Here's 4 ways how to freeze avocado so that it lasts much longer and you can make the most of your fresh produce. You can freeze avocados whole, sliced, diced, or mashed, and I cover the best methods for each. No more tossing out avocados because they browned overnight.
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Can You Freeze Avocados
Much like bananas, it seems like avocados go from perfectly ripe to brown and bitter overnight. While brown avocados are technically still safe to eat, they don't always taste the best.
If you're like me and you often forget about the fresh produce you have in your fridge until it's too late, freezing it may be the best option! That way, you can enjoy your avocado at any time without feeling like it may go bad at a moment's notice.
For calories and nutrition information, see my post dedicated entirely to avocados!
Best Ways To Freeze Avocados
The best way for you to freeze your avocados depends on what you plan to do with them later. If you are unsure, I recommend freezing them in halves or slices. That way, you don't have to thaw out an entire avocado whenever you only need a little bit.
Whole Avocados
- Prep. Rinse your avocados and pat them dry.
- Wrap. Wrap each avocado tightly with plastic wrap (leave the peel on).
- Seal. Put each of the wrapped avocados into a heavy-duty freezer bag and seal it, squeezing out as much air as possible.
- Freeze. Freeze for up to 6 months but use within 3 months for the best flavor.
Avocado Halves
- Prep. Rinse your avocados and pat them dry.
- Slice. Slice each avocado in half length-wise. You can leave the pit on one side.
- Spritz with citrus. Spritz the exposed side of each avocado half with lemon or lime juice.
- Wrap. Wrap the avocado halves tightly with plastic wrap.
- Seal. Place the wrapped avocados into a heavy-duty freezer bag, squeeze out the air, and seal.
- Freeze. Freeze for up to 6 months but use within 3 months for the best flavor.
Sliced or Diced Avocado
- Prep. Wash your avocados and pat them dry. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Slice or dice. Slice each avocado in half and dispose of the pit. Then, slice each avocado half into wedges, or dice them into cubes.
- Spritz with citrus. Spritz the sliced avocado with lemon or lime juice and spread it in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Flash freeze. Pop the baking sheet into the freezer for 1 hour to flash freeze the avocado so you can easily store it without sticking together.
- Seal. Transfer the partially frozen avocado slices to a heavy-duty freezer bag, squeeze out the air, and seal.
- Freeze. Freeze for up to 6 months but use within 3 months for the best flavor.
Mashed or Pureed Avocado
- Prep. Wash the avocados, peel them, and remove the pits.
- Mash or puree. Mash the avocados with a fork, or puree them in a food processor, along with a splash of lemon or lime juice.
- Seal. Transfer the mashed avocado to an airtight freezer-safe container or Ziploc freezer bag, squeeze out the air, and seal.
- Freeze. Mashed or pureed avocado can be frozen for up to 6 months and lasts longer than the other methods.
Tips For Freezing Avocados
- Always start with ripe avocados. Unripe avocados won't ripen while frozen, so once they are thawed, they will still be just as hard.
- Air is the enemy! When storing avocados in the freezer, you want them to have as little contact with air as possible (which is what browns them). Make sure to squeeze out as much air as possible from your freezer bags and seal your avocados tightly.
- Citrus helps keep avocados from browning. While whole avocados can be frozen in their peel, sliced avocados are exposed to air. A thin layer of citrus juice helps to prevent browning.
- Invest in a spray bottle. I recommend a food-grade spray bottle, though you can use a cheap one from the dollar store for a short time. This makes spritzing the avocados with lemon or lime juice much easier!
- Don't forget the date. Remember, no matter which method you use, make sure to label your freezer bags with the date. Frozen avocado should be enjoyed within 4-6 months.
How To Use Frozen Avocados
You can't spread frozen avocado on toast, but there are a number of ways you can enjoy it without having to thaw it out. Smoothies, salad dressings, and sauces work best because they are typically blended or pureed.
Mashed avocado can even be frozen in an ice cube tray inside a large heavy-duty freezer bag. This makes for perfect easy-to-grab portions!
You can add frozen diced or sliced avocado to any cold recipe where it can thaw as the flavors marry in the fridge. Avocado makes a shockingly tasty addition to egg salad or potato salad!
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How To Thaw Frozen Avocados
There are two ways you can thaw frozen avocados. If time allows, place frozen avocados in the fridge overnight (or for about 8-10 hours) to defrost.
Alternatively, you can place the freezer bag of avocados in a large bowl of cold water on the counter for about 30 minutes.
It's best to use frozen avocados the day you thaw them out. They tend to brown quickly once they are no longer frozen.
❓ Recipe FAQs
While the flavor remains mostly the same, the texture of avocadoes changes when frozen. Avocados are predominately water, which means ice crystals form inside them when frozen, which gives them a spongy texture. For salads, avocado toast, or as a garnish, fresh avocado is best.
If the avocados browned some before freezing, they are still safe to eat. If you cut into an avocado and it is brown throughout after freezing, this is likely freezer burn, and it's best to throw them away.
You can use frozen avocado to make guacamole, but the flavor and texture will be slightly different. For the best flavor and texture, guacamole is best made with fresh avocado. You can always make the guacamole first and freeze it, too!
I hope these tips and tricks help you get the most out of your avocados! If you use your frozen and thawed avocados to make a recipe, come back and tell me how it turns out!
🥑 🌮 😋 Best Recipes Using Avocados
- Taco Bell Creamy Avocado Ranch Sauce - Ranch sauce with a creamy avocado Tex-Mex spin.
- Baked Avocado Chicken - Bacon, cheese, and avocado on top of golden pan-seared chicken breasts.
- Avocado Egg Bake - This protein-packed breakfast is loaded with all of the essential vitamins and minerals that can be found in avocados.
- Creamy Guacamole - A smooth and creamy guacamole with lots of flavors from my homemade taco seasoning.
- Shrimp Burrito Bowls - Diced avocado makes a wonderful addition to this satisfying shrimp burrito bowl.
- Hatch Chile Guacamole - If hatch chiles are in season, you better make some hatch chile guacamole.
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📖 Recipe Card
How To Freeze Avocados (4 Easy Methods)
Ingredients
- 2 large avocados (peeled, pitted, and sliced or diced)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (or lime juice)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Wash 2 large avocados and pat them dry. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Slice each avocado in half and dispose of the pit. Then, slice each avocado half into wedges, or dice them into cubes
- Spritz the sliced avocado with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or lime juice and spread it in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Pop the baking sheet into the freezer for 1 hour to flash freeze the avocado so you can easily store it without sticking together.
- Transfer the partially frozen avocado slices to a heavy-duty freezer bag, squeeze out the air, and seal.
- Freeze for up to 6 months but use within 3 months for the best flavor.
Notes
- Always start with ripe avocados. Unripe avocados won't ripen while frozen, so once they are thawed, they will still be just as hard.
- Air is the enemy! When storing avocados in the freezer, you want them to have as little contact with air as possible (which is what browns them). Make sure to squeeze out as much air as possible from your freezer bags and seal your avocados tightly.
- Citrus helps keep avocados from browning. While whole avocados can be frozen in their peel, sliced avocados are exposed to air. A thin layer of citrus juice helps to prevent browning.
- Invest in a spray bottle. I recommend a food-grade spray bottle, though you can use a cheap one from the dollar store for a short time. This makes spritzing the avocados with lemon or lime juice much easier!
- Don't forget the date. Remember, no matter which method you use, make sure to label your freezer bags with the date. Frozen avocado should be enjoyed within 4-6 months.
Dom19 says
Super bonnes idées 😉merci.
"Super good ideas 😉thanks."