Perched on the side of the highway, the sign drew us in like a magnet: 20 Haas avocados for $5! We'd be fools not to take advantage of this incredible farmstand offer, right? So we pulled over, loaded up ... and now we can't eat these avocados fast enough.
We selected a mix of hard and soft fruits, thinking they'd ripen at different stages and we'd have plenty of time to eat them all. But now the whole lot is ripe and we have to admit that we've grown weary of eating avocados at every. single. meal. (scrambled eggs at breakfast, guacamole at lunch, salads at dinner...).
In hindsight, we should have immediately refrigerated the avocados rather than leave them out on the counter. Now that we're at the "do or die" stage or ripeness, we are considering freezing the avocados for later. Both the California Avocado Commission and Hass Avocado Board recommend puréeing ripe avocado flesh in a blender or food processor, adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice per 1-2 avocados, and storing it in an airtight container with an inch of headspace. Apparently this avocado purée can last for 4-5 months in the freezer and be used in dishes like guacamole or smoothies. (Or perhaps ice cream!)
Have you ever frozen avocado? Did it retain a creamy texture and rich flavor? Or should we skip the freezing and just throw a big guacamole party?
Related: The Best Way to Keep Cut Avocado Fresh!
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I never froze avocado, but I made avocado and coconut milk ice cream before! It's delicious, and a great way to use them up before they turn black.
I've frozen guacamole with no ill effects, but it was not homemade, and I don't know if there was some additive that may have protected it.
I would think with that many avocados, it's worth at least trying overnight, just to see if it works!
I've frozen avocado before. I pureed it and poured it into an ice cube tray. Once it was frozen I transferred it to a bag. I was freezing it for my baby just starting solids. I am still pulling sections out of the freezer and giving them to her. They seem to have held up just fine, but I usually mix them with other frozen cubes.
I've frozen avocados before. I sliced each one in half, peeled it, took out the pit, spritzed with lime juice, then froze in a ziplock bag. They thawed really well, and this gives you slightly more options than the puree.
send them to me instead, my local grocery wants $2 a piece.
it's great to know they freeze well, never thought of this before!
i cant say i've ever had "too much avocadoes" but it cant hurt to know this.
can they be frozen whole/uncut as well? sometimes i pass up a good deal but i'm the main avocado eater in my home and i get bored without variety.
I refrigerate ripe uncut avocados for up to two weeks without any problems. They hold up well until we're ready to eat them.
make avocado compound butter with garlic and tarragon, THEN freeze. great on grilled meats, breakfast toast or a pasta with seafood.
jess13: I'm right there with ya; here in Northern California I saw them for $2.89 each the other day!
I'm so happy to read this post! Sometimes I see avocadoes at 10 for $5 and pass them up b/c I'd never be able to eat them in time. Very informative information!!
@cristyavocado That sounds amazing. Thanks for the tip!
I haven't frozen it, but when my mom makes guac, she always puts a thin layer of mayo over the top, covers it, and sticks it in the fridge until we're ready to eat it.
The mayo keeps it from browning even a bit -- maybe that would help it survive a bit better in the deep freeze, too?
We mix in the mayo when we eat it and it just adds some creaminess.
Yesterday at the store, I cried a little bit. The avocadoes were $3.50 a piece.
I died a little bit inside, too.
I live in Guatemala, and I won't say how cheap avocados are here ;) I slice them into chunks and freeze them on a cookie sheet, like I would with berries. Then I transfer them to a plastic bag. I love them in smoothies!! :)
i've frozen them. they turned brown, but i didn't put lemon juice on them. trader joe's sells them for double the price too.
My produce market sells baby avocados- 3 for $1.25. Do other farmers markets do this? I find that's just the right amount for me. I had to pass up the Costco giant bag for $7, but next time I may try the freezing method.
I cut them up into chunks and freeze them on a cookie sheet (don't let the pieces touch) and then stick them in a ziploc.
They don't turn brown as they're frozen, but they do turn brown pretty quickly if you defrost them in the fridge. I defrost them by throwing a couple of chunks into a ramekin and letting the ramekin sit in a bowl of boiling water, as you would a bain-marie, and mushing the avocado as it defrosts.
I only do a few cubes at a time (for baby food), but it softens up pretty quickly and in a couple of minutes you have tasty avocado mush.
Trader Joe's used to sell frozen avocados in bags, so yes, it can definitely be done!
A long time ago, trader joe's used to sell half avocados that were frozen, so i've done it since - i freeze the halves lying flat on a cookie sheet and then place into a plastic bag. they are great for guac, etc, not the best to put striaght into a salad or something.
What a great post! When I buy the 4-in-a-bag avocados at Trader Joes, I can't eat them all before they go bad. And if I leave them on the counter my dog steals them and eats them. Now I will just freeze the extras! And the compound butter suggestion sounds great!
I live in China where food is normally quite cheap but for some reasons avocados are not, they are imported only for expats and sold at very high price. One avocado 90 RMB at local grocery, which is around 15 dollars?!?! I'll wait to be back in Europe....
For a $5 investment, I'd certainly trust the Avocado board's suggestion and freeze them.
Nota bene: "uncooked" things with mayo or sour cream in them do not freeze well (potato salad, for example). The fats will separate and form little globules when thawed. The taste is not affected, but looks and texture may suffer.
mauras, your dog and mine would get along well... the big monster likes his veggies.
We have an avocado tree in our yard and when I have a lot of them.... I make a hot potato salad using mashed avocados and hot chopped baked potatoes.... I like it just like that, but my family likes to add a little chopped red onion and a little dollop of mayonnaise (we use Vegenese) or butter and a dash of sea salt... it's a favorite at our house.
I've heard that when trying to keep guac fresh, you can pour a little water over the top once it is all mixed up. The water keeps air from reaching the avocados and turning them brown. Then when you're ready to serve it, you just pour off the water and give your guac a few stirs.
I haven't tried this yet. It sounds strange, but I have heard it works!
Biting into a watery avocado is the worst. I just can't wrap my head around a thawed avocado tasting anywhere near as good as fresh. Maybe if you know for a fact that the avocado is, indeed, perfectly buttery in texture before it goes into the freezer.
mauras & fi_burke (and everyone else), please don't let your dogs eat avocados! Per the ASPCA's Poison Control Center, they are harmful to dogs:
"The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Birds and rodents are especially sensitive to avocado poisoning, and can develop congestion, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation around the heart. Some ingestions may even be fatal."
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.aspx
My dog loves them too but my vet told me they are a no-no for canine kind (more guac for the humans!).
I'm so jealous you have "too many" avocados.
The freezing per the avocado board's suggestion works fine, I've been doing that for years.
Great post! I feed my baby avocado and hate when I cut into one and it's all rotten and gross. I just tossed two in the trash last night. What a waste! Now I will try freezing.
If you can't eat them fast enough, why not share them with someone? It would be a grand gesture on your part and I'm sure they would love to have them. I would.
@akay - ive never heard of layering mayo on top of guac to keep it fresh, but i have to admit, it's pretty 'McGyver' and I like it.
i'm going to try it this weekend when i make guac and see what happens.
thanks for the tip!
Freeze them whole! I leave them on the counter until they are ripe and the put them in the freezer whole. Just take them out a few hours before you want to use them and treat them like fresh. Works beautifully!
You don't even want to know how gross the ones we get here in New Brunswick are, let alone what we have to pay for them... but when we do get some I have learned that storing the avocado seed in the guacamole until serving time will keep it bright green and ready to serve. SO very jealous!
I freeze them whole. Have never waited until the entire thing was completely defrosted, so don't know if they're easier to slice when they're completely warmed up. I just split them and pull the chunks out with a spoon and make quac or just eat on a salad or sandwich...works great especially in n calif where they're real expensive.. but once they're on sale, i stock up.