Ripe avocados often spoil fairly quickly, but you can freeze them to give them a longer shelf life. We’ll show you how to properly freeze whole and pureed avocados.
Freeze avocados: use leftovers
Your avocado was just perfectly ripe and the next moment it’s already brown? To prevent this, you can freeze ripe avocados and use them later. This is how you actively counteract food waste and can use the leftovers in delicious avocado recipes.
Even if you spontaneously feel like having avocados, it is helpful to have a reserve in the freezer. This way, you don’t have to buy new avocados from the supermarket that may still be unripe and inedible.
You should only consume avocados in moderation anyway, since the long and energy-consuming transport route in air-conditioned ships and the high water consumption have a very negative effect on our environment. Therefore, when buying and consuming avocados, the following motto applies: only buy a little/rarely and always use everything!
The right time to freeze
Before you freeze your avocado, you want to make sure it’s fully ripe. To test the degree of ripeness, you can apply light pressure to the fruit with your fingers. If the avocado yields, it’s ripe.
If the avocado is not yet ripe, it is best to wrap it in newspaper and store it at room temperature. If you put the avocado in a paper bag with an apple, the fruit will ripen even faster. Apples contain the ripening gas ethylene, which causes other fruits to ripen faster. After about one to three days, an avocado should be ripe, now you can freeze it.
Freeze halved avocados
First, halve the avocado with a sharp knife.
Now take a tablespoon and use it to carefully remove the core. Here you can find out what else you can use the avocado seed for.
Now drizzle some lemon juice on the two avocado halves. This will prevent the flesh from turning brown.
Now wrap the halves in beeswax towels and put them in the freezer. You can also freeze them in a screw-top jar.
It’s best to label the bee growth or jar with a water-soluble pen to help you remember the date you froze the avocado.
To defrost the avocado, you can now simply place it on a plate at room temperature for an hour. And you’re ready to enjoy a ripe avocado!
Good to know: Avocados can be stored in the freezer for up to eight months. Don’t be surprised if freezing changes the texture of the avocado. This is completely normal and does not change the taste of the fruit.
Freeze avocado puree
If you puree the avocado before freezing, you can save yourself a step if you want to use it later for guacamole or a green smoothie.
First, cut the avocado in half again and remove the stone.
Now scoop out the fruit with a spoon and place the pulp in a blender. Add some lemon juice to keep the green color. If you don’t have a blender, you can also mash the avocado with a fork.
Mash the avocado until you like the consistency.
Now pour the avocado puree into a freezer container, e.g. a screw-top jar. Don’t forget to label it with the current date!
Off to the freezer!
Place the puree in the refrigerator at least 12 hours before you plan to use it. This allows the avocado to thaw slowly and gently.
Tip: For small portions that are quick to hand, simply fill the pureed avocado into an ice cube mold and freeze it.
