no signs of it being spoiled.
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