If you're anything like me, you're here because you're trying to figure out how to make the most of all those amazing 3/$1 avocado sales at your local grocery store. Am I right? Good news, you're in the right place!
If you've been here before, you know that I love saving money and preserving food. In fact, that's specifically what most people come to my site for as evidenced by my top 10 posts of all time!
(Like this post on Crazy Ways to Save Money if You're BRAVE Enough or how we eat really well for less than $300 a month or how to can homemade strawberry jam!)
And sometimes when I'm really lucky, those two loves intersect. I love those days. And today is one of those days!
Recently, I was able to grab a TON of fresh, organic avocados drastically on sale. Although, since avocados are on the "Clean 15" list, you can also take advantage of the sales for conventional avocados too.
Either way, when you see them on sale, and can't stop yourself from bringing home 50 or 60 fresh avocados (I wouldn't know anything about that ;-)) now you'll know exactly what to do with them!
How to Freeze Avocados
Though I am a huge fan of canning, and though I have heard that you can pickle avocados... I'm just going to advocate for the simplest and most effect method for storing avocados that we have found! Freezing.
There are several different ways that you can freeze avocados for use at a later date when you find them on sale! Watch this video and get the full details below when you're done!
1. Freeze Avocado Halves
If you're not sure what you want to do with your avocados when you use them later, this is the best way to freeze them!
Just cut them in half lengthwise, place them on a tray, and sprinkle each half with lemon juice. You don't need to soak them, but make sure it's more than a drop or two each!
Then place them in a ziploc bag and press as much air out as possible! If you want to really make sure you're getting all the air out and that your avocados aren't going to be brown, grab one of these food saver systems.
They are a fabulous addition to any frugal kitchen as they help keep food fresh for as long as possible!
2. Freeze Diced Avocados
If you don't know what you want to do with your avocados but don't like the idea of all that possible air exposure from the halves method, just dice your avocados and toss them with lemon juice!
At that point, place them in a ziploc bag or food saver system and make sure to squeeze out as much air as you can!
When you're ready to use them, thaw in a warm water bath, or place in the fridge the night before they will be needed. Easy!
3. Freeze Avocado Puree
This is a great way to prepare your avocados for freezing if you plan on making sauces, dressings, or guacamole with your avocados!
Just throw your avocado chunks into a food processor, squeeze in some lemon juice and blend! Once your puree is as smooth as you'd like it, scoop it into a baggie, squeeze out the air and freeze!
4. Freeze Guacamole
This is hands down my favorite way to put up avocados when I find them on sale! And I have a little trick that makes it even easier to use after freeing than the other methods!
First I make this simple guacamole as follows (you can make the guacamole however you usually like to!):
5 avocados
juice from one lemon
garlic powder to taste
salt and pepper to taste
Mash everything together in a bowl until smooth. Once you have everything tasting the way you want, grab some ice cube trays and dollop a big spoonful of guacamole into each cavity!
Place trays in the freezer until guacamole is frozen solid. Pop the cubes out and place in a baggie.
I like to throw a cube or two on the top of my pre-made taco salads the night before needing the salad. That way the guacamole is thawed and ready to go by lunch! Easy peasy!
Update:
I've had a lot of questions both here and on Facebook about how the color of the avocados hold up after being frozen. So I snapped this picture of the avocados from the video after being frozen for 3 months!
As you can see, no matter how you choose to freeze them, avocados frozen this way do stay completely green in the freezer! I had already used the diced avocados from the video, but they too were green when I pulled them out to use!
I hope this helps!
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Kim says
What are they like when you thaw the halved avocados?
Victoria says
Hi Kim! They are a bit mushy, perfect for guacamole, but I don’t like eating them fresh on a salad.
Darlene Warner says
Thank you for the tips, off to freeze some!
Victoria says
Awesome! Enjoy!
diana says
I had no idea. Thanks!
Victoria says
You’re welcome! Enjoy!
Sara says
Is the lemon juice a necessity? Didn’t realize that when I bought the avocado
Victoria says
Yes, it keeps it from turning brown. The taste changes a lot too when the avocados turn brown, so it really is needed. Fresh or bottled lemon juice will work!
You could even use lime instead :-)