If you're struggling to stop your mashed avocado from turning brown, there's one item you'll have at hand that could prevent it from happening12:36, 26 May 2026Avocados are a but they can be tricky to keep fresh, with its flesh turning brown very quickly once the skin is peeled away. This can also be true if you scoop the flesh out of the skin and make smashed avo or a guacamole.‌The fruit turns brown due to oxidation. When the fruit is cut, an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase inside the cells is exposed to oxygen in the air.‌This triggers a chemical reaction that converts compounds in the fruit into brown pigments, resulting in a less than appealing appearance when it comes to eating it. However, a lifestyle and DIY content creator shared a nifty trick she uses to keep mashed avocado and guacamole fresher and greener for longer.‌Erin Bowleware, better known as @keyitserintay on Instagram, revealed her secret to long lasting avocado is to replace the stone in the middle of the guacamole. In a Reel done in collaboration with The Feed Feed, she simply places the stone into the centre of guacamole, that’s already in a tub, before covering tightly with cling film.Erin wrote in the post’s caption: “Guac hack you’ll actually use! Placing the avocado pit back in your homemade guac + a few easy tricks keeps it greener, fresher, and party-ready longer.‌“Note: my recipe calls for a little lemon juice, I add just a tiny bit of water over the top, and then the air tight plastic wrap is the primary key player here. All of these details combined made our guac last through an entire pool party!“Perfect for 4th of July snacks, summer BBQs, or let’s-be-honest, when you’re just hoarding the dip for yourself.”Content cannot be displayed without consent‌The Reel has already been viewed over 471,000 times, receiving 3,884 likes and 146 comments. Wild Food Story replied: “The primary key player is the avocado stone, I believe - it’s done all over Mexico to keep big bowls of guacamole fresh. I didn’t see them also use plastic wrap. I use this trick at home and it really works.”Shelley commented: “I actually did know this. My friend grandma taught me this.”Home with Hart dubbed the hack: “Game changer!”‌Another said, “So smart perfect for parties or pool days.”However, not everyone was convinced. She Cooks Healthy responded with their own suggestion, saying: “It’s a myth, to be honest. Storing in a very good air tight container is the real hack I have been using doing since last 6-7 months.”Fcochc recommended: “Actually, the avocado seed doesn't do anything. The best secret is to completely cover the avocado with a damp paper towel; this prevents it from oxidizing.”Article continues belowCory Fernandez, Associate Food Editor at The Kitchn, tested out the hack for himself. He wrote: “This method did absolutely nothing to prevent browning on any part of the surface of the guacamole. Within an hour, the guacamole started to brown a lot. The only reason this method is ranked higher than the olive oil method is that it didn’t alter the flavor of the guacamole.”