We’ve recently discovered a super safe and chef-approved way to dice your favorite fruit into bite-sized pieces ideal for making fresh guacamole, garnishing a salad, or prepping avocado toast. Best of all, you don’t even need to use a knife to get the job done. All it requires is a slightly unexpected kitchen tool: a cooling rack. Here’s how to cut an avocado with one, plus a few helpful tips on exactly how to put this genius trick into action.
How to cut an avocado using a cooling rack
Though the concept might sound a little odd, the results will quickly convince you it’s worth a shot. First, slice the avocado in half and remove the pit. Next, put a cooling rack over a large bowl on top of a sturdy surface. Then, place the halved avocado, flesh-side down, on the rack with the smaller end facing upwards. Gently press the avocado through the grates to create perfectly-cubed pieces that’ll collect in the bowl below. To make sure you get the most out of your avocado, gently slide the skin across the rack to scrape off every last bit.
Not only is this technique safe for even kids to try—zero blades involved—but it’s also one of Rachael Ray’s approved kitchen time-saving hacks. The celeb chef uses the method to make guacamole for large gatherings fast. Professional chefs in the restaurant industry also rely on this trick to prep several avocados at once to get ready for a busy service.
Avocado cutting tips that will ensure this trick works
1. Use ripe avocados.
For this hack, you’ll want to use ripe avocados that feel soft to the touch when pressing down on the skin with your finger. A ripe avocado will glide through the grates extremely easily, creating uniformly-cubed cuts as you press down.
If you can only get your hands on unripe avocados, Chef Wiegand shared her secret for quickly ripening them with Well+Good here. She suggests wrapping them in a few sheets of newspaper or placing them in a paper bag in a warm environment to expedite the softening process. Alternatively, try placing your avocado in a paper bag with other fruits (like bananas or apples) that release ethylene gas will help make them softer faster.
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2. You can also remove the pit without using a knife.
As mentioned, this hack involves zero sharp objects…but then how do you remove the pit without one? TikTok user @jamesczheng offers us a solution for removing the giant seed without risking injury. He demonstrates that by holding the pit-side of the halved avocado in your hand, you can gently press on the back to release the seed.
@jamesczhengI couldn’t believe this #avocado #hack so I had to try it myself….#TeamofTomorrow #foodhacks #trythisathome #mindblown #wowww♬ Astronaut In The Ocean – Masked Wolf
To do so, he places the skin-side of the halved avocado in his palm, then wraps his pointer and middle fingers above the top, and places them around the pit. Next, he uses his thumb on the backside to gently press into the avocado to push the seed out from the exterior without piercing through the skin. Magically, the pit falls right out with minimal effort. He does note that this technique works best on ripe avocados that’ll have more give when pushing through.
3. Get the correct type of cooling rack.
When setting up for this hack, you’ll want to make sure to get the right type of cooling rack to get the job done. For optimal results, the kitchen tool should be stainless steel, nonstick, and have a square grid-like flat surface. If your cooling rack features longer, more rectangular-shaped grids, no sweat—you’ll just end up with larger cuts than you would with the square-style racks.
4. Know how to clean your cooling rack after you’ve cut your avocados.
Although most cooling racks are dishwasher safe, cleaning them doesn’t need to require a lot of elbow grease. To remove all of the avocado remnants once you’re done cutting them up, place the the rack in a baking sheet filled with hot, soapy water to soak for a few minutes. This will help soften any food particles.
With the rack inverted, scrub the rack in the direction in which the wires run to best remove the grime. If your kitchen sponge can’t get into all of the nooks and crannies, use a dish brush or a clean toothbrush to scrape away any remaining food.
5. Finally, keep your avocado from browning before you serve.
Now that you have a wonderful bowl of freshly-cut avocado, how can you stop it from turning browning? We tested several methods to discover the ultimate ways for keeping your avocado from losing its vibrant coloring. Spoiler: Adding a few splashes of citrus like lime juice can help prevent the avocado from oxidizing. As an added bonus, cover the avocado with cling wrap or store in a tightly-sealed container to reduce exposure to oxygen that causes the unappetizing change in color.
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