Can I eat this? Avocado with cut and Covid risk.

April 12, 2020 6:18 PM

I had groceries delivered two days ago and discovered that the avocado I bought as a cut in it. Usually I wash produce in soap and water. However, I'm worried that the cut means that any potential Covid contamination couldn't be washed off, and that possible virus particles could be in the avocado itself.
posted by anonymous to Food & Drink (9 answers total)

Remove/cut out the section with the cut like you would any other bad spot. It'll be fine.
posted by chrisamiller at 6:20 PM on April 12, 2020 [9 favorites]

I wouldn’t think twice about it. You could cut that section out, sure.
posted by amaire at 6:26 PM on April 12, 2020 [2 favorites]

The virus doesn't last two days on soft materials like an avocado.
posted by capricorn at 6:46 PM on April 12, 2020 [4 favorites]

If you're really worried, you can microwave it. Avocado doesn't change state much when cooked, it'll just be a bit softer.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:47 PM on April 12, 2020

Unlike bacteria (or molds), viruses can't reproduce on their own, so cutting out the exposed part will take care of it.
posted by needs more cowbell at 7:00 PM on April 12, 2020 [4 favorites]

You shouldn’t wash any produce with soap and water. Produce is porous and soap is not fit for human consumption.
posted by Automocar at 7:44 PM on April 12, 2020 [36 favorites]

Also, washing produce with soap is not a good idea.
posted by doctord at 7:44 PM on April 12, 2020 [12 favorites]

It is not clear that, short of heating the avocado to a high temperature, that microwaving will kill the corona virus.
posted by rdr at 7:47 PM on April 12, 2020 [1 favorite]

But you're smart to think about this in general -- cutting produce without washing it adequately first is a known source of listeria contamination, I remember reading.
posted by slidell at 8:05 PM on April 12, 2020