How to Freeze Avocados

Worried about your avocados going to waste? Well, they don’t have to once you learn how to freeze avocados — something you might not have realized was an option. Truth is, if done the right way, they will remain just as delicious when you’re ready to use them later.

About Avocados

Avocados are like little green treasures when it comes to fruits and veggies. In fact, you may think of them as a vegetable but they’re actually a fruit. That’s because of the big pit in the middle. It is a telltale sign of a fruit. Plus some people call them alligator pears for the skin texture and their pear shape.

This little alligator pear can be expensive so you don’t want to throw away money by letting them go to waste. Sure, it can be challenging to pick a good avocado, meaning it is just ripe enough for you to use. But it’s also easy to forget about your avocados before you get to use them in recipes like avocado fries in the air fryer. That’s where learning to freeze avocados comes into play.

Freezing avocados

You can’t just put a whole avocado in a zipper top bag and toss them in the freezer. You have to do some prep first. This includes peeling and pitting the avocado. This step prevents the avocados from turning mushy when you thaw them.

“Freezing avocados is a great way to buy them when they’re cheap and use them all year long,” says Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju of Urban Farmie. “Choose ripe avocados for freezing to ensure proper ripening post-thawing.”

Prepare your avocado

Begin by selecting perfectly ripe avocados. Fresh avocados are ripe when they yield slightly by gently squeezing them. Peel the avocados and cut them in half, remove the pit and scoop out the creamy flesh. You can cut the avocado into convenient chunks for freezing or mash it if you prefer a ready-made avocado puree for future recipes.

Season

Sprinkle the avocado with lemon or lime juice before freezing to prevent it from turning brown. This simple step helps maintain the avocado’s fresh green color and adds a subtle, zesty flavor to your dishes.

Freeze

Freezing diced avocado on a baking sheet: Before transferring it to a container, it is recommended freezing with this extra step. It prevents the avocado pieces from clumping together in the freezer. Spread the diced avocados on a baking sheet and freeze them until they are solid. Then, transfer the frozen pieces to a container or resealable plastic bag for easy portioning and use.

Place the prepared avocado in an airtight container or a plastic bag, squeezing out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. You can also wrap them tightly with plastic wrap to prevent ice crystals from forming. Properly sealed containers or bags are key to preserving the avocado’s flavor and texture during freezing.

Thawing and using later

Thawing frozen avocado is straightforward. To defrost, place the frozen avocados in the fridge and let them thaw overnight. Sometimes, even a few hours on a countertop until they soften is enough. But only thaw them when you’re ready to use them.

Don’t worry if they look a little different when they thaw, warns Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju of Urban Farmie. “Remember that avocados can brown after thawing,” she says, “so use them immediately.”

Frozen avocados have a range of uses. Use your frozen avocados in chocolate pudding, hummus, baby food or salad dressing, where their creaminess adds richness. You can also use them to make guacamole, where the texture remains smooth. Additionally, frozen avocado slices or chunks are perfect for topping salads, various taco recipes, chaffles or sandwiches. Enjoy all the ways you can use avocados before and after freezing.

Portions of this article originally appeared on Lowcarb-Nocarb.