If you have too many ripe avocados on hand, here’s how to freeze avocados to help them last longer. Frozen avocado adds creaminess to smoothies, and you can thaw it to make guacamole, too!
What You’ll Need
To freeze avocados, you’ll need them to be ripe first. Avocados won’t ripen any more in the freezer, so you’ll want them to give slightly when you press on the outer shell.
Other than the avocados, all you’ll need is parchment paper, a flat surface that you can transfer to your freezer (like a sheet pan, plate, or glass storage dish), and an airtight storage container for later.
How to Freeze Them
You can freeze avocados in just 3 simple steps.
1. Peel & cut the avocado. I like to cut the avocado into 4 quarters for easy measuring later. (Most smoothie recipes call for only 1/4 of an avocado, and it’s easy to grab 4 quarters if you need a whole avocado, too.)
I typically cut the avocado into quarters first, then peel away the skin on each quarter.
2. Freeze for 1 hour. Arrange the peeled and quartered avocado on a flat plate or sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Place it in the freezer (make sure it will sit flat and the avocado won’t get mushed) to freeze until firm to the touch, about 1 hour.
If you need to let the avocado freeze longer, that’s okay, too. You just want to transfer it to an airtight container as soon as possible
3. Transfer to an airtight container.
What Can You Do With Frozen Avocado?
I use frozen avocado in smoothies to add creaminess. Just a 1/4 of one is perfect for a single serving!
Try it in one of these recipes:
You can also thaw frozen avocado, to use in recipes like guacamole or avocado brownies.
How to Thaw It
Is frozen avocado as good as fresh? Frozen avocado won’t look as pretty as a freshly sliced avocado, but most of the nutrients should be retained when you freeze them.
To thaw thaw frozen avocado, you’ll place only what you need in a separate airtight container, then place that container in the fridge to thaw for about 8 hours.
The avocado will brown as it thaws, but when you mash it for a recipe, you’ll see that it still mostly looks green.
I think thawed frozen avocado works best with a recipe where you’ll be adding lots of extra flavor, like guacamole or brownies, or in my Chocolate Avocado Pudding. (Add frozen cherries to that recipe, for even more flavor!)
How to Freeze Avocado
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ripe avocado (or more!)
Instructions
How to Freeze Avocado
- Slice the avocado in half, remove the pit, and then cut the avocado halves again, to make 4 quarters.
- Remove the peel on each avocado slice. Line a dish or baking sheet with parchment paper (choose one that will fit on a flat shelf in your freezer) then arrange the avocado slices on top of the parchment paper. Make sure they aren't touching each other, so they won't freeze together.
- Freeze the avocado slices for 1-2 hours. Once they are firm to the touch, you can transfer them to an airtight container to store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How to Thaw Frozen Avocado
- Choose how many avocado slices you'll need to thaw, and place them in an airtight container. Let them thaw in the fridge for at least 8 hours. They will turn brown as they thaw, but when you mash it, it should look green again! Use in any recipe that calls for mashed avocado.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
More Tutorials
Curious about freezing other produce? Check out these step-by-step guides!
- How to Freeze Bananas
- How to Freeze Apples
- How to Freeze Zucchini
- How to Freeze Strawberries
- How to Freeze Watermelon
- How to Freeze Green Beans
I hope you’ll feel confident freezing avocado now, and please leave a comment below if you give it a try! If you have any other tips & tricks to share, I’d love to hear them.
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Reader Feedback: Have you tried using frozen avocado in recipes? Let me know how you use it most often!
Hi Megan,
I have been freezing avocados for many years and my method is to put the ripe avocados in a food processor with about 1 Tbsp lemon juice for each avocado used and blend until smooth … transfer to ice cube trays getting about 4 cubes per avocado then freeze and transfer to an airtight container or ziploc bag … I never taste the lemon when using in smoothies and if I am using for something else you can simply reduce the lemon juice needed a tad or not at all … it never goes brown even when thawed … thought I would share another method as I am generally put off by brown avacados (grin)
… thanks for all of your posts and enjoy the Super Bowl … cheers … Claire
Thanks for sharing, Claire!
I, too, have been freezing avocadoes for years. I’ve done it like Meagan shares. I hadn’t thought of mashing the avocadoes first. I can see how this would be convenient for some recipes. Thanks!
Avocados are $0.29 each at Aldi. I bought 10- they aren’t ripe yet, but I’ll be ready when they are!
Thank you. I am looking vorward to trying this. I vind most avocados peel easily when cut into 4ths like you show here. Gigi