Food prices are as high as ever with lots of people looking for ways to save cash when stocking up fridges and cupboards.
So it is no wonder that hacks to keep food fresh for longer have been going viral lately as many try to keep both their waste and spending down.
However, one hack claiming to keep avocados fresh has been slammed by experts who are warning the trick could actually cause stomach upset because of the bacteria it may create. The storage method - which has gone viral on TikTok - has been hailed "genius" by many viewers as the video aims to help keep the fruit from going brown prematurely by soaking them in water.
But the method could actually give bacteria the perfect place to thrive, meaning eating avocados stored in this way could make you sick by causing diarrhoea, reports the Mirror.
The trick can apparently help slow down the oxidisation process which then stops the fruit from ripening too soon. Despite this potentially being true, the method also gives bacteria the space the breed with nastiness such as listeria and salmonella being found on the surface of some avocados.
Issuing the warning, Scott Evans of Pink Storage Cardiff, told the Daily Mail: "When we became aware of this trend we saw that people were using this trick and that it was working for them. Submerging the avocado in water slows down the oxidisation process which causes your avocado to over-ripen.
"While it's clear the hack does keep your avocados fresher for longer, you shouldn't be using this social media hack as it is dangerous. When you submerge your avocados in the water you are creating an environment that allows human pathogens such as listeria and salmonella to thrive."
The warning was backed up by Dr Duane Mellor at Birmingham's Aston University, who explained that while the bacteria "harmlessly exists" on the skin of an avocado, the risk of picking up the bacteria is increased when then fruit has been soaked in water.
According to the NHS, salmonella can cause vomiting, a high temperature, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea.
Listeria causes a more rare infection called listeriosis, causing similar symptoms as food poisoning as well as aches, pains and chills.
Listeriosis is mainly caused by chilled, ready-to-eat foods such as cooked meats, pre-packed sandwiches as well as some fruits and blue cheese.
However, the NHS website explained that: "These foods do not always cause listeriosis. If you have eaten them recently, you do not need to do anything unless you get symptoms of the infection."
Instead of soaking avocados in water, experts suggest wrapping them in cling film or keeping the pit inside the fruit in a bid to keep them fresher for longer.
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