How to Freeze Avocado

Can you freeze avocados? Short answer: Yes! Follow this easy tutorial to learn how to freeze avocados at peak ripeness so you can enjoy them whenever you want!

I’m a huge avocado fan and get giddy when I see them on sale for 50¢ each.

The only downside is that the low price makes me want to buy a lot, but avocados can go bad quickly!

While it’s best to enjoy diced or sliced avocados when they’re fresh, you can save them for later and make an easy guacamole or avocado toast or smear for a sandwich!

So, I started to wonder: can you freeze avocados for later?

Luckily for me (and for you), you can!

CAN YOU FREEZE AVOCADOS

Can you freeze avocados? Yes! Aside from purely LOVING avocados, there are a few reasons to consider learning how to freeze avocados:

• You can take advantage of sales and discounts
• Preparing them for the freezer is essentially the prep work for the recipe
• It’s EASY
• You only need two ingredients
• You can avoid food waste

Plus, having some avocado halves in the freezer means being able to whip up a last-minute appetizer or side dish without having to go to the store. Which is ANOTHER way we’re saving money!

THE BEST WAY TO STORE FRESH AVOCADO

Avocados ripen best at room temperature, so the best way to store them is to let them sit until they are JUST soft on the counter and then move them to the refrigerator.

I do this with all of my perfectly ripe avocados, and they’ll last WEEKS this way!

Even so, I sometimes end up with more than I can use. Then the best way to preserve avocados at peak ripeness is to freeze them.

HOW TO FREEZE AVOCADOS INGREDIENTS

How do you freeze avocados? It’s straightforward and easy, and you only need two things:

1. Peeled avocado. The skin of an avocado can negatively affect the freezing process, so you need to first remove the skin from the fruit.
2. Lime juice. Both fresh and bottled work. Lemon juice also works if that’s what you have, but I like the flavor of lime juice much better.

HOW DO YOU FREEZE AVOCADOS? STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL

Can avocado be frozen in different ways? Yes! You can freeze whole avocados, or avocado mash or slices or diced, in three simple steps.

Step 1. Slice the pitted avocados in half, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh out of the skin with a spoon.

Step 2. Mash, slice, dice, or leave whole, and coat with lime juice.

The amount of lime juice will depend on how many avocados you’re trying to freeze. All you need is a small squeeze of liquid, just enough to lightly coat the avocado. That might amount to ½ teaspoon or 1 teaspoon, depending on how much avocado you are freezing.

Step 3. Store in a freezer-safe container with as much air removed as possible.

That last step is crucial. If there is extra air in the container, the surface of the avocado will start to oxidize (turn brown), so make sure you get as much air as possible out of the container!

I prefer to store mashed avocado in a resealable plastic bag, but you could store it in ice cube trays, too. Remember to limit exposure to air, both in the ice cube tray and when you remove the cubes, so it doesn’t turn brown!

CAN AVOCADO BE FROZEN? WAYS TO USE FROZEN AVOCADO

If you love to add diced avocado to salads, like my Sweet Kale Salad, or top enchiladas or tacos with sliced avocado, like my Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas, then you’ll want to do that with fresh avocados, rather than frozen avocados.

Frozen avocados are best for situations when you don’t need a firm texture, and creaminess is the goal.

• Use frozen avocado chunks for smoothies.
• Mashed avocado is perfect for:
  • Simple Guacamole
  • Avocado toast
  • Avocado dip
• Thaw any type of frozen avocado to use in:
  • Avocado Chocolate Mousse
  • Healthy Chocolate Pie
  • Cilantro Lime Dressing
  • You blend these recipes, so the shape of the avocado doesn’t matter.

I recommend thawing frozen avocados in the fridge for a couple of hours to overnight.

INCLUDING HEALTHY FATS IN YOUR MEALS

Fat is NOT the enemy!

But you want to remember 2 things:

1. Choose the right kind of fat. Avocado, butter, and olive oil are going to satiate you more than margarine and French fries.
2. Don’t go overboard. Healthy fats add great flavor! But you don’t need a large amount to enjoy the richness they add to your meals.

Freezing avocados makes it easy to add healthy fat to your meals in moderation.

CAN YOU FREEZE AVOS AND OTHER FAQS

MORE FOODS TO FREEZE

• How to Freeze Eggs
• How to Freeze Raspberries
• You Can Freeze Cooked Pasta!
• How to Freeze Bacon
• Can You Freeze Pizza Dough? Yes!
• How to Freeze Tomato Paste