• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cooking On The Weekends
  • About
    • Press
    • Contact
  • Recipe Index
  • "How To"
  • Work with Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
    • Contact
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
      • Contact
    • Recipe Index
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Seasonal Recipes » Summer Recipes » How to Cut and Peel Avocado

    How to Cut and Peel Avocado

    Apr 19, 2024 · by Valentina · 6 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    One avocado cut in half with pit still in on half.

    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

    One whole avocado that's a perfect pear shape, on wood cutting board.

    - 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.

    Avocado with a paring knife slicing it in half, starting at the tip, on wood cutting board.
    Avocado with a paring knife slicing it in half on wood cutting board.
    Avocado with a paring knife slicing it in half on wood cutting board.

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

    Two avocado halves slightly twisted open to show a bit of the inner green flesh.
    One avocado cut in half with pit still in on half.

    - 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.

    Avocado half on wood board with the pit in place with a paring knife cutting into it.
    Avocado half on wood board with the pit in place with a paring knife cutting into it and twisting it a bit.
    Avocado half on wood board with the pit in the air above it, with a paring knife stuck to it.

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

    Avocado pit attached to a paring knife in a paper towel.

    - 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.

    Avocado half with just the tip cut off.
    Avocado half, round side up, with skin being peeled off.
    Avocado half, round side up, with skin peeled off.

    - 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.

    Avocado half with a spoon lifting out the flesh.

    - 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.

    Peeled avocado, round side up on a wooden cutting board, being cut into slices.
    Peeled avocado, round side up on a wooden cutting board, being cut into a large dice.
    Peeled and diced avocado on a wooden cutting board.

    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
    One avocado cut in half with pit still in on half.

    How to Peel and Cut Avocado

    Valentina K. Wein
    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.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Ingredient, Snacks
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 2
    Calories 136 kcal

    Equipment

    • paring knife

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 whole avocado

    Instructions
     

    • Slice the avocado open. 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.
    • Remove the pit. 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!)
    • Peel the 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 perfectly ripe 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.
    • Slice and dice. Round side up, slice the avocado to the desired thickness. From there, you can also cut it into any size dice you'd like.

    NOTES

    Nutritional information is only an estimate.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 412mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 124IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Keywords great in salads, super foods, using avocados
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

    Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

    More How-Tos

    • How to Juice and Eat Passion Fruit
    • How to Cut Papaya
    • Mango sliced in half and diced within the skin with a spoon scooping the pieces out, on wooden cutting board.
      How to Cut a Mango
    • Wooden bowl with peeled and roasted chestnuts, surrounded by the shells.
      How To Roast And Peel Chestnuts

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. angiesrecipes

      May 20, 2024 at 2:33 am

      That's how I cut avocados. To prevent avocado turn brown, onions are great too.

      Reply
      • Valentina

        May 28, 2024 at 7:51 pm

        Ooooh, I've never used onion to prevent browning. I will try that for sure. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    2. Raymund | angsarap.net

      May 22, 2024 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      Hey there! Your step-by-step guide to cutting an avocado is fantastic! I love how detailed you are with each step—it’s super helpful for getting those perfect slices and dices. Def learning something in here specially the storage of avos!

      Reply
      • Valentina

        May 28, 2024 at 7:51 pm

        Thanks, Raymund. I always like slipping these tutorial in where I can. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    3. Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!

      May 23, 2024 at 5:57 am

      Thank you! This is super helpful. I always learn a lot from seeing how other people do things like this. And as always, I love your helpful tips!

      Reply
      • Valentina

        May 28, 2024 at 7:52 pm

        Thanks, my friend. I always like seeing how other cooks/chefs do things, too. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Valentina, certified chef, owner, recipe developer and photographer at Cooking on the Weekends. I'm also a mom of two boys and a Los Angeleno. I use seasonal whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining.

    More about me →

    IT'S MANGO SEASON!

    • Black bowl filled with mango salsa with a small Habanero pepper right on top.
      Mango Habanero Salsa
    • Chicken pieces on the bone baked in mango coconut sauce in a baking dish with fresh cilantro.
      Baked Coconut Mango Chicken
    • Stacked slices of Chipotle Mango Quesadillas.
      Chipotle Mango Quesadillas
    • Mango Avocado Pesto Stack Recipe -- Fresh, sweet, creamy and slightly spicy -- you won't believe how utterly delicious a combination of mango, avocado and pesto is!
      Mango Avocado Stack with Pesto

    EARLY SUMMER HITS

    • White plate with pattern on the edges full with large turkey zucchini meatballs and zoodles.
      Turkey Zucchini Meatballs with Pesto
    • Light green bowl with strawberry and goat cheese salad and a dark wooden twisted-handled serving spoon.
      Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
    • Green Lemon pesto with lemon slice and basil leaf on top, in a green bowl, fitted inside a yellow bowl.
      Lemon Pesto
    • Basil Pizza with one slice being taken off the plate.
      Basil Pizza with Pesto

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Press

    Newsletter

    Get new recipes you’ll love!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    Review the privacy policy for Cooking on the Weekends

    Copyright © 2025 Cooking On The Weekends, All Rights Reserved