Video: The Easiest Way to Slice an Avocado (No Special Tools)

Avocado is one of my favorite foods. I average about one a day. It’s great on breakfast sandwiches, as a snack with hummus, and even as a meat substitute (or complement) on top of pasta and rice dishes. But nailing the right ripeness and cutting them up without making a mess can be a bit tricky to get the hang of. In this Instagram reel I demonstrate the easiest method I’ve discovered for how to prep and cut up an avocado, with a “teaspoon” twist all my own…

Here’s the easiest way to slice an avocado:

1. Purchase avocados that are still firm and leave out at room temperature to ripen.
2. Once they begin to soften, move to the fridge to preserve. (Moving to the fridge too early will prevent proper ripening!). A ripe avocado should still feel solid and not hollow or squishy, but will have a gentle and uniform give when you squeeze it.
3. Using a paring knife, cut the avocado along the circumference of the long axis. Rotate the avocado in one hand and keep the knife mostly stationary. If the avocado is ripe, this will not be difficult.
4. Twist to separate the two sections.
5. Remove the pit by hand, using your fingernails if necessary to get a better grip.
6. Now here’s the key: Using a shallow teaspoon, scoop out the avocado into sections, scraping the bottom of the rind to get every last bit.
7. Throw the rind and pit in the compost.
8. Enjoy perfect avocado slices with no mess and no waste!