How to Pit an Avocado

If you’ve never prepared one before, avocados can look intimidating. Getting the pit out of an avocado is not that hard, once you know a few simple tricks.

How to Pit an Avocado

Avocados are tasty, and can be a great addition or garnish to so many meals. But it can be a bit of a challenge to get to that creamy goodness, if you haven’t done it before.

The first thing you need to know is that avocados have one large seed. It’s more like the pit of a peach or a plum, or another stone fruit.

Use a chef’s knife to slice the avocado in half, from the top to the bottom. The give the two halves a little twist, and they should easily pop apart. (Just like cutting a peach or plum in half.) Set the half without the seed aside, you’ll deal with that in a minute.

Hold the half with the seed in a dish towel in your hand. Very carefully, hold your chef’s knife in your dominant hand. Taking careful aim, gently slap the knife into the avocado seed, like this. (Yes, the towel is to protect your other hand in case your aim is off or you miss.)

Once the knife is in the seed (it doesn’t have to go in very far), give the seed a gentle twist, and it should pop right out. If your avocado is more ripe (and the fruit more squishy), the seed will come out easily. If your avocado is more firm, it may take a little harder twist to get the seed free.

If you have an avocado slicer, this is where they come in handy. Hold half of the avocado in your hand, with the peel still on. Slide the edge of the avocado slicer between the fruit and the peel, and gently pull down. This is easier in a riper avocado than in a firm one, but you should be able to do it with any avocado.

This will give you nice, thick, even slices.

This avocado slicer has a seed removing tool, so you don’t need to use the knife method.

If you don’t have an avocado slicer, you can peel and slice the avocado. Cut each half in half again (so you end up with four quarters of the avocado). If your avocado is very ripe and soft, you may be able to peel the skin right off. If the skin sticks a little, just use a paring knife to slice it off. Then slice and dice your avocado quarters to whatever size you want.

Now what do you do with these beautiful avocado slices? Check out all these avocado recipes from The California Avocado Commission. And don’t miss this B.L.A.T. Sandwich over on Alarm Clock Wars – it will take your classic BLT to the next level!

What’s your favorite way to use avocados?

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