A tutorial on how to select a perfectly ripened avocado and how to cut it. I swear, it is super easy!
You might look at an avocado and think, “I cannot wait to eat that!” or “Ahh, one of my favorite foods!” You may also find choosing and cutting an avocado to be a simple and easy process- which, by the way, it is! Even still, I know there are plenty of folks out there who are uncertain about how to select a ripe avocado and who do not have the slightest idea about the easiest way to cut it.
For the past couple of years, the process of cutting an avocado has always seemed like a “no-brainer” to me. However, when I saw Erin peel and then cut an avocado, I realized that maybe not everyone is aware of the method that I consider to be the easiest way to prepare this delicious fruit (P.S., Sorry Erin for throwing you under the bus!). I am also fairly certain that back when I bought an avocado for the first time, I likely had to “Google” how to cut it. I guess sometimes we take for granted the things that were once unfamiliar but have now become second nature.
While selecting and cutting an avocado for the first time can be a bit daunting, do not worry! I am going to show you exactly how to select a perfectly ripened avocado and how to cut it!
Step 1
The first part of this tutorial is going to focus on how to select a ripe avocado. I pick my avocados based on two things: color and firmness. If I am going to use the avocado right away, I look for one with a dark brown peal. If I am not going to use the avocado for a couple of days, I select an avocado that has some greenness to it so that it will not rot before I am ready to eat it. After I find the color that I am looking for, I gently squeeze the sides of the avocado. When looking for a ripe avocado, you want the avocado to have some give and be just slightly firm and not hard. Be careful, though. You do not want to purchase an avocado that gives too easily when you squeeze it. This type of avocado could very well be rotten or close to it.
Step 2
After you have selected the perfectly ripened avocado, line your knife up at the center of the top of the avocado.
Slice all the way around the avocado.
Step 3
Gently twist the two halves and separate them.
Step 4
Run your knife through the avocado width-wise. Do not cut through the peal of the avocado. Simply slice into it just enough so that the tip of the knife reaches the peal.
Step 5
Now repeat step 4, but make slices into the avocado vertically.
Step 6
Carefully scoop the avocado segments from the peal.
Repeat with the second half of the avocado (I use a spoon to remove the pit).
After these six simple steps are completed, you will end up with a perfectly segmented avocado to add to your salad, top Mexican food with, or turn into guacamole (my favorite way to use it!).
Pretty simple, right? You can do it!
*One final trick: If you only eat one half of the avocado at a time, leave the pit in the second half and put it in the fridge in a plastic bag or container. This will help keep the avocado green.
Do you “Google” how to cut certain types of produce?
I am definitely guilty of this! Most recently, I searched the internet for how to cut a watermelon.
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We cut our avocados the same way – yay! 🙂 I do have issues with picking avocados though… I always feel like they’re the correct firmness/color at the grocery store and then I get home and they’re rotten inside. Blech – that’s the worst!
You are a smart avocado cutter!! 😉 And yes, picking them is definitely the toughest part. Sometimes I think they are ripe and they are not quite ripe enough for my liking. It’s too bad we can’t take a peek inside ahead of time.
I buy more avocados than I plan to eat then it goes bad quickly..i wish there was a way to make it stay good longer. any tips?
Ahh, good question! I’m not sure. I am thinking you could try refrigerating them and then pulling them out a day before you plan to use them so that they go back to room temperature and ripen up a bit more? That is definitely just a guess, though!
Thank you for this!! haha This is probably why Josh hovers over me when I have a knife in my hand. He has seen my chopping skills and is terrified I’m going to lose a finger. Knock on wood so far so good!
Haha, well I am glad to hear that he is looking out for you!! Somebody has to, right? 😉
The hardest part for me is getting the pit out without ruining the other half of the avocado! Would love photos of how you manage that 😀
Yeah, that can be pretty tricky! I usually just use a spoon. I also think it might help that most times when I do it it is after the leftover half has been refrigerated (I almost always use only half at a time) so it is a bit firmer.
This is the method I use to quickly shovel avocados into my mouth (errr. I mean “eat”), too! I always suffer when it comes time to remove the seed from the other half though… I’ve tried the method where you stick a knife in it a million and times, and my fingers just don’t feel safe around that + I’ve slivered pieces off the seed and into my avocado before — how do you get that out? Am I missing a trick?
Yeah, I’ve tired the knife trick before too and it does nothing for me! I usually just use a spoon. I almost always only eat one half at a time, so I think it helps that the pitted side has been refrigerated and is a bit firmer- it seems to make getting the pit out a bit easier.
I always have trouble getting the pits out of avocados – eventually my roommate told me the knife trick. I was using a really dinky knife to do it before, then she told me I was doing it wrong and needed to use a chef’s knife. You have to just hit it really hard, once. It worked!
I have never had luck with the knife trick! I suppose I am probably using the wrong knife! I’ll have to give that method a try again next time.
Oxo has this avocado cutter that has changed my life – if you eat a lot of them you should look into getting one! They are cheap. I love this tutorial- I consider choosing avocados and cutting them an art 🙂
It kind of is an art, huh? Picking them is definitely the hardest part! Thanks for the heads up on the Oxo cutter. I’ll definitely look into that.
Yay for avocados! I hate finding the perfect avocados at the store – they are always either too hard or too soft 🙂 Well not always but it takes awhile! haha
It DOES take awhile! I think I usually stand next to the avocados for 1-2 minutes just picking out one… it does not help that I’m pretty indecisive!
yup definitely don’t cut my avocados like this but this is genius! lol how did I not know this. I cut them in half but the other direction thatt you did (horizontal not vertical) and then scoop it into salads and just mash it all up in the bowl. this is way better/easier!
I had never thought to cut an avocado that way! It is so funny to see how many different ways people use to cut their avocados. I hope this one will be a bit easier/quicker for you 🙂
First time buying a mango. Oh my goodness. Plus, I had cheap knives! Now, I have a mango splitter. Also CutCo knives make it significantly easier. But I do the same as you for my avocado! Except I usually just use my thumb to take out the pit, but I generally just mash avocado – no slicing.
Cutting mangoes is the WORST! I did not know that mango splitters existed, but it sounds like one would be a very worthwhile investment!
I am shocked that nobody has mentioned ripening green avocados yourself. I always buy very green and hard avos as they do not ripen properly in a bin at the store. Once home I immediately put them all in a brown paper bag and place in a dark cupboard for about 3 days and then check for ripeness. They will always ripen perfectly with this method. When ripe place in vegetable bin in fridge and they will stay nice for a week or more. I live in a remote area and only get to the store about once a week so usually buy about 6 at a time. Once you have this process going you will never be out of perfectly ripe avocados.
Thanks for the tips! That sounds like a great process that I should try out.