This Hack Saves Your Avocados For An Entire Year (2024)

Well, it depends.

By Allison Arnold
This Hack Saves Your Avocados For An Entire Year (1)

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Ever need an avocado, but all the ones at the store are far from ripe? Or maybe it's peak avocado season and you wish you could stock up and buy 20—but we all know avocados don't last long.

Thanks to the freezer, you can stock up on in-season produce and eat it year-round. From broccoli and peas to berries and mango, we freeze all kinds of produce. So why not avocado?

Can You Freeze An Avocado?

Yes, you can freeze avocados. You can even find frozen chunks of avocado in the freezer aisle at some grocery stores. But be warned, freezing avocado can change its flavor and texture, causing it to lose its buttery feel and taste, according to Avocados From Mexico.

Once thawed, the company says that mashed avocado might be grainy, and sliced or cubed avocado can turn mushy. So, yes, you can freeze avocado, but once thawed it might not be the best for avocado toast or topping colorful summer salads. Rather, we suggest using it in dips or smoothies where it's not the star ingredient (sorry, guac).

How Do You Freeze An Avocado?

Beyond diced avocado, there are severals ways you can freeze them depending on how you intend to use your avocados. And now that you're about to always have avocados on hand, make sure to keep these 70 avocado recipes bookmarked.

Here are all the ways you can freeze avocado:

Yes, you can throw whole avocados right in the freezer. You'll want to wrap them in plastic wrap or secure them in a plastic bag. They can also be halved or cut into slices with the skin left on, or cut into cubes with the skin removed.

To keep your avocados from turning brown, MasterClass recommends spritzing cut avocados with citrus juice and removing as much air as possible from storage bags. It's also recommended to lay cubed avocado on a baking sheet, and once the pieces freeze, transfer them to a plastic freezer bag. This method will also keep the pieces from sticking together.

You can also mash avocado (with some added citrus juice!) and store it in an airtight freezer container, or even an ice cube tray. This is an ideal method if you want to make dips, dressings, baked goods, or smoothies.

This Hack Saves Your Avocados For An Entire Year (3)

How To Thaw Frozen Avocado

How do you thaw frozen avocado when you're ready to use it? First, frozen avocado doesn't always need to be thawed—it works great for blending into smoothies. But you can also thaw avocado by placing it in the refrigerator or setting it on the counter for a few hours.

How Can You Use Frozen Avocado?

Once thawed, frozen avocado isn't going to have the creamy texture or rich flavor it has when fresh. So you should use it in recipes where it doesn't stand on its own and the flavor and consistency of fresh avocado isn't key. Throw frozen chunks into the blender for a green smoothie, or thaw it and use in this copycat Trader Joe's Green Goddess Dressing, avocado pancakes, or chocolate avocado bread.

How Long Does Frozen Avocado Last?

It's better to use frozen avocado sooner than later. It should last one to two months in the freezer, according to Avocados From Mexico.

This Hack Saves Your Avocados For An Entire Year (5)

Allison Arnold

Associate Editor

Expertise: food & culture (Sustainability, Health, Travel)

Education: M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University, B.S. in Information Science (User Experience Design) from the University of Michigan

About Me: As the Associate Editor at Delish, Allie is a writer, reporter, and producer of features at the intersection of food and culture. Before Delish, Allie worked for publications including Apartment Therapy and Insider. She even spent time working in restaurants and breweries. Allie has dumpster-dived in NYC to expose food waste, reported on the invasive lionfish you can eat, and wrote about the growing trend of weed weddings. Her health and nutrition stories on hydration culture, bananas, and coffee have generated nearly 2M combined views. She loves traveling, running, and eating her way through new places and even has a thorough Google Maps ranking system for her favorite restaurants and bars! When not writing about food, she's planning her next trip, lifting weights, or training for a race.

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This Hack Saves Your Avocados For An Entire Year (2024)

FAQs

This Hack Saves Your Avocados For An Entire Year? ›

To keep your avocados from turning brown, MasterClass recommends spritzing cut avocados with citrus juice and removing as much air as possible from storage bags. It's also recommended to lay cubed avocado on a baking sheet, and once the pieces freeze, transfer them to a plastic freezer bag.

How do restaurants keep avocados from turning brown? ›

According to Chef Betsy Wiegand of Great White, a coastal-Californian cafe in Venice Beach, California, adding a squeeze of lemon to a cut avocado can help prevent browning. To further preserve its hue, she also emphasizes the importance of storing it completely covered to reduce the oxygen exposure.

Is it better to freeze avocados whole or sliced? ›

How to Freeze Avocados. Whole avocados can become mushy after freezing and thawing. For best results, cut the avocado into slices or cubes before freezing says Amanda Izquierdo, M.P.H., R.D., L.D.N., public relations and advertising manager at the Hass Avocado Board.

How do you preserve avocados long time? ›

How to store avocados long-term? To keep avocados fresh longer, store them in the refrigerator. Be sure to check them daily so they don't overripen!

How do Mexican restaurants keep guacamole from turning brown? ›

Pour a thin but visible layer of water or lemon/lime juice over the guacamole to form a barrier with the air. Cover the dish with plastic wrap, pushing the wrap, so it is flush with the guacamole to prevent air pockets, or put the guacamole in a sealed tub.

How much lemon juice to keep avocado from turning brown? ›

The Citrus Method: Acid is said to slow down the process of browning. Some people rub the cut side of an avocado with lemon juice. Alton Brown recommends tossing with 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice for each diced avocado.

Do avocados taste good after being frozen? ›

Because water expands when the avocado freezes, its texture will change. This means frozen and thawed avocados will not be as fresh, flavorful, or buttery as a fresh avocado. That's why we do not recommend freezing avocados — good thing fresh, ripe Avocados From Mexico are always in season!

What can I do with excess avocados? ›

Waste Saving Ideas
  1. Guac Avo-Obvi. Served up with salty chips and a refreshing beverage, cool, spicy guacamole is a summertime staple.
  2. Smoothies and Shakes. ...
  3. Hummus. ...
  4. Chocolate Mousse. ...
  5. Baked Goods. ...
  6. Paletas. ...
  7. Salad Dressing. ...
  8. Mayo Replacer.
Jul 31, 2018

Do you freeze avocados with the skin on? ›

How to Freeze a Whole Avocado with the Skin On. Freezing whole avocados is simple. Simply put them in the freezer whole - they'll last for up to three months there.

Can dogs have avocado? ›

Key takeaway. Dogs can eat small portions of an avocado's mesocarp (inner area). Large portions can cause vomiting & diarrhea due to persin - a toxin in avocados. Persin is more prevalent in the leaves and skin of avocados and the seeds are choking hazards, so if your dog eats an entire avocado, contact your vet.

Can you eat an avocado after it's been frozen? ›

Many people find it unappealing to eat plain or in salads due to the changes in texture, but it's perfectly safe to do so if you wish. Seasonings and extra ingredients may help mask the mushiness and other changes associated with freezing. Frozen avocado should be thawed at room temperature for approximately 1 hour.

How do you defrost frozen avocados? ›

While the bag has instructions for how to microwave, we found the best way was to let them thaw on the counter. Microwaving the avocado chunks just risks them getting too warm and ruining the texture. They only need to thaw at room temperature for about an hour (we found even less time works too sometimes).

How do restaurants preserve avocados? ›

The main goal is to prevent oxygen from touching the avocado's flesh. Plastic wrap is a practical, albeit not foolproof way to slow down the natural course of fruit aging. The trick is to make sure the plastic wrap is sealed flush with the flesh.

Do avocados last longer in the fridge or on the counter? ›

Until they're fully ripe, avocados should be stored at room temperature. Placing an unripe avocado in the refrigerator will slow the ripening process, but the same concept applies to ripe avocados: put them in the refrigerator to keep them at their prime ripeness for longer.

How does commercial guacamole stay green? ›

But as every guac fan knows, the stuff has a tendency to look nasty in a hurry, a problem only compounded when the product is made in advance. Fortunately for Wholly, the brand had already pioneered a high-pressure process that removes all the air from the container, so the batch doesn't oxidize and turn brown.

How does Chipotle keep their guacamole so green? ›

Each panned guac gets sealed airtight with Saran Wrap,” he said. “Then it gets lidded, labeled and stored for later use. This process ensures freshness and prevents browning,” he continued.

How long does cut avocado last before turning brown? ›

Once cut, it will be several hours—typically at least four hours—before the avocado starts to turn brown. Browning may occur more quickly if the avocado was overly ripe before blanching. If you are making guacamole, adding lime juice will help prevent browning even longer.

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