Avocados are a tasty, nutritious and healthy food. They do have a lot of calories due to their generous amount of healthy unsaturated fats. Avocados are an excellent source of magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Most of the carbohydrates in an avocado come from fiber. A whole avocado provides about 17 grams of carbohydrate and 13.4 grams of fiber. There is very little sugar in an avocado (less than one gram) and the rest of the carbohydrate in the fruit comes from starch. The glycemic index for avocado is estimated to be around zero, making it a low-glycemic food.
But avocados do have a dark side. They are not cheap. And they do this thing where they go from hard as a rock to brown mush as soon as you take your eyes off them. But there is a way to fight back. Avocados actually can be frozen with surprisingly good results.
Let me just say up front that freezing and thawing an avocado ruins them for eating on their own. They get really soft. But for using as a spread on your morning toast, an ingredient in your home made guacamole, on a salad or in a smoothie, you won't be able to tell frozen from fresh. And freezing retains all their nutrition.
They can be frozen halved in the skin, cut up into pieces or mashed. If you are freezing halves or pieces, brush them with lemon or lime juice before freezing to prevent browning. If you mash or puree them, you can add a little lemon or lime and other seasonings right then. Freeze in small portions... an old timey ice tray is ideal.
To use, let thaw at room temperature for about an hour or in the refrigerator overnight. You'll never have to throw out another avocado.
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