If you’re new to avocados and try to peel one, after several seconds of struggle, you’ll probably ask, “How are you supposed to peel this thing?!” The problem is that the flesh is soft, but the peel is firm. It is difficult to peel the fruit without mangling the flesh, and at the same time, the slippery, soft texture makes the avocado quite difficult to hold onto while you are peeling it. The answer is simple: You do not peel an avocado. Instead, you remove the flesh from the peel using the scoop method. Alternatively, you can use the more difficult quarter-and-strip method.
The Scoop Method For Peeling an Avocado
To use the scoop method to peel an avocado, you first slice the fruit in half, then remove the pit. Then, you carefully scoop out the flesh from the inner sides of the peel. This procedure is easier if the avocado is properly ripe, of course. Below are the steps for using this method.
- Slice the avocado in half around the pit. The pit will remain in one half of the avocado after you separate it.
- Use the edge of your knife blade to carefully penetrate the pit and then use the knife to pull out the pit. The edge of the blade, embedded into the pit, should hold fast, allowing you to remove the seed.
- Using a small spoon, carefully scoop along the inner edges of the peel, scooping out the flesh from each half. If you want to be able to quarter the avocado, then be especially careful to remove the avocado flesh in one piece. If you are going to mash the fruit, then you don’t need to worry.
If you intend to mash the avocado to use in guacamole or another preparation, you can pre-score the flesh of the fruit with a knife to make it easier to scoop out.
Alternative Quarter-and-Strip Method For Peeling Avocados
The scoop method is the easiest way and the way most cooks use. However, there is a way to actually “peel” an avocado. This method, the quarter-and-strip method, requires more steps and can be a bit more difficult.
For this, you will need to slice the avocado in half, remove the pit, and then slice the half in half again lengthwise, to form quarters. Hold a quarter carefully and pinch the peel at one of the pointy tips (use a paring knife to get underneath it, if necessary).
If the avocado is ripe, you can just strip the skin away. Repeat with the remaining quarters.
Below are two videos showing both methods of peeling an avocado. The first video shows the scoop method of peeling, and the second shows the quarter and strip method. Note the two different methods of removing the pit.
In the first video, the demonstrator uses the most popular method of removing the pit, which is to use the sharp edge of a knife and embed it into the pit, allowing you to lift the pit out. Although some sources hold this method to be two dangerous, if you hold the avocado in a folded towel to protect your hand and fingers, this can be done safely. If in doubt, use the method in the second video, which is a common-sense way to extract the pit by digging it out. Some pits will come out fairly easily if you pry on them with your fingers, but for others, you may need to wedge a knife tip underneath. The knife does not need to be sharp.
You will find most avocados sold green, and unless you plan to use them immediately, buy them that way. They will ripen in a few days. You can speed up the process by placing them in a paper bag. Placing an apple in the bag along with the avocado will help speed up the process.
See also Does Keeping the Pit in a Half Avocado Really Keep it From Browning?