What could be better than a perfectly mashed avocado? Avocados are delicious, healthy, and versatile. They can be used for toast, guacamole, sandwiches, or just eaten by themselves. But how do you make the perfect bowl of smashed avo? If you are looking for how to mash an avocado, the first step is deciding how to use it. There are many ways to enjoy mashed avocados, so choose how you want to use your avocado mashed, and then mash it.
In this guide, we shall go over methods of mashing avocado for the most common use cases, i.e., for toast, guacamole, and a mashed avocado recipe.
What is a mashed avocado?
Mashed avocado is a bowl of mashed avocado where the whole bowl is mashed, which is a more spreadable form of smashed avo. This can be made by mashing half an avocado with a fork or a potato masher to make a more spreadable consistency.
If you choose to do the job with a fork, you’ll end up with a rather chunky avocado mash, which is preferable in guacamole, at least for most avo eaters. If you have a potato masher beat the avocado, you’ll end up with a creamy smooth consistency that is perfect for spreading on toast.
Step by step how to mash an avocado
The first step is to decide how you want your avocado mashed; chunky, creamy, or somewhere in between. This spells out how you will mash the avocado.
Step-1: Washing the avocado
Just like with every fruit, wash the avocado before using it.
Step-2: Cutting the avocado in half
The next step is to cut open your avocado. You can use a knife or even an apple corer, although this will leave you with some fruit that has become chaffed around the edges. This isn’t necessarily bad, but if you are looking for how to mash an unripe avocado, it may be better to use a knife. Cut the avocado in half, lengthwise.
Step-3: Scooping out the pit from the avocado
After you have cut open your avocado using one of the above methods, twist the two halves to set them apart. The pit will probably remain in one half. Carefully strike the pit in the one half with a knife blade, twist, and then lift the blade together with the pit.
Step-4: Removing the embedded pit skin
Sometimes the pit comes out naked, leaving its skin on the endocarp. Use a spoon to skim carefully between the skin and the mesocarp, to remove the former.
Step-5: Slicing and dicing the avocado
After the removal of the pit, slice or cube your avocado how you like it. Ensure the knife tip goes all the way through the flesh but does not cut the skin. In the end, you’ll have a julienned avocado.
Step- 6: Scooping the avocado
Then scoop out your guacamole ready chunks with a spoon into a clean basin.
Step-7: Seasoning
Although most people will mash the avocado plain as it is, it’s not uncommon to season the cubed avo with salt and a squeeze of lemon juice just before mashing.
Step-8: Mashing to desired consistency
If you choose to season the avocado, the salt and lemon drops will mix as you mash. Mix and mash with the fork until you achieve the desired consistency.
How to mash an unripe avocado?
Avocado mash has many uses, but you don’t always get to buy ripe avocadoes. Sometimes you fall for unripe, or semi-ripe ones, but you still need to mash them. Good news is that you can still mash an unripe avocado, and here is how you do it.
Steps
Step-1: Cutting the avocados into cubes
First, cut your avocado in half lengthwise (if not already done). Then carefully slice around the pit using a sharp knife. After that, twist both halves to separate them, then pull back on each half with a bit of a twist. The pit should just pop out and there you have it.
Step-2: Scraping the flesh from the skin with a spoon
Now, use a spoon to scoop out the flesh of your avocado from each half. Ensure you don’t scrape hard on the skin to avoid scratching it and potentially damaging it.
Step-3: Mashing with fork or masher
Once you have removed all of your avo’s flesh, mash until desired consistency is reached. Unripe avocado is not always easy to mash.
Step-4: Adding an acid to the avocado
If you want to mash a hard avocado, adding a bit of acid such as lemon juice or vinegar will help. This also prevents browning and improves the flavor, making it more appetizing for those who only like ripe avocadoes.
Leave the acidified semi-mashed avocado for about 30 minutes before resuming the mashing process.
Step-5: Mashing tougher chunks
If you still have big chunks in your mash, use a mortar and pestle to crush them or put in a blender. In the end, you will have your mashed avocado ready for the toast.
How to mash avocado for toast?
When you want how to mash avocado for toast, it’s really quick and easy. You only need to cut the avocado in half. Remove the pit. Scoop the flesh into a bowl. Add lemon juice and salt to taste. Mash together with a fork, keeping it a little chunky.
Don’t forget the salt and lemon in the mash, as well as a little rub of garlic on the bread just before you toast.
How to mash a hard avocado?
If you want to mash a hard avocado, the process will be the same as that of mashing unripe avocado. Simply cut the avocado in half, remove skin and pit. Then crush with a fork in a basin.
To soften the hard chunks for a smoother consistency, add a tablespoon of vinegar or lime and let the mix stay for half an hour before resuming mashing. For a quicker fix, you can use a mortar and pestle to mash until you achieve the desired consistency.
How to mash avocadoes for guacamole?
The secret ingredient to perfect avocado guacamole is selecting a well-ripened avocado and adding salt to the mash. Choose an avocado that’s neither too ripe (would taste unpleasant), nor unripe (can be hard and flavorless).
Cut the avocado, remove the pit, dice the flesh, scoop into a basin, and add a pinch of salt before mashing to the desired consistency.
Avocado mash recipe
There are many recipes that can use an avocado mash, but the Avocado toast recipe is the most common and straightforward. Here is how you go about it:
Ingredients:
- Bread of your choice, sliced
- 1 fully ripe avocado
- 1 tsp Lemon juice or vinegar (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste, garlic powder if desired
Directions:
- Cut the avocado in half and remove pit.
- Scoop out flesh from both halves, add to a bowl along with salt, lemon juice/vinegar (if desired).
- Mash until you achieve the desired consistency. Season to taste.
- Toast bread of your choice, then smear on mashed avocadoes generously! Serve immediately.
How to store mashed avocado?
Sometimes you don’t use all the mashed avocadoes and need to preserve for the next day. Unlike most other foods, avocado oxidizes relatively fast, forming a brown layer.
It is suggested to use properly covered and refrigerated mashed avocado within 72 hours. Mash should be placed in an airtight container, sealing it tight so no oxygen gets into the mix.
Steps:
- Place extra avocado mash onto a piece of plastic wrap and form into a rectangle around ½ inch thick. Fold up both ends, then place inside another Ziploc bag before inserting avocadoes into the fridge.
- Mashed avocado can also be frozen with nodeleterious effects on its taste or consistency. Place in freezer safe containers and store for up to 3 days.
- Allow it to thaw before using, tweaking how you want it mashed by mashing with a fork.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to mash avocado without a masher?
If you don’t have a masher, use a fork or spoon to mash the avocadoes in a basin. It should be easy to mash a properly ripened avocado with a fork. If it is semi-ripe, mash in two stages, 30 minutes apart, but be sure to add some acid to slow down oxidation.
Can you buy mashed avocado?
You can purchase pre-made and packaged mashed avocados for a toast at supermarkets and grocery stores. You can also find it in some cafes as well.
Where to buy good foods organic avocado mash?
At most grocery stores, you can find either Good Foods or Wholly Guacamole brands of mashed avocado. They are both made with 100% Hass avocadoes and contain no preservatives. Both brands offer single-serve packets and larger tubs for storage in the fridge at your local grocery store.
Conclusion
To this point, your questions on how to mash an avocado have been answered sufficiently. You can also try the avocado toast recipe I shared and let us know the results in the comments section.
