Do you seem to waste half of an avocado whenever you peel it? You’re not alone! It’s a messy job, yet the chefs on television make it look so easy! What’s their secret? Let’s take a look at how to peel avocado like a pro…
Halve It
The first thing you need to do is slice the avocado in half. Now, you’re ideally going to want to avoid a trip to A&E here, so put the avocado on its side on a cutting board. You should then hold the avocado in place with one hand on top of it. You can then use the other hand to slice into the avocado using a chef’s knife. The black should be positioned parallel to the board. You are going to cut along the axis, which runs from the top of the fruit the bottom. Rather than moving your knife around, you should rotate the avocado. This will enable you to cut all around the pit, and you really do not need to move the knife. Your hand moving the avocado is what does all of the work, meaning you will never have to get close to the edge of the knife, which is a lot safer. Once you have completed the circle, so to speak, put the knife down, and then twist the halves apart.
Pit It
Once you have halved the avocado, the next step is to pit it. Step away from the knife! A lot of people use their knife to pit the avocado, but this really is not a good idea. “Gently” striking your knife against the pit may work nine times out of ten, but there is always the risk that you could end up cutting yourself. It’s really not worth it when a spoon will do just as good of a job.
Slice and Peel It
Now, we’re onto the hard part: the peeling! Of course, there are lots of tasty recipes out there nowadays, which do not require you to peel the avocado. For example, you could bake eggs inside of the halves. However, if you want to achieve some nice wedges, you will need to master the art of slicing and peeling like a pro. There are a lot of different methods out there, but we have found one that we particularly like. If you want to remove the avocado from the skin, all you need to do is use a knife to score the flesh. Don’t use the sharp side, though – there is no need. The avocado will be soft, and so the back of the knife will be just as effective. Or, you can even use a butter knife if you have one handy! Some people prefer to use the spoon approach. This involves holding one of the halves in your hand and inserting a spoon between the pulp and the skin. You can then run the spoon around the edge, keeping it as close to the skin as possible, so that you gently remove the pulp.
Of course, you can save yourself all of this hassle by purchasing an avocado peeler. There are lots of different products on the market today, but the 3-in-1 peelers tend to be the most popular. This tool has a plastic blade, which easily cuts through the skin of the fruit. You then have the pitting tool, enabling you to remove the pit with a single twist. You can then use the slicer to create even pieces.
Saving It
If you do not want to use all of the avocado, you will need to store it correctly. If you have ever simply placed half an avocado back into the fridge, you will have noticed that it turns brown. This is because it oxidises. The best way to prevent this from happening is to simply apply something acidic to the surface. A bit of vinegar or some lime juice works well. You can then wrap it up in cling film. This should be enough to keep the discolouration at bay.
So there you have it: everything you need to know in order to peel avocado like a pro. If you follow the advice that has been presented above, not only will you be able to prepare your avocado without any going to waste, but you can ensure you do so safely too.
Sources:
- How to Peel an Avocado, Chef Style, Food Network
- Storing Avocados & Guacamole, Love One Today
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