A friend gave me a plate of fresh ripe avocados from her tree. I love avocados but I wasn't sure if I could eat them before they started to go bad. So I decided to freeze them for later use!
I started by slicing the avocados in half, carefully removing the pit and scooping out the flesh into a bowl. It doesn't have to be pretty since you are going to mash everything together.
I mashed all the avocados with a potato masher. You can use an immersion blender for a very smooth consistency. It helps to know how you are going to use your avocados once you unfreeze them.
Add lemon juice to keep the avocados from turning brown. (Use any brand of bottled lemon or lime juice. Or you may use fresh if you have it on hand. UC ANR Master Food Preserver Program isn't endorsing this particular brand of juice.) The Avocado Council of California does not give a measurement but I used 1 ½ tablespoons for my 7 avocados.
Fill ice cube trays with avocado mixture. I have several ice cube trays I keep around for freezing foods rather than ice cubes. I freeze, herbs, lemon juice, just about anything I need to portion and use for another day!
My 7 avocados filled almost 2 ice cube trays.You can smooth the avocado to the top of the tray for more cubes if you would like. Ready for the freezer…
Do not stack the trays as this will make a mess on the bottom of your trays. Freeze over night.
They should easily release from the trays. Pretty simple so far!!!
I would recommend a food vacuum sealer if you have one. These tend to be sensitive to freezer burn. If you don't, use a freezer safe storage bag or container. If using a bag, try and remove as much air as possible. Make sure and label with the product name, date, and amount if you measured the cube size.
To use, take out as many cubes as you need and place in a sealed container to thaw in the fridge overnight.
I have found one cube is good for one taco or burrito. Use 2 to 3 cubes for topping nachos. Try 6 cubes mixed with ¼ cup of salsa to make a great personal serving of guacamole. My favorite though is add one cube in a smoothie. You don't even need to defrost. It adds a creamy smooth taste.
For more information on avocados visit https://www.californiaavocado.com/
Now go get some avocados!!!
Photo credit: Tami Reece