How long does food last?

How long does avocado last?

Rock hard on Monday, past its best by Thursday. Avocados keep you guessing. Here's how to ripen them, store them and catch them at the right moment.

ProduceSource: USDA FoodKeeper

The short answer

3–4 days in the fridge. FoodKeeper doesn't recommend freezing it. Leave it on the counter until ripe.

Fridge3–4 days

FreezerNot advised

Freezing not recommended

CounterUntil ripe

Until ripe

1 day1 week1 month6 mo1 year

Shortest time USDA lists Longest

Bought it recently?

Pick the day you bought it to see your dates. These use the longest time USDA lists, so check the food before you eat it.

Bought it on

FridgeUse by Mon, Nov 9

Signs avocado has gone bad

The flesh is brown or black all the way through, not just one spot.
It's stringy and smells sour.
There's mold at the stem end.

How to store avocado

Ripen it on the counter, then move it to the fridge to buy a few more days.
Squeeze lemon or lime on a cut half and wrap it tightly.
FoodKeeper doesn't recommend freezing avocados.
FoodKeeper: Ripe is when this item is tender, fully developed and ready to eat.
FoodKeeper: Timeline for refrigerator applies to ripe fruit.

Avocado by the numbers

6 lbbought per person each year

33%of it never gets eaten

$5tossed per person a year

1 kgof CO₂e from that waste

How much to buy

0.5 lb a week for a family of 4

The average American goes through about 0.1 lb a week. If your household eats less than that, buy smaller and less ends up in the trash.

What a day of freshness costs

32¢ a day

A lb at $2.26 keeps about 7 days on the counter. Buy the bigger pack only if you'll use it in time.

See what your household throws away

Cook it before it turns

1 Haivenly starter recipes use avocado. Here are a few to start with.

Red Bean Quesadilla20 min · MyPlate

See how meal planning works

Questions about avocado

How long does avocado last in the fridge?

3–4 days once ripe, going by USDA FoodKeeper guidance. Your fridge temperature and how fresh it was when you bought it can change that, so check it before you use it.

Can you freeze avocado?

USDA FoodKeeper doesn't recommend freezing avocado.

How can I tell if avocado is bad?

Look for these signs: you see mold, fuzzy patches or leaking; it's gone soft, mushy or slimy; it smells sour or fermented. If you're not sure, it's safer to toss it.

How can Haivenly help with avocado?

Scan your grocery receipt and Haivenly adds what you bought to your kitchen inventory. It shows what to use first, so food gets eaten before it turns.

The date on the package doesn't know your family. Haivenly does.

Use every last bit of your avocado.

The average American tosses about $5 of avocados a year. Haivenly learns how fast your household goes through it, so you hear about it while there's still time to cook it.

Try Haivenly free for 30 days