How to Cut and Peel Avocado

How do you cut an avocado? I'm sure you've done it before, but this step-by-step photo guide will take you through a simple and safe method to that will turn out beautiful slices and dices every time.

A perfect avocado is absolutely stunning and unbelievably delicious.

Most of us love avocados, and I'm sure have cut many of them for various uses.

How to cut an avocado may seem obvious but there are several ways it can be done. Below is my tried and true method. It's easy, safe and once you get it down, you can use the avocado in dozens of different ways.

We'll also dive into avocado uses and serving suggestions, choosing the best avocados, and how to best store them.

Jump to:

• Peeling, Cutting, Slicing and Dicing Avocados
• Pro Tips for Working with Avocados
• Avocado Uses and Serving Suggestions
• Choosing the Best Avocados
• Storing Avocados
• Other "How To Cut" Posts
• How to Peel and Cut Avocado

Peeling, Cutting, Slicing and Dicing Avocados

- Use a paring knife to cut around the center of the avocado, lengthwise. Start at the top and carefully rotate the avocado around slowly to move your knife completely around the pit.

- Once you've done this, gently twist the halves in opposite directions to "open" the avocado.

- Hold the avocado half that contains the pit gently on your work surface (not in your hand!), and use the knife to remove it . . . with a bit of force, start with your knife slightly elevated and chop into the pit.

- Twist the pit out by moving the knife that's attached to it about 90°. Then gently lift the knife up with the attached pit.

- Use a towel to remove the pit from the knife (not your bare hands!)

- How to Peel an Avocado. There are a couple of different ways to remove the avocado flesh from the skin. You can either carefully peel the skin off, or you can scoop the flesh out. (I much prefer to peel the skin off because it leaves it looking perfect, which can only be done when the avocado firm, but ripe.

- For the first method, place the avocado halves on a clean work surface, and cut about ¼ inch off the root ends. Then gently peel back the skin from where you've cut. With a perfect avocado, it will practically come off in one piece.

- For the second method, use a small to medium-sized spoon to lift the avocado flesh out. "Dig" the spoon directly between the skin and the flesh before lifting, so you can feel the back of the spoon directly on the inside of the skin. Go along the entire avocado half like this -- just like your loosening a cake from a pan.

- How to slice an avocado. Round side up, slice the avocado to the desired thickness. From there, you can also cut it into any size dice you'd like.

Pro Tips for Working with Avocados

• Do not try to cut into an avocado that's super firm. You'll be disappointed (see "Choosing the Best Avocados" below).
• Avocados are very slippery — to keep the slices intact, use a flat-bottomed spatula to move them to your serving plate or to the dish you’re adding them to. Gathering the pieces with your hands will be messy and they'll likely stick together or be impossible to pick up.
• A few small dark spots on avocados are not uncommon, you can cut them off and use the rest of the avocado.
• Do not attempt to cut an avocado while it's in your hand! Sounds like common sense, but people do it all the time and cutting it this way is very dangerous. You should always work on a clean, dry surface.
• Almost as soon as an avocado is peeled, squeeze a little lemon or lime juice on the surface so it doesn't brown. (If it's going directly into a salad dressing or any sort of a sauce, you don't need to do this.)

Avocado Uses and Serving Suggestions

• Cut avocado can be added to all sorts of recipes and dishes. And for those of us who absolutely love it, we know it will only make them better. My Strawberry Avocado Salsa and Cucumber Avocado Salad are perfect examples.
• Mashed avocado, by the way, shouldn't only be saved for guacamole recipes. Adding mashed avocados to baked goods, like Double Chocolate Avocado Cookies and Avocado Zucchini Bread, helps to create an incredibly creamy texture. (While at the same time adding nutrients!) 
• Avocado shines as the star ingredient in my Spiced Avocado Fries, Avocado Toast with Egg, Minty Avocado Toast with Fruit, and Grilled Avocado with Bacon Compote.

Choosing the Best Avocados

• When you're shopping for ripe avocados, look for those that are evenly green. They can vary from bright green to a darker green that's almost black, depending on the variety. (Check out all of the avocado varieties.)
• A ripe avocado should be firm, but when gently pressed with your thumb they should have a little bit of give and should not be too soft or at all mushy.
• Though this might not be a telling feature, I find that the smoother the skin, the more likely the interior flesh is to be smooth and creamy.
• Don't buy avocados that are ready if you're not going to use them right away. The best thing to do if you want to use them within a few days is to buy a few that are very firm and let them sit out on the counter until they're ready.

Storing Avocados

• If your avocado is ripe and ready to use, store it in the refrigerator and use it asap.
• Unripe avocados should be left to ripen at room temperature.
• If want to store half of an avocado, or any portion of an already cut and/or peeled one, drizzle it with lemon or lime juice, wrap it in plastic wrap directly on the flesh, and store in the refrigerator. Use it asap.
• Ideally, the skin and pit should be left on an avocado half you're storing in the refrigerator. The less flesh exposed to air, the better.
• If when you remove cut avocado from the refrigerator, if any of it has browned, simply slice that part off. The avocado should still be good if it's only been a couple of days.

Other "How To Cut" Posts

• How to Cut Papaya
• How to Cut Passion Fruit
• How to Cut Cherimoya
• How to Cut Mango

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