How to Preserve Avocado

Preserving avocados is so easy - that you'll never waste another avocado again!

You've won the culinary lottery! You've found perfectly ripened avocados, ON SALE!, but you know your luck is short-lived when they all become ripened at once, and you just can't eat them all in time. And, because of their fat content (much like nuts), you can't just throw them in a jar and stick them on a shelf!

So what are you going to do with those avocados?

First, let's talk a little bit about avocados.

How to Tell if an Avocado is Ripe

• Look at the stem - pull off the stem bud if it's not already gone. If the flesh underneath is still green or a very light brown, you're good! If it's a darker brown, put it back - it's too ripe.
• Give it a little pressure - there should be some give in the avocado, but not mush. If you want to purchase and allow them to ripen, get ones that are hard and set them out to ripen naturally.
• Weight is heavy for size - Avocados that are light for their size are too far gone to purchase.

How to Store Avocados

• On your counter - avocados are best stored on the countertop, especially when trying to ripen.
• In a paper bag - if you'd like to hurry the ripening process a little, store your avocados in a brown paper bag
• In the fridge - once your avocados have hit the ripened stage, it's fine to store them in the fridge to slow down any ripening process. It won't stop, but it will slow it down and give you an extra day or two.
• Cut, in the fridge - If you've already cut your avocados, you can use plastic wrap to cover or one of the new silicone gadgets to hug avocados.

How to Preserve Avocados

The basis of all preservation of avocados is to stop the oxygenation of the surface layer of the fruit. Thus, an acid is needed, usually in the form of lemon or lime (my preferred way), a citrus enhancer (Fruit Fresh), or even white vinegar.

Texture issue? Your mileage may vary for texture. I do not like eating frozen avocado that has been thawed on its own. It is smashed to add to something else. Whether on avocado toast, as guacamole, in a smoothie, etc.

One of the easiest, and most common, methods is to freeze avocados. I grew up believing you couldn't freeze avocados, but you can! Let's walk through the steps...

Freezing Avocados

In all instances, cut your avocado open, discard the pit, and sprinkle your citrus juice liberally.

Preserve Avocado Smashed

You can choose to do this as just smashed avocado or full-blown guacamole.

This is my favorite way - it just makes everything easier every step of the way.

1. Cut the avocado in half.
2. Discard the pit
3. Scoop out the flesh with a spoon
4. Smash avocados with a fork, potato masher, or even use your mixer on low
5. Fill freezer bags with approximately 2 cups worth (4 avocados)
6. Lay flat in the freezer to freeze
7. I store multiple quart bags into gallon-sized bag

Preserve Avocado Whole

There are those who just toss an avocado into the freezer. Then, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Give it a try!

Avocado Halves

1. Cut the avocado in half
2. Discard the pit
3. Sprinkle with juice
4. Place in a quart-sized freezer bag
5. Remove as much air as possible with a straw (I happen to use stainless steel straws as part of our reduced waste kitchen)
6. Double bag for up to a month.

Alternatively, you can cut it in half, sprinkle it with juice, and wrap it in plastic wrap to freeze. 

As a caveat -- using freezer storage bags like this are meant for short-term only. I sacrificed an avocado to the freezer gods (and it hurt so much to do because I love me some avocado!) to show you what happens -- even with lime or lemon juice.

Zip-top freezer bags are air permeable. They are not airtight. So using them with avocados should be for a month or less. Anything more and you need to use a vacuum sealer.

Vacuum Sealed Avocado Halves

1. Cut the avocado in half.
2. Discard the pit.
3. Sprinkle with juice.
4. Place in a vacuum seal bag.
5. Vacuum seal and label.

You'll see this vacuum sealing process was with avocados not in their skin. They did get squished in the process, but that's okay!

Diced

I prefer to do this with avocados that are not quite soft. Diced cubes hold up better for me. But it also depends on the kind of avocado you are using, too. You can see in the photo that these were just a wee bit soft, and left smaller schmutz behind (is that a word?) But they froze just fine, didn't they? I use a spatula to pry them up since I didn't use a silicone sheet first. You could use parchment if you wanted, but it really isn't necessary.

1. Cut the avocado in half.
2. Discard the pit
3. Slice the avocado pieces in thirds in both directions
4. Use a spoon to scoop onto a tray
5. Sprinkle liberally with juice
6. Flash freeze in your freezer
7. Bag and remove as much air as possible

Preserve Avocado by Pickling

Pickled avocados may be an acquired taste for some, but it is a great process for preserving your fruit!

Preserve Avocado by Freeze Drying

If you've got a freezer dryer, put that puppy to work and freeze-dry those avocados.

Avocado Fries

You can create this dish and flash freeze before baking.

Can you dehydrate Avocados?

Generally, avocados are on the do not dehydrate list because of their fat content and because they are not shelf-stable once dehydrated.

However, many a person has tried - and results vary for the results as far as snacks are concerned.

Ways to use smashed avocado

• Guacamole
• Baby Food
• Frosting
• Pancakes
• Pudding
• Ice Cream

End Results!

So, do you think you'll try this now that you CAN freeze avocados to preserve them? And with the extra methods I gave you, there's no reason why you should let your avocados just ripen to the point of being unusable if you can't eat them quickly enough! Preserve them!!!!!!!!!!

Which is your favorite method to use - or which will you be excited to try?

Check out more in the Preserving Series: