Have you ever wondered what happens when you heat an avocado before pressing it? A viral kitchen trick claims that gently heating avocado can help release its rich oils, creating a homemade avocado oil that can be used in cooking or for other household purposes.
However, placing a whole avocado directly over an open flame isn’t recommended. The safer approach is to gently heat the avocado pulp in a pan and then strain and press it.
Here’s how to try the method safely at home.
🥑 Homemade Avocado Oil — Step by Step
Ingredients
- 4–5 very ripe avocados
- A little water, if needed
- Cheesecloth or a clean fine-mesh cloth
- A bowl
- A heavy spoon or potato masher
- A clean glass jar with a lid
Step 1: Choose Very Ripe Avocados
The softer and riper the avocado, the easier it is to mash and separate its natural oils.
Cut the avocados in half and remove the pits.
Step 2: Scoop Out the Flesh
Use a spoon to remove all the avocado flesh and place it in a large bowl.
Discard the skins and pits.
Step 3: Mash Thoroughly
Mash the avocado until you have a smooth paste.
The fewer large pieces remaining, the easier it will be to extract the oil.
Step 4: Gently Heat the Avocado
Transfer the mashed avocado to a wide, nonstick pan.
Heat it over low heat, stirring frequently, for about 20–30 minutes.
The mixture will gradually become darker and drier.
Don’t use an open flame directly on the avocado or avocado skin.
Step 5: Cool Slightly
Remove the pan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool enough to handle safely.
Step 6: Strain
Place several layers of clean cheesecloth over a bowl.
Spoon the cooked avocado mixture onto the cloth and gather the edges together.
Step 7: Press Out the Liquid
Squeeze the cloth firmly over the bowl.
You may see an oily liquid coming out. Continue pressing until you’ve extracted as much as possible.
Step 8: Let It Separate
Allow the liquid to sit undisturbed for several hours.
If oil separates and rises to the surface, carefully collect the oily layer with a spoon.
Step 9: Store Properly
Transfer the collected oil to a clean, dry glass container.
Keep it refrigerated and use it promptly. Homemade avocado preparations can contain residual water and food particles, which can spoil more quickly than commercially refined avocado oil.
🌿 What Can You Do With It?
Homemade avocado oil can be used in small amounts for culinary purposes, although the yield from home extraction is usually quite low compared with commercially produced avocado oil.
For cooking, commercially produced avocado oil is generally the more practical option because it has been properly processed and filtered.
⚠️ One Important Tip
You may see viral videos showing someone placing a whole avocado directly on a gas burner. It’s better not to copy that part. Direct flame can burn the fruit, create smoke and potentially create a fire hazard.
The interesting part of the trick is gently heating and pressing the avocado—not putting the avocado itself on an open flame.
Sometimes the best kitchen “secret” is simply knowing how to make a viral trick safer. 🥑✨
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