Avocados will stay fresh for one month longer and won't go brown or hard with an easy storage hack

Avocados are a summer favourite and make the perfect addition to any breakfast, but there's nothing more disappointing than cutting into the fruit only to find it has turned brown and spoiled. But, an expert has recommended a brilliant hack .

It can be annoying to waste both money and food, but it appears that many people have been storing their avocados incorrectly , as they should never be kept in water.

Amy Lynn Cross, a chef and founder of The Cross Legacy, revealed that keeping avocados in water is a common food storage hack on social media, but it actually promotes bacteria growth which can contaminate the fruit.

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She stated: "These tips show people storing whole and halved avocados in water to keep them fresh longer. It has been all over social media. In reality, it could be making you sick."

Instead, there's a much safer and more effective method to keep avocados fresh for up to a month longer.

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How to properly store avocados to keep them fresh for longer

Rather than having to discard spoiled fruit, the best way to store avocados is to wash them thoroughly to remove bacteria, dry them, and then put them in an air-tight container.

Amy explained: "My 'secret elixir' for washing avocados is actually quite simple and easy on the budget. It's composed of two ingredients: cool water and five percent distilled white vinegar."

It might sound odd, but washing avocados and other fruits in a vinegar solution will kill any bacteria or contamination on the skin, helping to extend their shelf life.

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Firstly, take off any stickers from the avocado skins and pop them into a bowl of cold water mixed with 60ml of white vinegar.

Start a timer for two minutes before dunking the avocados in, and be sure not to leave the fruit in any longer, or you might end up tasting the vinegar in your avocado.

After the time's up, wash away the vinegar mix with tap water and let the avocados air dry.

It's crucial they're bone dry before you tuck them away; otherwise, you're inviting bacteria and mould to the party.

Now, if your avocados are still a bit hard, keep them in a fruit bowl; but if they're ready to eat, chuck them in the fridge to halt the ripening.

For the best shelf life, stash your avocados with lemons they're mates that keep each other from going off too fast. But steer clear of putting them next to apples or bananas, as these will make them ripen at warp speed.

Amy revealed: "I have always stored my avocados in a drawer next to my lemons. It turns out that they help each other last longer."

"I won't get into the science behind this here, but unlike lemons, apples and bananas do not mix well with avocados. They speed up the ripening process."