How to Pit an Avocado

Avocados are really delicious but the first time cooking with them can be a bit tricky!  Here we show you how to pit an avocado safely and easily before using it in delicious recipes such as guacamole or a delicious salad.

First, grasp the ripe avocado firmly in the palm of your hand.  Then with a sharp knife, and starting at the top, push your knife lengthwise through the skin of the avocado and cut down to the pit (it will feel hard under the knife).  Then rotate the avocado against the knife, cutting along the bottom of the avocado.  Then rotate the avocado once more against the knife, cutting up the other side.

Put the knife down, and with both hands, rotate the avocado until the two halves come apart.

Then, securely hold half of the avocado in the palm of your hand and – VERY carefully – hit the sharp edge of the knife into the avocado pit, hard enough that the knife sticks into the pit.  (If you are nervous about accidentally cutting your hand, place the avocado on a cutting board instead.)   With the knife still in the pit, gently rotate the knife until the pit comes out.

Once you’ve removed the pit, you can then scoop out the avocado from the skin with a spoon and proceed with your recipe instructions.

By the way – perfectly ripe avocados can sometimes be hard to find at the store.  If yours happens to be under-ripe and hard, before attempting to cut the avocado, place it in a closed paper bag overnight with an apple and by the next morning, your avocado will be perfectly ripe!

You may enjoy these avocado recipes:

• Avocado Rye Canapés
• 20+ Awesome Avocado Recipes
• Avocado Chicken Pasta Salad
• Avocado Poppy Seed Dressing {#LoveAvocado}
• Pan Seared Halibut with Mango-Avocado Salsa