Don’t let your ripe avocados go to waste! Here’s how to freeze avocados to use later in smoothies, salad dressing, guacamole, or even pudding. Learn how to freeze avocado halves, chunks, or slices.

avocados on a white platter with one cut in half.

Avocados are believed to have originated in South Central Mexico thousands of years ago, and since then it has spread across the world as a valuable crop. The avocado is technically a fruit, but it’s commonly eaten as a vegetable or used as oil for cooking.

The avocado has demonstrated remarkable benefits that affect people’s health and well-being such as promoting the reduction of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other degenerative diseases.

At least one study showed that eating this popular fruit with a salad can increase absorption of carotenoid antioxidants by three times. There are so many different ways you can eat them too. Some of my favorite ways include as guacamole, Avocado Mango Salad, as avocado spread (kind of like avocado hummus), and in avocado pudding.

I include avocado as part of my list of the healthiest foods to eat every day.

Can You Freeze Avocados?

If you are wondering if you can freeze avocados, the answer is yes!

There are a few tips and tricks to freezing them properly so they maintain as much of their natural moisture and flavor as possible.

Why Freeze Avocados?

Avocados can be really expensive. So, if you find them on sale at your local grocery store, then I suggest that you buy as many as you can.

You don’t have to worry about them going to waste with this handy guide on how to freeze avocados.

When are They Ripe?

Avocados are ripe when they are soft to the touch. You’ll know when an avocado is not ripe because it will be very hard, like a baseball. Sometimes it can take up to several weeks for an avocado to ripen on the countertop.

If you want to help avocados ripen faster, you can always place an avocado in a paper bag for a few days. This is the best way to help them ripen faster.

It is important to let your avocados ripen before you freeze them, as the avocados will not ripen anymore once they are frozen. You do not want to freeze unripe avocados.

Key Ingredients for Freezing

ingredients for how to freeze avocados.
  • Ripe avocados are necessary to freeze them. I’ll show you how to freeze a whole large avocado, avocado pieces or diced avocados, slices of avocado, or even mashed avocado.
  • Fresh lemon juice helps prevent browning.
  • You’ll also need some plastic ziptop bags or silicone bags for freezing.

Steps for Freezing Avocados

Avocado freezes really well! Let me show you how in a few simple steps.

process photos for how to freeze ripe avocados.

Step One

The first step for freezing ripe avocados is to give them a quick wash.

It’s always a good idea to wash avocados before cutting them to help prevent food borne illness.

Step Two

Use a sharp knife to cut each avocado in half. Use a spoon to scoop out the pit and discard.

See this post for detailed instructions on how to cut an avocado.

Step Three

Use your spoon to scoop out each half of the avocado and transfer to a zip-top plastic bag, resealable bag, or silicone storage bag. Some people like to put the avocado into an ice cube tray, but I find that a bag works easier and is less messy.

Squeeze a little fresh lemon juice or lime juice into each freezer bag to help prevent browning. The citric acid in fresh lemon juice will help stop the ripe green avocado flesh from turning brown.

Squeeze as much air out of the ziploc bag as possible, seal the bag, and place it in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Step Four

To defrost your frozen avocados, place the bag in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. Once your frozen avocado has defrosted, you can use it as you normally would, such as in guacamole, avocado spread, or to top a soup or salad.

Some people also like to use defrosted frozen avocados as baby food. To do that, just place your avocado in a food processor and blend it until it transforms into pureed avocado. Babies love the creamy texture.

Defrosted frozen avocado is also great for Avocado Chocolate Pudding or Chocolate Avocado Ice Cream! You can also use your frozen avocado in a smoothie such as my Liver Detox Smoothie or my Chocolate Avocado Smoothie.

Freezing Avocados Summary

To summarize, the best way to freeze avocados is to wash them, cut them in half, use a spoon to scoop out each half, and place the halved avocado flesh into a zip-top bag.

Freeze for up to several months.

avocado halves in a plastic bag ready for the freezer.

Tips & Substitutions

  • Frozen avocados will last in the freezer for about 2 months.
  • Defrost your frozen avocados in the refrigerator overnight before using. 
  • You can serve frozen avocados almost the same way you would use a fresh avocado. Once you have frozen it, though, you will need to de-frost it in the refrigerator for about 12-24 hours first. Then, you can use it in guacamole, on avocado toast, in a chocolate pudding, or on top of a salad. You can even make Avocado Ice Cream!
  • If you prefer to freeze your avocado in slices or chunks, then you can do that too. Place the avocado slices or chunks on a parchment-paper lined baking sheet and freeze it for at least 4-6 hours before transferring to a ziptop bag for up to 2 months.
plate with four frozen avocado halves.

FAQs

How can I tell when an avocado has gone bad?

There are a few ways to tell when an avocado is rotten. If your avocado smells bad or is very mushy, then you will need to throw it away. Don’t worry about a few brown spots on the flesh, but it should still be about 65% green when you cut it in half.

If your avocado is visibly moldy or is more than 35% brown all the way through, then you should also throw it away.

However, if your ripe avocado doesn’t smell bad and has some nice firm green spots left on it, then you can probably cut away the bad parts and still freeze the good parts.

What can I do with frozen avocados?

You can serve frozen avocados almost the same way you would use a fresh avocado. Once you have frozen it, though, you will need to de-frost it in the refrigerator for about 12-24 hours first. Then, you can use it in guacamole, on avocado toast, in a chocolate pudding, or on top of a salad. You can even make Avocado Ice Cream!

The texture of a frozen-then-defrosted avocado is about 80% of a fresh avocado. In other words, the texture won’t be perfect once it is defrosted or reaches room temperature, but it will be very good. And, the flavor should be the same even with the texture change.

Can I freeze a whole avocado?

Yes, you can freeze a whole avocado, but it’s best to peel the avocado first before freezing. That way, you can divide it in half, add the lemon juice to prevent browning, and discard the pit. Freezing a whole peeled and pitted avocado is the easiest way to do it.

Can you freeze an avocado using plastic wrap?

Yes, but you won’t be able to use as much lemon juice to help prevent browning. To use plastic wrap, place the sliced or halved avocado in the middle of a large piece of plastic wrap. Add a little lemon juice (just a few drops) and then wrap the avocado in the plastic wrap as tightly as possible without smooshing the fruit. Store in the freezer until you are ready to use it.

frozen avocados on a plate.

More Helpful Guides for Freezing Food You Might Like

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plate with frozen avocado halves

How to Freeze Ripe Avocados (Whole or Sliced)

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Don’t waste your ripe avocados. Here’s how to freeze them to use later in smoothies, guacamole, or even pudding. You can freeze avocado halves, chunks, or slices.

  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 ripe avoados (or as many as you want to freeze)
  • 1 lemon or lime, juiced

Instructions

  1. Wash your avocados with warm water and dish soap and pat them dry. This helps prevent the spread of food-borne illness.
  2. Use a sharp knife to cut each avocado in half. Use a spoon to scoop out the pit and discard.
  3. Use your spoon to scoop out each half of the avocado and transfer to a zip-top bag.
  4. Squeeze about a teaspoon of freshly-squeeze lemon or lime juice into each bag. This will help prevent the avocado from browning. 
  5. Place the zip-top bags into the freezer for up to 2 months.
  6. Defrost before using (unless you want to put the frozen avocado into a smoothie).

Notes

  1. Frozen avocados will last in the freezer for about 2 months.
  2. Defrost your frozen avocados in the refrigerator overnight before using. 
  3. You can serve frozen avocados almost the same way you would use a fresh avocado. Once you have frozen it, though, you will need to de-frost it in the refrigerator for about 12-24 hours first. Then, you can use it in guacamole, on avocado toast, in a chocolate pudding, or on top of a salad. You can even make Avocado Ice Cream!
  4. If you prefer to freeze your avocado in slices or chunks, then you can do that too. Place the avocado slices or chunks on a parchment-paper lined baking sheet and freeze it for at least 4-6 hours before transferring to a ziptop bag for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/2 of avocado
  • Calories: 114
  • Sugar: 0.2 g
  • Sodium: 5.4 mg
  • Fat: 10.5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5.9 g
  • Fiber: 4.6 g
  • Protein: 1.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.