Avocados are the unsung heroes of the nutrition world, used by us for thousands of years but only recently catapulted into the spotlight, touted as a superfood that has a plethora of health benefits.
While in most countries, avocados can grow year-round, in many others, avocados are a seasonal fruit.
So how would you enjoy this superfood whenever you want?
Enter avocado puree!
The flesh of the avocado can be frozen and used in numerous ways after thawing.
Depending on the way the puree was prepared and frozen, and how long it has been in the freezer, the taste and texture might vary slightly compared to fresh avocado.
Overall, avocados are easy to freeze and prevent any of their nutritious goodness from going to waste.
Some different ways to freeze the avocado puree
There are three main ways to freeze avocado puree.
- If you plan to use it for some sort of dip, you can pre-portion it into zipper sealed freezer bags, or freezer-safe containers to make for easy use later on.
- Another way is to freeze the puree in ice cube trays. The ice cube tray method works great for adding the puree to smoothies, sandwiches, and baby food
- Finally, you can freeze it in a freezer-safe container to just freeze it as a block.
You can also get creative in how you freeze it, but it is very important to make sure that your puree is properly sealed to prevent any browning from oxidization.
In addition, adding a spritz of lemon juice can also help prevent oxidization and preserve the fresh taste and textures.
Does avocado puree freeze well?
Avocado puree freezes well and has a variety of ways it can be frozen.
As long as the puree is properly stored in a freezer packed with minimal exposure to air, it can stay fresh for several months.
The texture and taste of the puree will change while the puree is in the freezer due to the nature of avocados but it is still a versatile addition to any meal, snack, or dip.
While some fruits can stay pretty similar to their fresh counterparts, avocados have structural differences that change how they freeze, and that does affect the texture and taste.
Depending on the way that the puree is frozen, the texture will vary, usually making it thicker and harder to work with in comparison to fresh avocado puree.
When thawed, the texture will change yet again and may become more watery.
If you freeze it in a block compared to an ice cream tray, the texture will be different for each.
The block will typically be thicker and more difficult to work with unless thoroughly thawed to room temperature.
Uses for frozen avocado puree
Frozen avocado puree is a great way to make the best out of your avocados, and can be used for many recipes.
There are an endless amount of possibilities for frozen avocado puree, but because of texture changes compared to fresh avocado puree, some prefer it better for certain recipes.
- You can add it to tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos, or even use it as baby food.
- It can be blended into smoothies, or put in a sandwich.
- You can use it to make icicle pops for those hot summer days, dessert toppings, or even dressings for salads.
There is a wide variety of recipes available for inspiration and ideas for things to make with avocado puree, regardless of whether it is frozen or fresh.
How long does frozen avocado puree last?
On average, frozen avocado puree can last anywhere from four to six months, especially if stored well with as minimal exposure to air as possible.
By adding lemon juice and tightly sealing the freezer bag or using a vacuum sealer, you can prevent oxidization and reduce the browning.
The longer the puree is stored in a freezer, the more the quality will decrease.
Despite the change in quality, it is still perfectly safe to eat and the loss of nutritional value is minimal.
It may be a good idea to label your avocado puree when freezing with the contents and the date it was made or frozen, to help you know how long you have had it.
In comparison, leaving avocado puree in the fridge rather than the freezer will only allow for four or five days.
It is best to use it within this time frame, because after 6 months, it will not be the texture or flavor you want, and will soon be unsafe to eat.
The average shelf life of an avocado is 3 to 4 weeks, so by freezing your avocado puree, you can make it last much longer.
As a bonus, you’ll be able to enjoy avocados all year round, instead of being limited to the warmer months that make up the avocado season.
Can you heat up avocado puree?
Yes, you can heat up avocado puree, but be patient and go slowly.
You certainly wouldn’t want to destroy the nutritional value of this superfood by overexposure to heat!
As with many other frozen foods, you may need to defrost them before use.
You can defrost avocado puree by leaving it overnight in the fridge, or in cold water for an hour or two.
Freezing and thawing avocado puree will change the flavor and taste slightly depending on how it is frozen, thawed, and reheated.
By allowing the puree to warm to room temperature, the texture and taste will be a bit closer to when it was originally frozen.
When you thaw the puree, it may seem a bit watery, but that is perfectly normal.
You can either stir the water back into the puree or drain it off.
Either way, the puree is still perfectly safe to eat. You can heat it up however you want, but we have a few common ways people thaw it before heating or using it.
How to thaw avocado puree?
There are many ways that can be used to thaw out your frozen puree.
- One common way to thaw it is to just leave it out on a counter for about an hour until it reaches room temperature.
- You can also move it from the freezer to the fridge and allow it to warm up.
- If you need to thaw it quickly, you can use cold or warm water, and place the puree in a bowl of water until it warms up.
- If you really need it in a snap, placing it in the microwave is another method. Be careful and use only the very lowest setting. Avocados exposed to high heat might start to lose some of its valuable nutrients.
Some ideas for extra avocado puree
- Add it to smoothies or yogurt
- Throw some in with other fruit, and make a fruit salad
- Use it as a spread on toast, English muffins, or bagels in place of jelly, jam, or butter
- Experiment and use it in place of butter for recipes that call for it, such as a cake
- Use it as a dip for chips
- Make a salad dressing, or add it to your normal salad
- Add sticks into the ice cube tray and make ice pops for those hot summer days
I’m Chris Watson & the Founder of EatForLonger.com. I’m a food and wellbeing enthusiast researching and sharing foodstuffs and simple food-based concepts, such as fasting and clean eating.
I hope it inspires you to make tiny changes to what you eat and when you eat while optimizing your healthspan and all-around well-being.
Read more About Me here.