Peeling avocado skins can be time-consuming so you may be wondering if you can eat the skin as well. If you’re an avocado loved you may want to use up all of it.
So let’s tale a look at whether we can eat avocado skins or do something else with them.
Can you eat avocado skin ?
No, you can’t eat avocado skin because it is too thick and leathery. While it’s not toxic for humans, it can be toxic for pets and farm animals, so it’s best to throw it away safely.
Some varieties of avocado do have edible skin. For example, the topa topa variety has an edible skin. However, these varieties are not commonly grown since they have a very short shelf life.
If you find peeling avocados too difficult or time consuming, we recommend you use a spoon. Cut the avocado open as usual, and with a spoon scoop out the avocado flesh. Less mess, less cleanup, and it’ much easier to make guacamole if you like.
You may be wondering if there’s really nothing to do with avocado skins. Unfortunately no, they’re pretty much useless. They can’t be eaten and properly digested, and they don’t have much of a taste either. Much like a banana peel, avocado skins should just be thrown away.
Read also: Can You Freeze Guacamole ?
Can you eat the avocado pit?
As you probably know, the pit of the avocado takes up a significant amount of it so you may be wondering if it’s safe to eat as well. The simple answer is yes, but it does take a fair amount of time and effort if you want to eat the pit. The seeds by themselves are very hard and have to be prepared before they can be eaten.
Avocado seeds must be dried at a high temperature for a few hours. Once completely dehydrated, they can be chopped and placed in a blender until they’re broken down into a powder.
This powder can be added to smoothies or used in other recipes. The seed has a bitter taste, so it may be necessary to add it to dishes that naturally mask its taste.
Additionally, while you can eat the seed, there is not much evidence to suggest that this has any health benefits. It’s more recommended to have a cup of green tea, or even a cup of berries to enjoy a good source of antioxidants.
High amounts of avocado seed intake may cause adverse side effects although the exact risks are not known.
What to do with an avocado pit
Your best bet is to use that avocado pit to try and grow your own avocado tree. The problem is that avocados don’t grow easy, and they need lots of heat, sunshine, and water. If you’re living in a Southern state or tropical climate then you may be successful in growing your own avocado tree.
An excellent avocado-growing tutorial can be found at inhabitat.com, where they show you step by step how to grow your own avocado tree from the pit.
Read also: Can You Eat Unripe Avocados?
Can you make avocado oil?
Since the avocado’s actual flesh is safe to eat, some people may want to make their own avocado oil. The oil is fairly easy to extract and may be less expensive than the store-bought kind.
In order to make the oil, start by peeling the avocados, removing the pit, and then pureeing into a mash. This should only be done with ripe avocados as it is more difficult to extract the oil from unripe avocados.
Cook the avocados in a pan over medium heat. Stir frequently and then when the mixture starts to boil, the oil will start to rise to the top. Continue cooking until the mixture is dark to a dark green or brown.
Scoop the avocado mixture into a bowl and, once cool, transfer into a thin cloth such as cheesecloth. Squeeze the mixture to strain the oil out of the mixture. The oil can be saved in a jar until ready for use.
Can you eat too much avocado?
You probably couldn’t eat enough avocado to have any serious health problems but you should be aware that avocados are a fair source of calories and fat.
One avocado contains about 22 grams of fat, for example, so you don’t want to overdo your serving size. In general, it’s best to stick with about half an avocado per serving and maybe even less if you want to lose weight.
Can I store a cut avocado?
Although avocados won’t go bad overnight when cut, they will start to turn brown once they’ve been cut. The easiest way to keep them intact is to avoid exposing the cut surface to air until you’re ready to eat.
Cut the avocado in half and rub some lemon juice on the cut side, then seal tightly with clingfilm. This will give the avocado a good seal and it will stay green until the following day.
