How to Cut an Avocado Like a Pro

Avocados are among the world's most perfect foods. They're buttery and super versatile—you can use them in everything from salad to smoothies—and pack plenty of heart-healthy fat and fiber.

But preparing an avocado can be a slippery, messy task. Follow these simple steps to make slicing an avocado a breeze—and get you a step closer to that guacamole you love. Plus, we answer your burning questions about this popular fruit.

What You Need

• Avocado
• Chef's knife
• Cutting board
• Glass bowl
• Large spoon

How to Cut an Avocado

Step 1: Cut the Avocado in Half

• Using a sharp chef's knife on a cutting board, slice through the avocado length-wise until you feel the knife hit the pit.
• Rotate the avocado—keeping the knife steady—and carefully cut around the pit.
• Twist the two halves apart.

Step 2: Remove the Pit

• Aim the length of your knife at the pit and whack into it, using enough force so that the knife won't slip.
• Twist the knife to pull out the pit.
• Remove the pit off the knife with your thumb or the side of a bowl.

Step 3: Make Squares or Slices

• If dicing, score the flesh of the avocado without piercing the skin. Use your knife's tip to score the avocado flesh—making squares—then scoop it out with a spoon.
• If slicing, scoop out and slice. Use your spoon to loosen the skin all the way around for neat slices and scoop out the whole flesh. Place it flat-side down on a cutting board and slice using the tip of your knife.

FAQ

How can I tell if an avocado is ripe enough to eat?

Press gently against the skin. If it feels slightly squishy—but not overly mushy—it's ready to eat. If the skin is pale green and very firm, the avocado is not ready to eat. Oftentimes, a ripe avocado's skin color will be very dark green, but not always.

What if you accidentally cut open an unripe avocado?

You can safely eat it, but it won't taste as good as a ripened, creamy avocado. If you can wait a day or two for it to ripen, follow these steps:

• Rub a little lemon juice on the open sides that have been exposed to air.
• Put the two halves back together.
• Wrap the avocado tightly in plastic wrap.
• Keep it in the fridge and check again tomorrow.
  

How do I speed up the ripening process?

Put the avocado in a closed brown paper bag with a banana or an apple. Those fruits release ethylene gas that makes the fruit around them ripen faster. Keep it on your kitchen counter or somewhere that's room temperature; it should speed the ripening by a day or two.