Freezing Avocados: A Complete Guide for Avocado Lovers

Finding yourself with an excess of avocados? Avocados are one of the most versatile and nutritious fruits out there. They’re rich in healthy fats, fiber, and a wide range of vitamins and minerals. For many people, avocados have become a staple in their diets thanks to their incredible flavor, creaminess, and unique texture.

However, one of the biggest challenges of being an avocado lover is dealing with their short shelf life. Avocados can quickly become overripe or spoil, which can be frustrating and wasteful. But did you know that freezing an avocado extends its lifespan? I’m going to show you everything you need to know about freezing avocados.

Freezing Avocados A Complete Guide for Avocado Lovers

Table of Contents

Why Freeze Avocados?

Freezing avocados is an excellent way to extend their shelf life by up to 6 months. It’s an easy and convenient way to preserve avocados without sacrificing their nutrient content or flavor.

By doing this, you can enjoy them year-round, even when they’re out of season or hard to find. You can also buy avocados in bulk when they’re on sale and freeze them for later use, which can save you money in the long run.

It’s time to eliminate food waste, and the best method to do that is by freezing an avocado! The future use of freezing them can happen by simply spending a little time now to preserve them through freezing!

How to Freeze Avocados

It’s a straightforward process that doesn’t require any special equipment or skills. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to freeze avocados:

Choose ripe, unblemished avocados. Avocados should be fully ripe, but not overripe.
Cut the avocados in half, remove the seeds which are a hard pit, and scoop out the avocado flesh with a spoon.
Sprinkle the flesh with a little lemon juice or lime juice to prevent browning. Use about 1 teaspoon of juice per avocado half.
Place the avocado halves on a tray or baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper.
Place the tray in the freezer and freeze the avocados for 2-4 hours or until they’re frozen solid.
Once the avocados are frozen, remove them from the tray and transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Label the bag or container with the date and number of avocados.
Place the bag or container in the freezer and store the avocados for up to 6 months.

How to Thaw Frozen Avocados

Thawing frozen avocados is simple and can be done in a few different ways. Here are a few options:

1: Thaw in the Refrigerator

Place the frozen avocados in the refrigerator for 24 hours to thaw.
Once thawed, the avocados can be used in salads, dips, spreads, and other dishes.

2: Thaw at Room Temperature

Remove the frozen avocados from the freezer and place them on a plate or cutting board at room temperature.
Allow the avocados to thaw for 30-60 minutes or until they’re soft and thawed.
Use the thawed avocados as desired.

3: Thaw in the Microwave

Place the frozen avocados in a microwave-safe bowl or plate.
Microwave the avocados on the defrost setting for 1-2 minutes or until they’re soft and thawed.
Use the thawed avocados as desired, but be careful not to overheat them as they may become mushy or lose their flavor.

Tips for Freezing Avocados

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of freezing the avocados:

Use fully ripe, unblemished avocados for best results.
Use only a small amount of lemon juice or lime juice to prevent browning. Too much juice can make the avocados taste sour or acidic.
Freeze avocado halves separately before storing them in a freezer-safe bag or container. This will prevent them from sticking together and make them easier to thaw when needed.
Label the plastic freezer bag or an airtight bag or container with the date and number of avocados. This will help you keep track of their age and freshness.
Use frozen avocados within 6 months for best quality.
Use ice cube trays to freeze avocado chunks.
Thawed avocado can be used for tons of delicious recipes, just like a perfectly ripe avocado!

What can I make with avocados?

Chocolate avocado smoothie
Avocado hummus
Avocado smoothie recipes
Put slices of avocado on avocado toast
Put the avocado in ice cream or actually make avocado ice cream
Make avocado puree
Make baby food
Salad dressings
Make guacamole with the creamy texture
Mashed avocado for adding to the top of anything
Add to any Mexican recipe such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or tostadas

What if I don’t like the taste of avocado recipes?

Avocado freezes really well and the freezing process is super easy. However, if you don’t like the taste of avocado, one of the best parts of this food is that if you put it in something else, you can’t really taste it but you still get the nutrition. Some people don’t like the texture of avocado, but by mixing it with other foods you still get the health benefits of avocado without the mushy texture!

If the texture isn’t an issue for you, consider freezing mashed avocado. You still prepare it with citric juice to help keep it from browning as much or as fast. This approach requires you to either peel the avocado or cut it in half with a sharp knife and scoop out the flesh so it can be mashed with a fork or potato masher. Try to accomplish this as fast as you can so you can keep as much air from affecting the color of the flesh as possible.

You may be able to keep the mashed avocado looking fairly fresh after you put the citric juice on it by putting it in an airtight container that has a good seal and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to freeze it.

More Tips for Freezing

What are the health benefits of eating avocado?

There are a number of health benefits when you eat a diet that includes avocado:

They have been shown to be healthy for your heart.
The lutein and zeaxanthin in avocado help maintain vision health.
Vitamin K has been known to help with bone health and as you age, osteoporosis can be an issue. Avocado has this vitamin as part of its lineup of nutrients.
The fiber content of avocados can help move things along as part of your daily digestion process.
Although there aren’t currently any studies that show avocados can reduce your risk of cancer, they do contain certain compounds that could possibly help prevent the onset of some cancers.
When people are found to have an absence of folate in their system they seem to be prone to depression. Avocados have folate, so it’s certainly worth a try to maintain your folate levels through avocado consumption.

Final Word

Freezing avocados is a simple and effective way to extend their shelf life and enjoy them year-round. By following our guide and tips, you can easily thaw them when you need them for your favorite dishes. Ripe avocados are so nice, but it’s also wonderful when you can grab some thawed avocado and put it to quick use so it tastes as good as a fresh avocado. Freezing an avocado is easier than you ever thought possible! May God Bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Avocado Cut Open AdobeStock_79978154 By nata_vkusidey, Avocado Toast with Egg AdobeStock_514994380 By Евгений Логвиненко, Avocado Toast AdobeStock_220266464 By Fudio