This Is the Only Way You Should Cut an Avocado
Updated: May 03, 2024
Learn how to cut an avocado into quarters—and remove the pit without a wielding a sharp knife
The first time I ever saw someone’s method for how to cut an avocado, I had ordered tableside guacamole at a restaurant. The server sliced the fruit in half, removed the pit with a sharp knife and then spooned the fruit into a bowl. I saw countless people do it this way—Food Network stars, cookbook manuals and my own parents. I always figured that scooping the fruit from the flesh was the only way to do it.
Luckily, there’s a better way to cut an avocado! This method makes it easy to peel the skin from an avocado for beautiful quarters, which makes it easier for you to eat an avocado every day. Here’s what you need to know.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more kitchen tips, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.
How to cut an avocado the right way
What you’ll need
- Ripe avocado
- Sharp kitchen knife
Directions
Step 1: Cut the avocado into quarters
Cut into the ripe avocado from stem to stern until you hit the seed. Repeat across the other way to cut the avocado into quarters.
Step 2: Twist the avocado to separate
Twist the avocado in half, and separate it.
Step 3: Remove the avocado seed
Pull out the seed. While traditional methods remove the seed with a sharp knife, we’ve found this is a much safer method for how to cut an avocado and remove the pit.
Step 4: Peel off the avocado skin
Pull the skin back like a banana peel. If the avocado is ripe, the skin should separate cleanly. Not only do you get the most of the fruit, but you don’t even need a spoon to do it!
Even though it might seem strange to peel an avocado, the added carotenoids should delay your avocado from browning—the ultimate guacamole hack.
How to cut an avocado into slices
After you’ve sliced your avocado into quarters and peeled the skin off, place the fruit (yep, avocado is a fruit) with the flat side facing down on a cutting board and thinly slice it using a knife. In just a few seconds, you’ll have perfectly sliced avocado ready for your morning avocado toast. You should only slice a fresh avocado, but it is possible to freeze an avocado for up to six months.
Avocado hacks and tricks
Use a cooling rack to dice avocados
If slicing or dicing an avocado with a knife seems intimidating, this cooling-rack hack will save the day. Place a grid-style cooling rack over a large bowl, and then place the peeled avocado on top of the rack. Gently push the avocado through the grid, and voila! You have diced avocado ready to go.
Remove the pit with your thumb and finger
You can also cut the avocado in half and safely pop out the pit. The credit for this method goes to TikTok creator and sushi chef _mynameischo.
You do have to use a knife at first to cut the avocado in half, but that shouldn’t send anyone to urgent care with a case of avocado hand. Once the avocado is halved, put the knife away.
Simply place your index and middle finger on either side of the avocado pit. Put your thumb on the back of the avocado half, and press like you’re pushing an elevator button. Wham! The pit tumbles out like an Olympic gymnast.
@_mynameischoTag @partyshirt so they can see if this CAP or FACT! #sushi#chef#foodtiktok#foryou#apronsquad♬ In Da Club – Instrumental Hip Hop Beats Crew
You can also use a butter knife to pop the pit out of the avocado from the back. To see this technique in action, check out Cho’s follow-up video.
Submerge avocados in water to keep them fresh
Have too many avocados to use before they go brown? Don’t worry—they won’t go to waste. You can keep whole avocados from turning brown by submerging them in a container of water and then placing them in the fridge. However, avocados are among the foods you don’t need to put in the fridge.
