Learn how to cut an avocado to use in your favorite recipes! Follow my easy, step-by-step instructions and photos for perfect avocado slices and cubes every time.
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Course: How to
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: avocado
Author: Namiko Chen
Ingredients
1avocado
Instructions
To Remove the Pit
In this simple tutorial, I‘ll show you how to cut an avocado into perfect slices and cubes. First, let‘s slice open 1 avocado. Cut it in half lengthwise around the seed. To do so, I insert my knife through the skin and flesh until it meets the pit. Holding the knife in place, I rotate the avocado with my other hand so the knife slices all the way around the pit.
Next, twist the two halves until they separate. To remove the pit, set the avocado half on the cutting board or hold it in your non-dominant hand; it‘s best to do so with a folded kitchen towel to protect your hand. Now, gently hack into the pit with the knife‘s heel to embed its edge. Then, twist the knife in a counter direction to the avocado. The pit will come out smoothly. Tip: Please be careful not to cut your hand! For your safety, do not use too much force with the knife.
To Cut Thin Slices
To cut thin slices, first cut the avocado into quarters. Peel off the skin with your hands.
Place an avocado quarter on the cutting board, flat side down. Carefully cut the delicate avocado flesh lengthwise into ¼-inch (6-mm) slices. (For some recipes, like Dragon Roll, you will slice the flesh crosswise.) Set the slices aside and clean your hands and knife with a damp kitchen cloth before working on another quarter.
To Cut Cubes
Leaving the skin on the avocado half, gently cut through just the flesh with the tip of the knife in a crosshatched pattern. Depending on the recipe and the avocado‘s size, I usually make 3–4 lengthwise cuts and 4–6 crosswise incisions. Scoop out the avocado cubes with a spoon.