HOW TO PRESERVE AVOCADO
HOW TO PRESERVE AVOCADO
- Freezing is the only way I know of to preserve avocado (if I’m wrong and there’s another way, please let me know!).
- Once frozen, avocado purée is ready to use in guacamole, breakfast smoothies, or salad dressings.
- If you luck into a sale on avocados, are headed on a trip before you had a chance to eat the one on your counter, or are blessed to have a prolific avocado tree, this is what to do with the ones you won’t get around to eating fresh.
- Only freeze fully ripe avocados.
- They won’t get any better than they are when you put them into the freezer.
- Leave unripe avocados out at room temperature until they ripen to the point that the flesh gives easily when you press the avocado with your thumb.
- Once the avocados you want to freeze are fully soft and ripe, cut them in half lengthwise and separate the halves.
- Whack a large knife into the center of the avocado pit (watch your fingers) and twist the knife.
- The pit will come right out.
- Scoop out the avocado flesh and put it into a food processor or blender (the food processor will work better).
- Add 1 tablespoon of lemon or lime juice per 8 ounces of avocado (that’s about 1 medium avocado’s worth).
- The citrus juice prevents discoloration.
- Mix the avocado and citrus juice until smooth.
- Do not leave chunks even if you like your guacamole chunky.
- It won’t freeze as well (you can always augment it with some fresh avocado pieces before serving).
- Put the avocado paste into freezer bags or containers.
- Leave 1 inch of head space if you’re using containers because the avocado will expand as it freezes.