Can You Freeze Avocados? Yes! And This Is Why You Should
If you love avocados, you know they are an amazing delicious gift from Mother Nature. You can use them for so many delicious recipes! They are a summer favorite in my house but we try to enjoy them when they are in season, but we do freeze them for certain recipes in cooler months while they are not in season. Like many people, we buy avocados in bulk because most big box stores sell them in multi-count bags, but what do you do when you have bulk avocados and not enough time to use them? While a massive batch of guacamole doesn't sound like a problem to many people, sometimes you still can't eat them before they start turning brown and unusable in a short amount of time.
Most people know the best location to store ripened avocados is in the refrigerator. There are also many tricks to keep sliced avocados fresh, but even this only gets you by for so long. To prevent waste, you have to adapt and find better ways.
We all know that one of the best ways to save food longer is by using the freezer. You can freeze pretty much anything. Full freezer meals, casseroles, cream cheese, milk, and even eggs. The question is can you freeze avocados? Yes, you can freeze avocados but a more solid question is... should you freeze avocados? Here, I will cover everything you need to know about this process.
Can Avocados Be Frozen?
Freezing avocados might sound like a perfect way to save them longer and prevent waste. However, it is important that you understand what your freezer will do to your amazingly delicious, buttery avocados. Yes, they will freeze and appear to be suspended in time. They will most likely look just like they did when you put them in the freezer until you thaw them out days, weeks, or months later.
Avocados are known to be 73% water by weight, meaning that when they freeze that water will crystallize, and when you thaw them out, they will become slimy and spongy. They evolve into something that you definitely don't want to smear on your morning toast, but that doesn't mean they aren't great for other recipes. I'm sure you've seen frozen avocados in the freezer section of your local grocery store, and you can make great use of them while they are no longer in season.
Does Frozen Avocado Taste the Same as Fresh Avocado?
Unfortunately, no. Avocado not only changes in texture after it has been frozen, but it also loses a lot of its fresh flavor. The appearance of avocado also changes after it has been frozen. The visible result is that it becomes a sort of grayish brown.
What is the Best Way to Freeze an Avocado?
You can freeze avocados whole by wrapping it in plastic wrap or placing them in a zip-top bag. You can also halve and freeze them by wrapping them the same way. You can reduce the amount of browning by spraying them with lemon or lime juice or dipping them in a bowl of lemon or lime juice. It will not eliminate browning, but it can reduce browning. This will not reduce the amount of crystallization that they experience as they freeze though.
Another approach to freezing is to chop them into cubes like the picture I inserted above or to slice them into strips. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking and spritz them with lemon or lime juice. Freeze them on the sheet pan like this. Once they are frozen, remove them from the parchment paper place them into zip-top bags, and place them in the freezer. You can also mash the avocado before you freeze it. There isn't a wrong way to prepare your fruit, it just depends on how you plan to use the avocado when it has been thawed.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2024 Cara Garrison
