23 Useful Hacks Every Avocado Lover Needs To Know

Did you know that avocados are good for so much more than guacamole? Don’t believe me? I’ll prove it to you, with these amazing avocado hacks! From delicious recipes to skincare tips and beyond, we’re talking about 23 amazing ways to use avocados every day. Keep reading!

23 Useful Hacks Every Avocado Lover Needs To Know

Oh avocados. Who doesn’t like them? They are creamy, loaded with nutrients, and absolutely delicious. They’ve definitely earned their title as a superfood!

At home we are HUGE avocado fans. I mean, we are the kind of family that eats them almost every single day. For breakfast, snack or dinner. We can’t live without them!

Because we eat them so often, I had to learn a few tricks to always have them ripe and available at home. I also wanted to find some clever ways to use the pits, or even to use the fruit in health and skincare remedies. So, I decided to put together a list of my favorite useful hacks every avocado lover needs to know. Let’s get started!

PS: I did NOT include that trendy “avocado in water” hack because it’s actually not safe! An FDA spokesperson told The Today Show,  “The FDA does not recommend this practice. The main concern is with the possibility that any residual human pathogens (i.e. Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., etc.) that may be residing on the avocado surface (FDA Microbiological Surveillance Sampling for Whole Fresh Avocados), may potentially multiply during the storage when submerged in water.” So please, don’t follow that “hack.”

1. You can ripen a rock-hard avocado in just 10 minutes

Just wrap it in tinfoil and set it on the baking sheet. Pop it in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for ten minutes, or until the avocado is soft. Keep in mind that this hack works best for avocados that will play a supporting role in a recipe, as it does alter the flavor a bit. Get the full instructions HERE.

2.  Other tricks for ripening an avocado fast

If you are not in a hurry to ripen your avocado in the oven but need it for the next couple of days, then the natural way to speed up the process is to put it in a bag with one of the fruits mentioned above. The fruits emit ethylene gas, a compound that promotes ripening. Store it at room temperature. This is the best way to do it if you need guacamole-quality avocado.

3. If you’re out of breakfast dishes or baking pans, just use an avocado

Cut it in half first.  Then drop an egg into the hole of an avocado, bake until set and eat. Best breakfast around. Check out the recipe HERE. 

4. If you’re unsure whether an avocado is ready to eat, look underneath the stem

Just peel off the stem and look underneath. If it’s bright green, the fruit is perfectly ripe and ready to eat. If it’s brown underneath, your avocado is probably too ripe and brown inside.  I never buy avocados without a stem.

5. Use lemon juice to keep them fresh after slicing them

While we rarely have leftover avocados, there may come a time when you can’t use the entire thing all at once. Maybe you’re making a recipe that only calls for half, for instance. In that case, rub the other half with a bit of lemon juice, then wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge. You can also use an avocado saver, like this one.

6. Can’t use up all your avos right away? Use this frozen avocado hack!

If you found a great sale on avocados and want to stock up, but know you won’t use them all right away, go ahead and freeze them! California Avocado shares the right way to do it.  Just peel them first and remove the pit. Then, rub some lemon juice on them and wrap them up tightly in cling wrap. Better yet, use a food vacuum sealing machine for an even more airtight wrap.

7. Freeze them in ice cube trays to use them in smoothies

The Greedy Vegan shares another brilliant way to freeze avocados. Just peel them, cube them, and put them in ice-cube trays. This method is perfect for prepping them for smoothies. Check out the full directions on their blog.

 8.  Make a delicious and creamy pasta sauce

If you are tired of the same marinara sauce with your pasta, then try a delicious avocado pasta sauce. It is one of our favorite meals at home.  Check out my Raw Pesto Avocado Pasta Sauce and get ready to enjoy avocados in a new different way. You won’t be disappointed, I promise!

9. Use avocado in place of butter

Real butter is better than margarine, but what if you can’t eat the rich dairy product? Perhaps you’re allergic, or your doctor wants you to stay away from it. In that case, just use mashed avocado in its place in a 1:1 ratio. Like I said, real butter has its benefits, but if you can’t (or don’t want to) eat it, this avocado hack is so much better than using a fake food like margarine.

10. Make healthier fries with avocados

Delicious crispy baked avocado fries so much better for you than potato fries, and they’re so easy to make. Check out my quick and easy 4-ingredient recipe here.

11. Make popsicles that the whole family will love

Avocados are just right for mixing up creamy ice pops that everyone in your family will enjoy. Well and Good has the most amazing avocado popsicle recipe that incorporates other superfoods, like raw honey and coconut milk. However, if you don’t have those ingredients on hand, this banana avocado popsicle recipe may be even easier to make.

12. Make healthier icing with avocado

Forget the sugary pasty frosting in a can. Instead, use avocados as the base for a healthier icing. I’m loving this Chocolate Avocado Icing from Kim’s Cravings.

13. Try them in rich and creamy keto fat bombs

If you’re doing the keto diet, you know that rich and creamy fat bombs are one of the best parts of it. Keto Summit has an amazing Chocolate Avocado Truffles Fat Bomb Recipe. If you’re not a fan of sweet treats, Food for Net also has 20 savory keto fat bomb ideas.

14. Warm up with a delicious bowl of Broccoli Avocado Soup

When the temperatures drop, nothing is quite as satisfying as a hearty bowl of soup. You can make this Creamy Broccoli Avocado Soup in less than 30 minutes, and the combination of ingredients packs a powerfully healthy punch. It also helps balance out the broccoli flavor. So, if your kids are apprehensive about the tree-shaped veggie, this may even get them to try it out.

15. Make even better “nice” cream

You know that one-ingredient banana “nice” cream that everyone went crazy for a couple of years ago? Add in some mashed avocado and real cocoa powder to give it a sophisticated (and even healthier) upgrade. Avocado Centric has an easy 3-ingredient recipe for it, or you can add avocado to my banana ice-cream recipe with homemade chocolate shell recipe.

 

16. Mash up an avocado and use it as a hair mask

If you happen to have an overripe avocado, don’t toss it! Mash it up, slather it over your hair, and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Use a cloth or towel to remove as much as possible, then rinse the rest out in the shower. I recommend using the towel first so that your tub doesn’t get too full of mushy avocado.

17. Add a few ingredients from your fridge for a nourishing face mask

While you could actually just use plain mashed avocado as a face mask, Freut Cake has a great recipe for an even more nourishing one that’s perfect for the winter. All of the ingredients should already be in your fridge and pantry.

18. Avocado Peel Foot Rub

Here’s a great way to use an avocado peel AND get beautiful feet at the same time. It’s so easy, you’re going to love this. Just take the peel and rub it on your feet! I’m not kidding, this is a terrific way to soften cracked heels and calluses. Give your toes a good massage with that peel, then rinse and pat dry.

19. Use it as a shaving cream

Blend your ripe avocado in a food processor or blender until it has a paste-like consistency, then use it as a shaving cream. This avocado hack is particularly perfect for teenage boys just starting to shave their faces, as it’s so much more gentle than traditional store-bought shaving creams. Of course, it works on legs, too, but you’ll need a lot more paste.

20. Make a quick and easy lip scrub

If your lips are feeling a bit dry and cracked, mix some avocado with a little coconut oil. Then, spread a bit around your mouth and lips, gently rubbing in circular motions. Rinse and pat dry. Finish off with a tiny bit of avocado oil as a nourishing lip balm.

21. Make a natural pink fabric dye from the pit

Did you know that you can use the pits to dye fabrics pink? Seriously! Isn’t that so neat? See how to do it here. While it does tend to work best on cotton and other fabrics that soak up dye well, you could try it on other things. Perhaps in a paper-making craft?

22. Use avocado pits in crafts

Speaking of crafts, Avocados from Mexico has some neat ideas for adults, including making jewelry or buttons out of the pits. For kids, try making windchimes out of them. Kids can paint them first, or leave them as is, then tie or glue pretty string and hang them up outside.

23. Grow your own avocado tree

Okay, so this is probably the hardest- or at least most involved- of all the avocado hacks, but it’s still a good one! You can use the pit to grow your own avocado tree. Learn how to do it here. Even if you don’t exactly live in an area where your tree would thrive, or if you don’t have a green thumb, I’d still give it a try. It makes a fun little experiment for kids to teach them where food comes from, how we can reuse things we usually throw away, and so much more. Just manage their expectations so they’re not disappointed if it doesn’t grow.

Now that you know how to have avocados ready at all times and how to use every part of one, start incorporating them to your weekly menu. Avocados are amazing! If you want to learn more about the health benefits, please click HERE.

Please also see my spaghetti squash and raw pesto avocado sauce or creamy avocado cilantro ranch recipes. Delicious ideas that the entire family can enjoy. I love sharing creative and healthy fun food ideas like those recipes. I am not a chef with years of cooking experience. So most of my recipes are very easy to prepare. I believe in simple, nutritious, and homemade food made from scratch.

I hope you enjoyed these avocado hacks, tips, and tricks! Please let me know if they work for you and if you have any other ideas to add to this list. The more ideas the better! Avocados are one of the most delicious foods on the planet.

Last update on 2022-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API