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[Avocado](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/category/recipes/avocado-recipes/) - [View All »](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/recipe-index/#popular-ingredients) - [Recipe Index](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/recipe-index/) - [About Us](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/aboutus/) - [Cooking Club](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/cooking-club/) - [Saved Recipes](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#list/my-favorites) [Video](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#ytplaceholder) [Comments](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comments) [Save](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#save) # How to Pick, Cut and Store Avocados  By: [Adam Gallagher](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/author/adam/) Updated: Feb 20, 2025 Learn how to pick, cut, and store avocados so they are ready for your favorite avocado recipes.  I love avocados and have been known to eat them with a spoon. Below, you will find my best tips for picking the perfect avocado, preparing and cutting them, and storing them for later. Then, you’ll be ready to make all my favorite [avocado recipes](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/category/recipes/avocado-recipes/)! Some of my favorites are this [avocado salad](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/39232/avocado-salad/), [homemade guacamole](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/20172/our-favorite-guacamole-recipe-with-video/), [avocado egg salad](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/23087/easy-avocado-egg-salad-recipe/), and this [avocado pasta](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/12010/avocado-pasta-recipe/) (yep, we use avocado to make the sauce!). ## How to Pick Avocados Are you tired of cutting into underripe avocados? I was, too. That’s why I made it my mission to determine the best ways to choose them. Unless you are lucky, the avocados you find at the store will probably need a few days to ripen. So, when shopping for avocados, planning ahead is a good idea.Here’s an easy guide for determining when avocados are ready to eat: 1. **Gently squeeze the avocado** with the palm of your hand, avoiding using fingertips as they can bruise it. If it yields a little when pressed, it’s ready to eat. It needs a day or two to ripen if it feels firm and doesn’t give. If it gives too easily, it’s likely overripe and may have brown spots inside. 2. **Check under the stem.** Use your fingers to pull the stem at the top of the avocado. If it easily comes off, and the area underneath is green, you’ve found an avocado ready to eat. If the stem is hard to remove, it needs a couple of days to ripen fully. The avocado is likely overripe if the area under the stem is brown. ## How to Cut Avocados When you think your avocado is ready, cut the avocado in half lengthwise around the seed. Make sure you have control over the avocado and know where those fingers are\!   Once cut, twist and separate the two halves. I have two ways for you to remove the seed. Option one uses a knife. Fold a kitchen towel, place it in your hand, and then hold the avocado half with the seed firmly. Then, tap a chef’s knife into the seed. You will need some force here, but don’t whack it. Twist a little and remove the seed. Go for the wider section of the knife (don’t use the tip).   If you feel nervous about using a knife to remove the seed, try using a spoon instead. It works really well. You might lose a little avocado as you scoop it out, but not too much, and no sharp objects are involved.   At this point, you can use a spoon to scoop out all of the flesh, or if you want slices, use a knife to slice through the avocado flesh without cutting through the outer skin. We use slices of avocado for topping tacos, like these [shredded beef tacos](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/10170/shredded-beef-tacos-recipe/).   Or, make cubes by slicing in the opposite direction (crosswise). Then, use a spoon to scoop out the cut pieces. I do this when making our [avocado salad](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/39232/avocado-salad/).   ## How to Store Avocados Store whole avocados at room temperature if they are unripe. Keep ripe avocados in the fridge. When it comes to storing a cut avocado, there are a few additional steps to keep in mind. The main goal is to minimize the avocado’s exposure to oxygen, which causes avocados to turn brown. My first tip is to use a little acid (like a spritz of lime or lemon juice). Then, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. The avocado should stay green for a day or two.   Another option is to leave the seed in. We don’t know all the specifics, but we have tried, and it worked! So, leave the seed in and wrap it with plastic wrap. Again, the avocado should stay green for a day or two.   That’s it. Do you have any tricks for cutting or storing avocados? [](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/aboutus/) We are Adam and Joanne Gallagher, the creators of Inspired Taste. Established in 2009, Inspired Taste grew from a childhood dream into one of the internet’s most trusted recipe sites with hundreds of reliable recipes, step-by-step videos, and expert tips.[More About Us](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/aboutus/) 14 comments… [Leave a Review](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#commentform) - Jane August 16, 2020 Thanks [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-412031) - Mary June 11, 2016 I look forward to receiving your newsletter of recipes. [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-355708) - Joanne October 11, 2023 That’s great! Welcome. [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-547786) - Vicki May 24, 2015 I freeze the avocado. Scoop out of skin and put in a baggie. We use them for breakfast shakes every morning. The avocados freeze well and retain their color. [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-334059) - Joanne October 11, 2023 We have never frozen avocado before. Does the texture change at all? [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-547787) - Gabe November 2, 2014 I use a Foodsaver on my avocados there good for a week or so when vacuum sealed. [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-322631) - Nancy Long August 17, 2012 we never have any leftover – hubby inhales it [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-45223) - Joanne October 11, 2023 It is rare\! [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-547788) - Marcy February 24, 2012 I have a dwarf Avocado tree, it’s is full blossoms at this time. I hope the spring storms and wind don’t knock them off. The plastic wrap you show are how I store mine. In a San Diego restaurant the waiter came with two table knifes and cut across the avocado one way and then another way. I prefer my guacamole lumpy and not smooth. Cover your bowl and press the plastic wrap until it press’s against guacamole with pit in bowl add a little lime or lemon juice so it won’t turn black.. [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-28207) - Marcy February 24, 2012 My husband I went to Avocado Festival in Carpenteria, California, they were giving away a tool to cut your avocado, take the pit out , it could cut it and scoop the meat of the avocado out. I used to do it way your way but now with handy tool it’s great. You can toss it in the dishwasher and it is plastic, firm but flexible. Marcy [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-28204) - Jessen February 24, 2012 Very Helpful Tip about the seed staying in a “leftover half” of avocado. I’ll try that trick the next time~ Thanks [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-28178) - Molly @ Toffee Bits and Chocolate Chips February 23, 2012 This is great! I love avocado! I will definitely give it a try. I’ve attempted everything to keep avocado fresh including submerging it in water (ya-didn’t work!). [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-28138) - erin February 23, 2012 Onion! Store your avocado with an onion – it works better than anything I’ve ever tried\! [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-27998) - Adam February 24, 2012 we’ve heard of this, does the avocado smell/taste like onion at all? [Reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#comment-28177) Load More Comments ### Leave a Reply [Cancel reply](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/11977/how-to-prepare-and-store-avocado/#respond) Previous Post: [Cajun Butter Corn](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/59289/cajun-grilled-corn/) Next Post: [Guinness Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/12208/chocolate-guinness-cake-recipe/)   ## Welcome\! We are Adam and Joanne, the creators of Inspired Taste. Since 2009, we’ve been dedicated to creating trusted, easy recipes to help home cooks feel confident and excited in the kitchen. [More about us](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/aboutus/). 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Learn how to pick, cut, and store avocados so they are ready for your favorite avocado recipes.  I love avocados and have been known to eat them with a spoon. Below, you will find my best tips for picking the perfect avocado, preparing and cutting them, and storing them for later. Then, you’ll be ready to make all my favorite [avocado recipes](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/category/recipes/avocado-recipes/)! Some of my favorites are this [avocado salad](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/39232/avocado-salad/), [homemade guacamole](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/20172/our-favorite-guacamole-recipe-with-video/), [avocado egg salad](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/23087/easy-avocado-egg-salad-recipe/), and this [avocado pasta](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/12010/avocado-pasta-recipe/) (yep, we use avocado to make the sauce!). ## How to Pick Avocados Are you tired of cutting into underripe avocados? I was, too. That’s why I made it my mission to determine the best ways to choose them. Unless you are lucky, the avocados you find at the store will probably need a few days to ripen. So, when shopping for avocados, planning ahead is a good idea.Here’s an easy guide for determining when avocados are ready to eat: 1. **Gently squeeze the avocado** with the palm of your hand, avoiding using fingertips as they can bruise it. If it yields a little when pressed, it’s ready to eat. It needs a day or two to ripen if it feels firm and doesn’t give. If it gives too easily, it’s likely overripe and may have brown spots inside. 2. **Check under the stem.** Use your fingers to pull the stem at the top of the avocado. If it easily comes off, and the area underneath is green, you’ve found an avocado ready to eat. If the stem is hard to remove, it needs a couple of days to ripen fully. The avocado is likely overripe if the area under the stem is brown. ## How to Cut Avocados When you think your avocado is ready, cut the avocado in half lengthwise around the seed. Make sure you have control over the avocado and know where those fingers are\!  Once cut, twist and separate the two halves. I have two ways for you to remove the seed. Option one uses a knife. Fold a kitchen towel, place it in your hand, and then hold the avocado half with the seed firmly. Then, tap a chef’s knife into the seed. You will need some force here, but don’t whack it. Twist a little and remove the seed. Go for the wider section of the knife (don’t use the tip).  If you feel nervous about using a knife to remove the seed, try using a spoon instead. It works really well. You might lose a little avocado as you scoop it out, but not too much, and no sharp objects are involved.  At this point, you can use a spoon to scoop out all of the flesh, or if you want slices, use a knife to slice through the avocado flesh without cutting through the outer skin. We use slices of avocado for topping tacos, like these [shredded beef tacos](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/10170/shredded-beef-tacos-recipe/).  Or, make cubes by slicing in the opposite direction (crosswise). Then, use a spoon to scoop out the cut pieces. I do this when making our [avocado salad](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/39232/avocado-salad/).  ## How to Store Avocados Store whole avocados at room temperature if they are unripe. Keep ripe avocados in the fridge. When it comes to storing a cut avocado, there are a few additional steps to keep in mind. The main goal is to minimize the avocado’s exposure to oxygen, which causes avocados to turn brown. My first tip is to use a little acid (like a spritz of lime or lemon juice). Then, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. The avocado should stay green for a day or two.  Another option is to leave the seed in. We don’t know all the specifics, but we have tried, and it worked! So, leave the seed in and wrap it with plastic wrap. Again, the avocado should stay green for a day or two.  That’s it. Do you have any tricks for cutting or storing avocados? [](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/aboutus/) We are Adam and Joanne Gallagher, the creators of Inspired Taste. Established in 2009, Inspired Taste grew from a childhood dream into one of the internet’s most trusted recipe sites with hundreds of reliable recipes, step-by-step videos, and expert tips.[More About Us](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/aboutus/)