For those who eat the egg-shaped fruit for breakfast, cutting an overripe avocado can be a waking nightmare. But one home expert is warning viewers to avoid a TikTok hack that claims to make avocados last longer.
Fortunately, she has another trick to avoid unwanted side effects.
How to use
Instagrammer Nicole Jacques (@itsnicolejacques) warned her 750,000 followers against storing avocados, limes and lemons in water.
“The FDA is actually warning us about this viral TikTok hack,” she wrote in the caption of the post. “FDA researchers also found that when avocados are kept in water, Listeria monocytogenes can penetrate into the pulp beneath the skin.”
Nicole says that while the TikTok hack creates a “pathogen soup,” there is another way to extend the lifespan of these three fruits.
Just wash with baking soda under cold water. Then store the avocados in a crisper drawer to slow down the ripening process. For lemons and limes, Nicole says to dry them before putting them in bags in the crisper.
Using a reusable Stasher bag can make this hack even healthier and more environmentally friendly by eliminating excess plastic waste.
How does it help?
Throwing food in the trash is like throwing money down the drain, and it's not good for the planet. When landfills produce decaying material, they release a powerful heat-trapping gas called methane.
The Earth's overheating is causing extreme weather events such as droughts and affecting the availability of certain foods. In many cases, this led to higher prices.
However, getting food poisoning is not a good thing.
Listeria infections can cause fever, nausea, and diarrhea, according to the Mayo Clinic. This food poisoning is also especially dangerous for pregnant women, people over 65, infants, and people with weakened immune systems.
Thankfully, Nicole's hack is one way to safely extend the life of these popular fruits. Other ways to reduce food waste and save money include eating leftovers and using apps like Too Good to Go, which sell unsold restaurant food at low prices.
what everyone is saying
One commenter shared that they unfortunately jumped on board with a viral trend, but with less-than-palatable results.
“I wish I didn’t have to learn it the hard way!” they wrote. “I thought [the avocado] I could smell the suspect…I took a bite and threw it up, but I still ended up with a stomach ache! ”
Others, however, thanked Nicole for preventing them from making a mistake.
“Good to know this!!!” said one person.
“Love you. Thanks for the tips,” another person wrote.
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