How to Freeze Avocado (With Video Guide!)

Can you freeze avocados? Absolutely! While avocadoes are available all year round, you can’t be too careful as you could waste a perfectly good avocado if you do not know how to handle them. After all, avocados take ages to ripen, and when they do, it only takes a moment for them to go bad! That is why though it is important knowing how to ripen avocadoes quickly, knowing how to freeze avocado is just as essential to preserving its perfect ripeness: firm yet soft, creamy, and buttery.

This kind of ripeness is perfect for smoothies, guacamole, homemade avocado ice cream, and more! Below are easy ways to freeze avocadoes, tips on how to thaw them, and avocado recipes to try.

How To Freeze Avocado in Cubes and Slices

Freezing avocados is pretty easy and quick. All you need are a baking tray, some lemon juice or vinegar, cling wrap, and ziplock bags. And you can freeze it in slices or chunks, as a whole fruit or mashed. Here’s how to freeze avocados for smoothies and dessert recipes:

Step 1: Slice Your Avocado and Discard Seeds

To freeze avocados, the first thing you have to do is rinse the skin thoroughly. Then, slice lengthwise around the pit and discard the seeds. Slice your avocados according to your preferences – slices, cubes, or just as halves.

Step 2: Scoop Out Avocado Flesh and Arrange On Baking Tray

At this step, you are ready to scoop out the avocado flesh. Carefully scoop them out using a spoon or glass cup. You can also choose to peel off the flesh carefully. Then,  discard the skin and arrange the slices neatly on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Step 3: Sprinkle Lemon Juice and Cover with Cling Wrap

Sprinkle some lemon juice or vinegar to prevent the avocados from browning. If you are using avocados for smoothies and any dessert recipes, we recommend a spritz of lemon juice. For salad recipes, both lemon juice and vinegar can work quite well without affecting the dish’s flavor. After that, cover the baking tray with cling wrap and freeze the avocados overnight until they are solid.

Step 4: Transfer Avacodos to Ziplock Bags and Store in the Freezer

Once they are completely frozen, you are ready to transfer sliced avocados in ziplock bags. If you do not have a ziplock bag, a freezer container works well too. Before placing them in the freezer though, remember to remove as much air to avoid oxygen exposure and browning. You can do that by using a straw or a vacuum sealer. We also recommend indicating on the bag what date you froze them.

How to Freeze Avocados Whole

If you’re looking to freeze whole avocados with the skin and seeds intact,  just follow these four easy steps! In fact, it’s the easiest method in our book. Using this method can extend the life of your fruit by three to six months. 

1. Wash the avocado thoroughly.
2. Pat the avocado dry using a tissue or kitchen towel. 
3. Cover each fruit with cling wrap and place in ziplock bags. 
4. Place in the freezer.

How to Freeze Mashed Avocados

Freezing mashed avocados for smoothies is also totally doable. Now, can you freeze guacamole using this method as well? Yes, you can! Pureed, mashed, and made into the best guacamole recipe you have at home, this storage method helps to keep your pureed avocados for six months. 

1. Wash your avocado, cut them in half, and remove the seed. 
2. Scoop out avocado using a spoon or glass. 
3. Transfer to a food processor and sprinkle a little bit of lemon juice. You can also use a fork for this step. 
4. Store scooped-out avocado in airtight containers or ziplock bags.
5. Flatten the bag and store it in the freezer.

How to Thaw Frozen Avocados

Now that you are ready to use your frozen avocado, you might be wondering how you can thaw it properly. For sliced, cubed, and pureed avocados, take them out of the freezer and store them in the fridge to thaw overnight. You can also opt to thaw at room temperature (in your pantry or on the kitchen counter), which is slightly faster than defrosting in the fridge. 

For whole avocados, remove the cling wrap first and wash under cool water. Then, pat the avocado dry and thaw on the counter. Defrosting should take 30 minutes to one hour at room temperature. Once completely thawed, slice according to your preference. Use it right away to avoid discoloration.

Nonetheless, if your avocados have brown spots, do not be in a hurry to discard them right away. Use them in recipes where you can mask their colors like an avocado tuna cake or a fudgy brownie. We do not recommend using discolored avocados in recipes that highlight their colors such as ice cream, smoothies, and toast.

Frozen Avocado Recipes To Try

Avocado is a versatile fruit that you can use for different kinds of dishes be it desserts, savory foods, and refreshing salads. It also helps that this fruit shines on its own and requires minimal effort to cook and prepare. We have avocado toasts to vouch for that. Still, that doesn’t stop this well-loved fruit from spoiling too soon. Now that you know how to freeze avocado, here are a few ideas on how to enjoy your frozen avocado: 

• Avocado Smoothie – Managed to prevent flesh discoloration? Make an avocado smoothie! This smoothie combines the creamy, naturally sweet, and refreshing flavor of avocado, giving you a healthy snack loaded with good fats and fibers. 
• Avocado Toast – Another way to use up your perfectly ripe avocado (beautiful color intact) is the well-loved avocado toast. This version has garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and cilantro for a richer flavor.
• El Pollo Loco Double Chicken Avocado Salad – Have a slightly discolored avocado? Mask it with this salad! It has colorful (and flavorful) ingredients, such as leafy greens, red cabbage, corn, and creamy cilantro dressing, that will hide brown spots!