Never throw out an avocado again! Learn how to freeze avocados with these tips and help them last longer and reduce waste. Add frozen avocado pieces into your smoothies or thaw for avocado toast or guacamole.
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Now and then, I come across a freezing tip that’s quite life-changing – freezing avocados is one of them!
Frozen fruits and vegetables are a great way to stock up and save money. I’ve shared how to freeze spinach, strawberries, cherries, blueberries, bananas, and apples.
I am embarrassed when I think about the number of avocados I’ve thrown out over the years. Is it just me, or does an avocado go from ripe to rotten in a matter of minutes? Okay, maybe not that fast, but it sure feels that way.
Never again will I throw out avocados.
Today, I’m going to show you how to freeze avocados. Not only will this prevent wasting food, but now you can stock up when they’re on sale to save money.
The Ingredients
Ripe avocados – Avocado won’t ripen after it’s frozen, so start with ripe avocado. The best way to decide whether an avocado is ripe or not is to hold and inspect it.
If it’s ripe, then:
- The skin color will be dark green, almost black.
- The skin will have some give to it when you gently squeeze the avocado.
- The skin will be bumpy.
Ripe avocados have a creamy texture and work best in recipes.
Lemon or lime juice (not pictures) – the acidity from the juice helps slow down the browning process.
FAQs
The best way to keep frozen avocado from browning is to liberally squirt lemon or lime juice on the avocado slice or mix it into the mashed avocado before freezing. The acidity from the juices slows down the browning process. Of course, it won’t stop browning completely, so plan to use the avocado immediately after it thaws.
The skin will be dark black, and when you squeeze the avocado, it will be mushy. If this is the case, then throw the avocado out because you can no longer freeze it.
Yes, Guacamole will freeze for up to 3 months. So, if you already turned those beautiful avocados into a delicious Guacamole, freeze the extras for snacks later on.
How to Freeze Avocados
Freeze Whole
If you’re looking for simplicity, then this is the easiest way to freeze avocados.
Wash the skin and then wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze. To thaw, remove the avocado from the freeze and let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Truthfully, this is my least favorite to freeze avocado. I prefer the other methods because this makes the avocados ready to use in smoothies or other recipes without extra work.
Freeze Into Chunks or Slices
In this method, cut the fresh avocado in half lengthwise. Remove and discard the pit. Then cut the avocado halves into slices or chunks and carefully remove the skin.
You can also remove the skin before cutting or slicing, but I find it easier to do this afterward.
Place the avocado slices on a plate or tray and squeeze lemon or lime juice on them. The acidity from the juice helps to prevent browning.
Put the plate of avocado slices into the freezer for an hour or so – this is called flash freezing, Then place the frozen avocado into bags and freeze.
Mash the Avocados and Freeze
My favorite way to freeze avocado is to mash and freeze! After removing the avocado from the skin, discard the pit, place it into a bowl, use a fork or masher, and mash the avocado until you get the consistency you want.
You can also use a food processor if you want a creamy and smooth texture. If you’re going to make baby food, then this is the processing method I’d recommend.
Squirt in lemon or lime juice so the avocado doesn’t turn brown. Then portion out into Ziploc bags or containers.
My favorite way to freeze mashed avocado is using two tablespoon portions silicone trays – like this one from Souper cubes (shown in picture). This tray allows you to freeze avocado into the perfect amount for avocado toast or smoothies.
How to thaw
Frozen avocado is not going to look as good as fresh avocado slices or chunks. However, it’s still tasty, nutritious, and can be used in numerous recipes.
To thaw frozen avocado, take out the amount needed and place it in an airtight container to thaw in the fridge. This can take anywhere from 4-6 hours, depending on the amount of avocado you want to thaw. So, if you’re going to use it for breakfast on toast, then I recommend taking it out the night before.
The avocado might brown a little bit as it thaws, but don’t worry, after you mix it up or use it with other ingredients, it’ll look green and work just fine. I use this method when making guacamole, salad dressing, or using with tacos or burritos.
You can also thaw in the microwave. I’ll put the mashed avocado or slices in the microwave and heat for 25 – 60 seconds or until thawed but still cold. After I mix it up, it becomes the perfect temperature. I use this method when making avocado toast or using in a recipe like brownies.
You don’t need to thaw avocado when using it in smoothie recipes. Just toss in a few slices or ¼ cup of mashed avocado and blend.
What can you do with frozen avocado?
I think the question is, “what can’t you do with frozen avocado.” Any recipe that calls for fresh avocado can use frozen. Of course, unless you’re making smoothies, you will need to thaw it first.
Here are recipes and ideas for using frozen avocado:
How to Freeze Avocados
Never throw out an avocado again! Learn how to freeze avocados with these tips and help them last longer and reduce waste. Add frozen avocado pieces into your smoothies or thaw for avocado toast or guacamole.
Print Pin Rate
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 60kcal
Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocados
- 1 lemon or lime
Instructions
To Freeze Whole
To Freeze in Chunks or Slices
-
Cut the fresh avocado in half lengthwise. Remove and discard the pit. Then cut the avocado halves into slices or chunks and carefully remove the skin.
-
Place the avocado slices on a plate or tray and squeeze lemon or lime juice on them.
-
Put the plate of avocado slices into the freezer for an hour or so – this is called flash freezing, Then place the frozen avocado into bags and freeze.
Mash the Avocados and Freeze
-
After removing the avocado from the skin, discard the pit, place it into a bowl, use a fork or masher, and mash the avocado until you get the consistency you want.
-
Squirt in lemon or lime juice so the avocado doesn’t turn brown. Then portion out into Ziploc bags or containers or 2 tablespoon silicone trays (my favorite)
Notes
How to thaw
To thaw frozen avocado, take out the amount needed and place it in an airtight container to thaw in the fridge. This can take anywhere from 4-6 hours, depending on the amount of avocado you want to thaw. So, if you’re going to use it for breakfast on toast, then I recommend taking it out the night before. The avocado might brown a little bit as it thaws, but don’t worry, after you mix it up or use it with other ingredients, it’ll look green and work just fine. I use this method when making guacamole, salad dressing, or using with tacos or burritos. You can also thaw in the microwave. I’ll put the mashed avocado or slices in the microwave and heat for 25 – 60 seconds or until thawed but still cold. After I mix it up, it becomes the perfect temperature. I use this method when making avocado toast or using in a recipe like brownies. You don’t need to thaw avocado when using it in smoothie recipes. Just toss in a few slices or ¼ cup of mashed avocado and blend.
Nutrition
Calories: 60kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 3mg | Fiber: 3g
I hope you found this How to Freeze Avocados guide helpful! If so, I’d love for you to rate this recipe and leave a comment below. We all learn from each other’s experiences. Also, it would be awesome if you could share a picture on Instagram and tag it #organizeyourselfskinny. I can’t wait to see it!