How to Peel an Avocado (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Peeling avocados is actually quite easy and has several methods and approaches. Try each of the methods we provide below and decide which one you find easiest.

Step

Part 1 of 5: Chopping Avocado

Step 1. Clean the fruit first

Rinse the fruit using clean water while rubbing the skin with your hands to remove any dirt or soil.

• Even though you won't be eating the skin, it's important to clean the fruit before peeling it. Otherwise, dirt and bacteria from the peel will enter the flesh when you peel the fruit.
• Do not use soap or other cleaning liquids to clean avocados.
• Dry the fruit or wipe using a tissue or napkin after cleaning.
• In addition to the fruit, your hands must also be clean. Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before starting to touch and peel the fruit.

Step 2. Place the avocado on a cutting board

Lay it crosswise so you can cut it more easily and safely.

To prevent the fruit or knife from slipping because it's slippery, place a napkin or non-slip mat on the cutting board as a base for the avocado

Step 3. Split the avocado vertically

Use a sharp knife to cut the avocado from top to bottom.

• Note that you are splitting according to the length of the fruit, not the width.

  

• Hold the avocado firmly with your non-dominant hand. If necessary, hold the fruit with a towel or napkin so you can grip it more firmly (and prevent the risk of accidentally slicing your hand with the knife).

  

• Start splitting from the small top, then to the wider bottom.

  

• Make sure you split it right in the middle. Also, you won't be able to split it through because it's blocked by a seed in the middle so you'll have to split it around the seed.

  

Step 4. Separate the two halves of the fruit

Separate the two halves using both your hands.

• Make sure you hold both sides firmly. Use one hand to twist one of the halves slightly so that you can separate the two halves more easily.
• When you separate the two halves, you will find the seeds in the center of one of the halves.

Part 2 of 5: Throwing the Seeds

Step 1. Remove the seeds using a spoon

This is the best way to remove the seeds.

• Tuck the end of your spoon between the seeds and the flesh. Press gently so the spoon goes deeper. Be careful and make sure the spoon doesn't gouge the meat.

  

• Move the spoon around the seeds so the seeds are free from the flesh and you can lift them.

  

• Remove the seeds using a spoon from the very bottom of the seeds.

  

Step 2. Remove the seeds by stabbing them with a knife and then lifting them

You need to pierce the sharp end of your knife hard enough but not to penetrate the core.

• This method is not recommended because it is quite dangerous. Do this carefully so you don't accidentally cut your hand.
• To reduce the risk, protect your hands with a napkin or towel.
• Gently pierce the knife through the center of the seed until the knife is slowly entering the seed. Keep pressing gently so that the knife goes deeper.
• Once the knife is stabbed into the kernel firmly enough, twist and move the knife to remove it from the flesh. Once it is separated from the flesh, lift the knife along with the seeds.

Part 3 of 5: Peeling the Avocado Slices

Step 1. Slide the spoon between the meat and the skin

Make sure you don't tuck in the meat.

• Tuck the spoon near the darker areas of the meat to minimize the amount of meat you accidentally peel with the skin.

  

• Press carefully. Don't let any of the meat come off.

  

• Gently press the spoon around the shape of the fruit.

  

Step 2. Remove the whole meat

Insert the spoon into the very bottom of the meat, then remove the meat. If you peel it properly, you should be able to lift it easily.

• If any part of the flesh is still attached to the skin, the avocado flesh will crumble a little at that point.
• If you accidentally pierce the skin from the inside, you will notice that there are some parts of the flesh that still have the skin on when removed.

Step 3. Peel the remaining skin that is still attached to the meat

If there is still skin on the flesh, peel it off with your fingernails.

• If you can't peel the skin off with your fingernail, use a knife.
• After this, you can cut and serve or process the avocado.

Part 4 of 5: Peeling Avocado by Slicing It

Step 1. Cut the avocado halves into thin long strips

Cut each avocado slice vertically. If you want, you can split the piece you just split again to make smaller pieces.

• To make it easier for you to cut it, cut it with the flesh of the fruit facing up and the skin facing down.
• Smaller or thinner pieces will be much easier to peel than larger or wider pieces.

Step 2. Take the peel from the end of the cut

Use your index finger and thumb to scoop out the skin at the top of each piece of fruit. The skin starts from the dark green part of the flesh.

Ideally, you want to peel only the skin and not remove the flesh

Step 3. Peel off the skin carefully with your hands

With this method, you should be able to peel the skin just as you would a banana.

• Hold the piece of fruit with your non-dominant hand.
• Hold the part of the skin you are going to peel with the fingers of your dominant hand and peel it off carefully.
• Again, don't pull or damage the flesh when peeling it by hand.

Step 4. If you can't use your hands, use a knife

If the avocado is not very ripe, the skin may be difficult to peel by hand. Use a small knife instead to peel the meat.

This method is not ideal as you run the risk of accidentally cutting the meat

Part 5 of 5: Peeling by Dice

Step 1. Make dice in the halves of the meat

Use a small knife to make cut lines on the flesh. Make three or four vertical and horizontal cut lines that cross each other. Do this on both halves of the fruit.

Cut to the skin, but not to the skin

Step 2. Use a spoon to pry small pieces of the fruit from the skin

Slide a metal spoon between the skin and meat until the meat lifts.

Step 3. Peel the remaining skin that is still attached to the meat

If there is still some skin on the peeled meat, you can peel it off with your fingers.

If you can't peel it off with your fingers, use a small knife

Tips

• If the avocado isn't fully ripe, put it in a paper bag and store it in a place at room temperature for two to five days. You can speed up the process by placing the ripe apples in the same paper bag.
• To prevent the surface of the meat from turning discolored, sprinkle lemon juice, lime or vinegar on the meat. This is necessary if you don't plan on serving or processing your avocado right away.
• The part of the avocado that contains the highest concentration of carotenoid antioxidants is the dark green flesh that is right next to the skin. Therefore, when peeling an avocado, peel it carefully so you don't accidentally throw this part away.