How To Cut Avocados
Knowing how to peel avocados and how to cut avocados are handy skills as the weather warms up. I start topping all sorts of wonderful dishes with Haas avocados (the small dark brown ones) the moment I see fresh blades of grass shooting up in my yard.Â
Avocados are one of my favorite foods. I love the creamy texture and sense of luxury that comes along with biting into a slice of ripe avocado.
However the riper the avocado, the harder it is to peel and slice them. So today I want to show you how to cut avocados the easy way, and how to remove that pesky pit.
The first step is to pick the right avocado.
I like to buy mine a couple days ahead, picking avocados that are firm but not brick-hard, and are dark greenish-brown. Then I let them ripen on the counter top for another day or so before cutting.
When selecting avocados, don’t squeeze! You could bruise half the pile, trying to choose the right avocado. Instead, lightly touch the skin to test for texture. You can also pop off the stem and check for a bright green color underneath.
If you have to use the avocado the day you buy it, try to find one that is slightly soft, but not mushy, and very even in color.
How to Cut Avocados
First run your knife lengthwise, around the pit. Carefully hold the avocado and rotate it around the blade.
Then twist and open the avocado.
Now carefully tap the pit with the blade, so that it sinks into the pit.
Twist your knife and the pit should pop out. Use the heel of your hand to tap the pit off the blade into the trash.
To Cut Cubes: Gently cut parallel slices through the flesh, right in the avocado peel.
Then turn the avocado 45 degrees and cut perpendicular slices, making a grid pattern.
Using both hands, press the back peel of the avocado to invert the avocado half. Most of the avocado chunks with fall out. Use your finger, or a spoon, to remove the rest.
To Cut Slices: Use a large spoon to scoop closely around the inside of the peel to release the avocado flesh in one piece.
Then cut through the flesh in parallel slices.
Use the avocado immediately so it doesn’t brown.
Hubby taught me this way because he saw it on food network. But he also taught me to slice it in the skin and pop it out. That trick working depends on how ripe the avocado is.
Nothing makes me happier than correctly cut avocados. Can you say OCD?! I know! I’m a perfectionist, but it’s the little things (like this) that make me very happy! Great post!
Avocados are my favorite. SO good.
Wonderful tutorial :) so useful
I remember when I first learned the trick of using a knife to get the pit out – that was a life changer! Great tutorial Sommer!
I generally make a giant mess cutting avocados, this is great.
I have yet to master the trick of getting the knife in to get the pit out.
A very good tutorial (especially since my family LOVES guacamole). Thank you for sharing. Your photographs are stunning, as always. Even something as a simple as an avocado looks beautiful!
ha! very nice!
i do cut my own advocatos, but i spend a lot of time doing it.
Now i will try this technique to improve it!!
thank you!
it drives Alexis nuts when I do the tap into the seed with the knife part while the avocado is in my hand. Excellent step by steps!
Great post! I’ve been eating the heck out of avocados lately, almost every day!
Great tutorial! Love avocados… Now I really want one!
Great tips, I always struggle to get perfect cubes!
Terrific tutorial, Sommer! Love all of the visuals for making beautiful cuts! Although I have to admit I just dive in with a spoon to enjoy an avocado for lunch far too often! ;)
Great tips! We eat avocados almost daily :)
Handy tips! Thanks for this post – I’ll be showing this one to my students too!
Really good tips – we got through an avocado or two every day around here. Everything is better with avocados on it!
LOVE avocados!! great tip on how to get all of it out in perfect cubes!
Great tutorial, Sommer – I love all the different methods. Ben Ford’s restaurant Ford’s Filling Station is one of my favorites, too! Always worth a stop-in every time I’m in LA. Thanks for sharing!
A great & very important how to for folks like me who love avocados!
This is a great tutorial! I am always struggling to get the pesky pit off the knife.
That’s how I do it too! And I have the twin to that knife. =)
great tips!! I love avocado!
Great tutorial!
Great tips! I could live on avocado.
I have this:
http://www.amazon.com/Zyliss-12550-Avocado-Tool/dp/B00421ATN6
it is basically a large slotted spoon shape with a “serrated knife” edge. If you have a slotted serving spoon, use that for scooping out the half. Works much better. (As a side note, the avocado spoon works well for cutting pie and pizza and for salads and stuff.)
Your tutorials are always great, Sommer, with helpful beautiful photos. I buy more and more avocados all the time…my family is getting pretty fond of them!
Now I want an avocado, or two!
Love the step by step Sommer! Now I want an avocado :)
Great tips! I learned these from my mom a long time ago, but it is great to let others know it is easier than it looks!
Such great tips! I am going through an avocado a day lately!
Great tips! I cut an avocado every day:)
When I clicked on your interview with chef Ben Ford I will have to admit I saw he is Harrison Ford’s son and was curious and just wanted to take quick look, but as soon as he started answering your questions I watched the entire video. You did ask great questions and now I want to make something with pineapple and avocado. You website is beautiful by the way, thanks for sharing.
don’t throw the pit away until the avocado is gone – the pit keeps the avocado from turning brown. When i was in Mexico over ten years ago, they laughed at me in the kitchen for throwing the pits away. drop that pit in leftover guacamole , and it will stay greener. =)
Thanks Danielle, That is a great tip!
I’ve heard of doing that, however when we open an avocado it’s GONE immediately, so we never have to worry much about browning. ;)