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Learn how to cut an avocado in this detailed guide! With its buttery-smooth texture and subtly nutty flavor, it’s no wonder this versatile fruit is a staple in kitchens all around the world. Find out how to peel, slice, and cube it for salads, smoothies, toast, decadent vegan desserts, and more.
Table of Contents
What is an avocado?
Originating from Central America, the avocado has an ultra-rich, buttery, and creamy flavor and texture. While the most popular type is Hass, there are over 500 different varieties of avocados!
This nutrient-dense fruit is known for its high monounsaturated fat content, which is important for heart health. It’s also rich in vitamins K, C, E, B5, B6, and folate. Plus, it’s packed with more potassium than bananas!
It’s no wonder why people have been incorporating avocados into sweet and savory recipes for centuries! Knowing how to cut an avocado properly will help you on your way to making the best guacamole, avocado toast, vegan chocolate mousse, pie, and more!
Why cutting an avocado correctly matters
When you think of cutting an avocado, you might not realize how many factors affect the fruit’s taste, texture, and overall presentation. Knowing how to cut an avocado correctly will not only help preserve its creamy texture, but it also looks so much more appetizing!
Plus, knowing how to properly handle and cut an avocado reduces the risk of kitchen accidents. Trust us, the phenomenon of ‘avocado hand’ injuries is very real!
Tools you’ll need
Before diving into how to cut an avocado, you’ll need a few items to help make your experience easier. Here are the basics:
- Sharp chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- A spoon
- A dish towel (for safety)
How to choose the perfect avocado
Selecting a high-quality avocado can make such a huge difference in the flavor and texture of your favorite dishes. Here are some tips to keep in mind at the store:
- Color: Depending on the variety, a ripe avocado typically has a dark green to black color. Avoid those with gashes or blemishes.
- Feel: The avocado should yield to gentle pressure but shouldn’t feel overly soft or have permanent indents on the skin. This means it’s past its prime.
- Size: Size generally doesn’t have an effect on ripeness. However, some avocado varieties are much larger and more watery than others, so keep that in mind.
- Weight: An avocado should feel fairly heavy for its size. This typically indicates a good water content unless the seed is taking over real estate from the flesh.
- Stem: This is one of our favorite ways to determine ripeness (it’s like a little window into what’s in store for you). If it’s green underneath, the avocado is good to go. If it’s brown, the avocado is likely overripe.
How to cut an avocado
Once you’ve determined that your avocado is ripe and ready, thoroughly wash and dry the outer skin to remove any dirt or potential contaminants.
Slice the avocado in half
Carefully hold the avocado lengthwise in one hand. Using a sharp knife in the other hand, slice into the avocado until your knife hits the pit, then rotate the avocado, keeping the knife steady, to make a cut all around the pit. Twist the two halves apart.
Remove the pit
With the avocado cut, you’ll see the pit in one of the halves. There are two methods you can use to remove it:
- Knife: Carefully strike the pit with the blade of the knife, embedding it slightly. Once it’s lodged in the pit, twist the knife gently to loosen it and remove it from the flesh.
- Spoon: If you’re uncomfortable using a knife, you can use a spoon to remove the pit. Slip the edge of the spoon between the pit and the avocado flesh and gently leverage the pit out (just be careful it doesn’t fly out and hit something).
How to peel an avocado
If you want clean-cut edges, peel the avocado before cutting it. Slice each avocado half lengthwise to quarter the avocado. Then, starting from the top edge, peel off the skin just like you would peel a banana.
You can also do this with the avocado halves, but you’ll need to be more careful not to gouge the flesh. This method works best when you want to slice avocado roses or make an aesthetically pleasing Buddha bowl.
How to slice an avocado
With an unpeeled avocado half in the palm of your hand, use your knife to make slices as thick as you want (be careful not to cut all the way through the skin). Sometimes, the slippery flesh can get on your hands or the avocado skin. If this is the case, hold onto the avocado with a tea towel or paper towel for a better grip.
For a peeled avocado, place it flat-side down on your cutting board. Make lengthwise slices all the way across the avocado. You can keep the slices thick for sandwiches or cut thinner slices for salads and garnishes.
How to cube an avocado
For avocado cubes, start with thick slices (peeled or unpeeled). Then, rotate the avocado half and cut crosswise to create small cubes. This is perfect for chopped salads, salsa, or any dish where you want small, bite-sized pieces of avocado.
Tips for cutting an avocado
- Ripeness: For visually appealing dishes, make sure your avocado is ripe but still firm. This will make it much easier to peel. If you’re making guacamole or a smoothie, it’s okay if it’s a little overripe.
- Use a towel: If your avocados are slipping around in your hands, use a dish towel to hold them while cutting to prevent any potential accidents.
- Be careful with the pit: Tap the knife into the pit carefully. You don’t want to swing too hard and miss! If necessary, just keep tapping the pit until it feels like it’s firmly in there.
How to store a cut avocado
If you end up with too much cut-up avocado on your hands, here’s what to do:
- Fridge: Before storing the cut avocado, cover all exposed portions with a bit of lemon or lime juice to prevent browning (you can also use water). Cover the avocado tightly with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days in the fridge.
- Freezer: Avocado can also be frozen, but it’s best used in smoothies or guacamole once thawed, as the texture can become a bit mushy. Freeze cubes in a single layer on a lined baking pan for a few hours, then transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3-6 months.
Avocado recipe ideas
Cut avocado can be used in so many types of vegan recipes, from savory to sweet! Check some of these ideas out:
- Avocado toast: Add avocado slices or mashed avocado to your favorite type of toasted bread, then top it with red pepper flakes, hot sauce, garlic powder, etc.
- Homemade guacamole: Mash the avocado with fresh lime, cilantro, onions, tomatoes, chiles, and a sprinkle of sea salt.
- Vegan avocado pasta: Create a luxuriously smooth pasta sauce by blending avocados with nutritional yeast, olive oil, garlic, and some salt.
- Creamy mango avocado smoothie: Combine avocados, mangoes, agave, and coconut milk for the creamiest smoothie ever!
- Avocado chocolate mousse: Blend avocados with cocoa powder, vanilla, maple syrup, plant milk, and dark chocolate chips.
- Avocado pie: Create the richest chocolate pie by adding avocado to the mix!
FAQ
To ripen an avocado quickly, place it in a brown paper bag with a banana or apple. The ethylene gas from these fruits will speed up the ripening process.
While many people use the knife method to remove an avocado pit, you should always exercise caution. Never swing the knife towards your hand. Ensure the avocado is secure in your hands or on a cutting board and your fingers are clear from the knife’s path. If you’re uncomfortable with this method, using a spoon is a safer alternative.
If the avocado is too hard, it’s likely not ripe enough to eat. Cutting into an unripe avocado may result in uneven chunks, a hard texture, and a bitter taste. It’s best to let it ripen more before cutting.
Once cut, avocados oxidize when exposed to air and start turning brown. To slow down this process, squeeze a bit of lemon or lime juice on the exposed flesh before you store it. Keeping the pit in the unused portion of the avocado can also help prevent browning.
More how to cut recipes
How to Cut an Avocado (Quickly & Efficiently)
Equipment
- Spoon
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash and dry the outer skin of the avocado to remove any dirt or potential contaminants.
- Carefully hold the avocado lengthwise in one hand. Using a sharp knife in the other hand, slice into the avocado until your knife hits the pit.
- Rotate the avocado, keeping the knife steady, to make a cut all around the pit. Twist the two halves apart.
Remove the pit
- Knife: Carefully strike the pit with the blade of the knife, embedding it slightly. Once it's lodged in the pit, twist the knife gently to loosen it and remove it from the flesh.
- Spoon: Slip the edge of the spoon between the pit and the avocado flesh and gently leverage the pit out.
Slices
- With an unpeeled avocado half in the palm of your hand, use your knife to make slices as thick as you want (be careful not to cut all the way through the skin).
- Note: You can hold onto the avocado with a tea towel or paper towel for a better grip.
Cubes
- Start with thick slices, then rotate the avocado half and cut crosswise to create small cubes. This is perfect for chopped salads, salsa, or any dish where you want small, bite-sized pieces of avocado.
Peel
- If you want clean-cut edges, peel the avocado before cutting it. Slice each avocado half lengthwise to quarter the avocado. Then, starting from the top edge, peel off the skin just like you would peel a banana.
- You can also do this with the avocado halves, but you’ll need to be more careful not to gouge the flesh. This method works best when you want to slice avocado roses or make an aesthetically pleasing Buddha bowl.
Notes
- Ripeness: For visually appealing dishes, make sure your avocado is ripe but still firm. This will make it much easier to peel. If you’re making guacamole or a smoothie, it’s okay if it’s a little overripe.
- Use a towel: If your avocados are slipping around in your hands, use a dish towel to hold them while cutting to prevent any potential accidents.
- Be careful with the pit: Tap the knife into the pit carefully. You don’t want to swing too hard and miss! If necessary, just keep tapping the pit until it feels like it’s firmly in there.
