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Do you have extra avocados and want to save them for later? Good news – you can freeze avocados! Whether you’re preserving whole avocados, slices, mashed avocado, or even guacamole, freezing is an easy way to reduce waste and always have avocados on hand for smoothies, guacamole, and more. Here’s everything you need to know about how to freeze avocados properly to keep them fresh and delicious!
Can You Freeze Avocados?
Yes! Freezing avocados helps extend their shelf life and prevents food waste. While the texture may change slightly once thawed, frozen avocados are perfect for recipes like smoothies, dips, and spreads. By following the right freezing methods, you can prevent browning and keep the flavor intact.
Best Methods to Freeze Avocados
1. Freezing Avocados Whole
Freezing whole avocados is the easiest method for when you’re short on time.
- Wash and dry the avocado thoroughly.
- Wrap each piece tightly with plastic wrap.
- Place each piece of fruit into a Ziploc freezer bag and seal tight.
- Label and store in the freezer for up to 3 months for optimum freshness.
2. Freezing Avocado Halves
This method makes it easy to use avocados later for recipes.
- Wash and dry the avocado.
- Cut in half and peel (no need to remove the pit).
- Sprinkle lemon juice on each half.
- Wrap each avocado half in plastic wrap.
- Store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 4 months.
3. Freezing Avocado Slices
Perfect for adding to smoothies!
- Wash and peel the avocado.
- Cut in half and remove pit.
- Slice the avocado into even pieces.
- Brush with lemon or lime juice.
- Lay slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe bag, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn. Store up to 4 months.
4. Freezing Mashed Avocado
The best method for guacamole, dips, and spreads.
- Wash, peel, and remove pit.
- Mash the avocado until smooth.
- Mix in lemon or lime juice.
- Store in individual freezer safe containers of bags. You can also freeze smaller portions in ice cube trays if you just need baby food portions.
- Freeze up to 4 months.
Tips for Freezing
- Use ripe avocados: Make sure your avocados are ripe. If they are still hard and green or they won’t be soft enough even after they thaw.
- Always add lemon or lime juice: Get a cheap spray bottle from The Dollar Store and fill with lemon juice. Then, you can spray the slices evenly with lemon juice before freezing so they don’t brown.
- Freeze before bagging: Spread slices or cubes of avocado on a baking sheet or tray and freeze slightly before adding them to a freezer bag.
- Use airtight containers: Make sure to use airtight containers or Ziplock bags when storing avocado in the freezer.
- Vacuum Seal (Optional): If you have a vacuum sealer, use it to remove excess air from the storage bag or container. This helps prevent freezer burn.
- Keep avocados at consistent freezing temperature.
How to Thaw and Use Frozen Avocados
- Thaw & Use Right Away: Avocado may brown after thawing. Use right away or toss with lemon or lime juice before using.
- Thawing: To thaw, place in a bowl of cold water for about thirty minutes or thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- Make Guacamole: You can make guacamole and freeze it too! Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
- Use in Recipes: Remember, the texture of avocados may change slightly after freezing, but their flavor remains intact, making them a convenient addition to various dishes, especially those that involve blending or mashing.
Pros and Cons to Freezing Avocados
Pros:
- Avocados are full of healthy fats and vitamins, so they’re a terrific source of nutrients for your family.
- Freezing avocado in cubes allows you to salvage all your ripe fruit to use for later.
- Frozen avocado chunks are perfect to throw into smoothies, make salad dressings, or spreading on sandwiches, burritos, or tacos.
- A scoop of mashed avocado makes perfect baby food or guacamole.
Cons:
- Avocados contain a lot of water, causing ice crystals to form. This can cause thawed avocado to be a little mushy.
- Freezing can take away the avocado’s signature creamy texture, so you may want to opt for fresh avocado for slicing on salad or avocado toast.
Common Questions About Freezing Avocados
Yes, but freezing avocados does alter the texture, so it is preferable to use frozen avocados for smoothies, guacamole, and other recipes where they will be mashed and mixed with other ingredients.
If prepared with lemon or lime juice and wrapped properly, mashed avocados won’t turn brown when they are frozen. However, if the avocado is frozen whole with the skin on, the green color will become more brownish. It is still good to use in smoothies and recipes where it is mixed with other ingredients.
Frozen avocados can last 3 to 4 months in the freezer. For the best taste and texture, try to use them within this timeframe.
It depends on the recipe. For smoothies, you can use them straight from the freezer. For dips and spreads, let them thaw in the refrigerator first.
Yes! While the texture may be slightly different from fresh, frozen avocado works great for toast when properly thawed and mixed. Add in some seasonings for flavor.
Best Ways to Use Frozen Avocados
Wondering how to use your frozen avocados? Here are some delicious ideas:
- Smoothies: Add frozen avocado chunks for a creamy texture.
- Guacamole: Thaw and mix with your favorite guacamole ingredients.
- Spreads & Dips: Use mashed avocado for toast, sandwiches, or dips.
- Dressings & Sauces: Blend thawed avocado into salad dressings or pasta sauces.
Recipes that Use Frozen Avocado
You can make many different avocado recipes using avocado that has been frozen! Try a few of our favorites!
Final Thoughts
Freezing avocados is a great way to save avocados you purchased on sale or that are ripening before you can use them. Whether you freeze them whole, halved, sliced, or mashed, these simple steps will keep them fresh and flavorful. Give it a try and let us know in the comments – what’s your favorite way to use frozen avocados?
How to Freeze Avocado
How to Freeze Avocado
Video
Ingredients
- 2 avocados
- 1 teaspoon lime juice optional
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice optional
Instructions
- Method 1: Wrap each whole avocado tightly with plastic wrap. Place each piece of fruit into a Ziploc freezer bag and seal tight.
- Method 2: Cut in half (no need to peel or remove the pit). Sprinkle lemon juice on each half. Wrap each avocado half in plastic wrap then place in a freezer safe bag. Press out all the air, zip close, then freeze.
- Method 3: Peel and remove pit. Slice or dice the avocados. Sprinkle on lemon or lime juice. Place cuts on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for about an hour then transfer the frozen slices into a Ziploc bag. Seal tight, removing all the air.
- Method 4: Peel and remove Pit. Mash the avocados with a fork or in a food processor with a little bit of lemon or lime juice. Store in individual serving sizes in Ziploc freezer bags or freezer-safe containers, with all the air removed.
Notes
Tips for Freezing and Thawing Avocados
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- Make sure your avocados are ripe before freezing.
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- Get a cheap spray bottle and fill with lemon juice. Then, you can spray your avocado pieces evenly with lemon juice before freezing so they don’t brown.
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- Make sure to use airtight containers or freezer Ziploc bags when storing avocado in the freezer.
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- Avocado may be brown after thawing. Use them right away or toss with lemon or lime juice.
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- To thaw, place the frozen avocado in a bowl of cold water for about thirty minutes or thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
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- You can make guacamole and freeze it too! Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
This is something that I did not know that you could do with avocados. Thank you so much for this tip,I’m pretty sure it will turn out to be one of the most useful tips that I will ever use in my cooking. We LOVE avocados! Thanks again! Lisa
Thanks for sharing these tips. I mashed and froze ripe, flavorful avocados with lime. Looked beautiful when thawed but had very little flavor—almost none—and the creaminess was gone.
Thank you for your instructions. Even though I live in the Avocado Capital I didn’t know they could be frozen. How long does a whole avocado take to thaw? Mine are all large grade avos. Thank you.
Mine usually take about 1 hour at room temperature!
Thank you very much for this beautiful, helpful list of suggestions. I’m 45 and am just now learning this- woo hoo!!🤓
Tq very much for that tip. I did try this and my avocados are now diced up and frozen. Cannot wait to try them in winter.
Thanks a lot for these suggestions re freezing avocadoes. Now gonna try one of the methods :).
Does freezing avocado make the texture different/ less enjoyable?
It depends on what you use it for. In the post above we go over how freezing affects the taste and texture in the Pros and Cons section. That should give you an idea of how to best use your frozen avocado.
I never knew you could freeze avocados! This will come in SO HANDY, especially since they get so ripe so quickly.
This is very helpful. Thanks for telling me things I did not know about avocados.
Wow how have I never frozen avocado!? This is such a great idea with great tips. Thank you!
Need to try