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Freeze-Dried Avocados (+ Freeze-Dried Guacamole)

Learn how to make freeze-dried avocados and freeze-dried guacamole using your home freeze dryer. The flavor and texture are as fresh as the day you made it and it’s shelf-stable for years!

A woman with freeze dried food in jars in front of her.

We’ve had our Harvest Right freeze-dryer for over a year now, and actually recently purchased a second one for our family. We’ve had so much fun making freeze-dried berries, freeze-dried raw milk powder, freeze-dried tomatoes, and even individual servings of freeze-dried chicken pot pie!

If you’re not sure which foods cannot be freeze-dried or about the difference between freeze-dried and dehydrated food, check out that post!

Why I Love This Recipe

Here in North Idaho, we can’t grow avocados, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t love to eat them!

Every time I go to the grocery store I keep my eye on the avocados and watch for when they go on sale. But we all know what it’s like to buy too many avocados because they’re such a great deal and, inevitably, some end up getting too ripe before we can get to them.

But not anymore! A good friend told me about freeze-drying avocados and guacamole, and though I was a bit skeptical, I went ahead and gave it a try. Now I’m a believer!

Not only is the taste and texture phenomenal, but to have homemade guacamole in just a few minutes without dirtying up my kitchen? Yes, please!

Food going into a freeze dryer.

Harvest Right Freeze Dryer

If you missed my video where I gave my one-year review of the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer, be sure to check that out. Once you watch that video, you’ll know why our family purchased a second machine!

We continue to experiment with the freeze dryer and will keep sharing our favorite recipes, just like this one for freeze-dried avocados and guacamole.

If you have questions about freeze-drying or you’re curious about the Harvest Right Freeze Dryers, check them out!

Avocados halved and being scooped into a glass bowl.

How to Make Freeze-Dried Avocados

To make freeze-dried avocados, the method is simple. You just need two ingredients plus your freeze dryer and a bit of time.

Supplies Needed

  • Freeze Dryer – To make this recipe you must have a freeze dryer. Unlike dehydrated foods, there’s no other way to obtain freeze-dried foods than with a freeze-dryer.
  • Glass storage jars – Because we’re making big batches for our large family, we like to use half-gallon Mason jars with lids and vacuum seal the jar. If you’re making a smaller amount, you could still use a smaller Mason jar, or consider using something like a mylar bag.

Ingredients Needed

  • Avocados – This recipe will work best with perfectly ripe avocados. If they’re under or overripe, that flavor and texture will carry through to your freeze-dried final product.
  • Lime juice – This is to add flavor and keep the avocados from browning. You can also use lemon juice or a citric acid wash to achieve the same thing, however, I love the flavor of avocado and lime.
Freeze dried avocados.

Instructions

  1. Start with fully ripe (but not overripe) avocados.
  2. Pit and skin them, then cut them into cubes.
  3. Toss cubes with lime juice and spread them onto the freeze-dryer trays.
  4. Freeze dry.
  5. Once avocados are completely dry, store them in a glass Mason jar or mylar bag.

How to Make Freeze-Dried Guacamole

To make freeze-dried guacamole, the method begins similar to making freeze-dried avocados. However, from there you’re actually going to be mixing up a fresh batch of guacamole all the way to the point you would if you were going to eat it fresh. Homesteading Hack: Save time on dinner by making up extra guacamole for fresh eating and pair it with taco night at your house the day you’re freeze-drying the rest.

Freeze dried guacamole, avocado, cilantro and limes on freeze dryer trays.

Supplies Needed

  • Freeze Dryer – To make this recipe you must have a freeze dryer. Unlike dehydrated foods, there’s no other way to obtain freeze-dried foods than with a freeze-dryer.
  • Silicone Liner (optional) – The silicone liners that go with the freeze-dryer trays are optional, but I do like using them.
  • Glass storage jars – Again, since we’re making big batches of guacamole for our large family, we like to use half-gallon Mason jars with lids and vacuum seal the jar. If you’re making a smaller amount, you could still use a smaller Mason jar, or consider using something like a mylar bag.

Ingredients Needed

  • Avocados – This recipe will work best with perfectly ripe avocados. If they’re under or overripe, that flavor and texture will carry through to your freeze-dried final product.
  • Lime juice – This is to add flavor and keep the avocados from browning. You can also use lemon juice or a citric acid wash to achieve the same thing, however, I love the flavor of avocado and lime.
  • Sea Salt (optional) – I always add salt to my guacamole to help bring out the flavors of all the ingredients. If you’ve been with us for long, you know we always use our Redmond Real Salt. (Using that link for Redmond Salt will automatically give you 15% off your order!).
  • Add-Ins (optional) – You have the choice of adding in your additional ingredients such as onions, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapenos… anything else you like to put in your guacamole before freeze-drying. Or, you can simply mix together the mashed avocado and lime and add the additional ingredients at a later time.

Homesteading Hack: I also freeze-dried a tray of chopped cilantro and a tray of lime wedges because we tend to want these items on nights we’re also eating guacamole. If you’re going to run your freeze dryer, you may as well run it with all the trays filled with food.

Instructions

  1. Start with fully ripe (but not overripe) avocados.
  2. Pit and skin them, then mash them in a bowl (leave it as chunky or make it as smooth as you like it).
  3. Squeeze in fresh lime juice and mix until well incorporated.
  4. Do a taste test and add more lime juice, if needed. You should be able to taste the avocado with a slight citrus zing. Again, this is to preference.
  5. If adding additional ingredients, go ahead and chop and mix them into the guacamole at this time.
  6. Spread guacamole onto the silicone-lined freeze-dryer trays.
  7. Freeze dry.
  8. Once guacamole is completely dry, crumble it up into pieces and store it in a glass Mason jar or mylar bag. For extra smooth and creamy guacamole, you could pulse the freeze-dried guacamole in a food processor until it’s completely powdered.
Freeze dried avocados being vacuum sealed in a jar.

How to Store Freeze Dried Foods

It’s best to store freeze-dried foods in vacuum-sealed jars or bags and out of direct sunlight (here is our favorite vacuum sealer for Mason jars). It’s said that food will last on the shelf for up to 25 years with most of its nutritional value when stored properly. However, because avocados are such a fatty food, it’s probably best to use them up within a year.

If your home is anything like mine, these freeze-dried foods won’t last much longer than a few months, so I don’t think we have to worry!

I love using my small hand-held vacuum sealer from Food Saver to seal my jars. I’ve used it for years and love it. It’s also a great way to use leftover canning jar lids.

And for those wondering, here’s a link to a jar opener like I showed in the video above!

Juice from a lime wedge being squeezed onto a spoon.

How to Rehydrate Freeze-Dried Foods

When you’re reconstituting freeze-dried foods, it’s good to have an idea of how much moisture that food has in it when it’s fresh.

Avocados or Guacamole

Avocados need very little moisture added back in to reconstitute them. So if you had something like a spray bottle, you could place a handful of avocados or guacamole pieces into a bowl and spray a few spritzes of your water bottle onto them.

Let them sit for just a few minutes and check on them to see if they’ve been given enough water. Add more water, if needed, and enjoy.

I also like to squeeze a little fresh lime juice over my freeze-dried avocados so some of the moisture is actually lime juice. This makes them taste incredible and just like a fresh avocado with lime.

A woman placing freeze-dried cilantro into a Mason jar.

Cilantro and Other Herbs

Herbs will reconstitute almost immediately with just a spritz of water. But they don’t actually rehydrate in the same form as their fresh version, so when I’m using herbs, I tend to just crumble them on while still freeze-dried into or onto whatever I’m eating.

If you’re baking or cooking with them, just add them to the food and they’ll be just fine.

Freeze dried limes on a freeze dryer tray.

Limes

Freeze-dried limes are great when powdered and used in baking, or for sprinkling on top of food for that zesty, zippy flavor. But lime wedges also reconstitute phenomenally!

Simply take a lime wedge and dip it into a bowl of water for about five seconds, then let it rest for a couple of minutes. You may need to do two dips for it to be fully reconstituted, then you will be able to squeeze out the lime juice and use it just as you would a freshly sliced lime.

If you happen to come across a good sale on guacamole, avocados, limes or even cilantro at your local grocery store (or if you plan to grow cilantro or any of these foods yourself), consider grabbing some extras and tossing them into the freeze-dryer to start lining those pantry shelves with home-preserved food.

Did you make this recipe? If so, please leave us a star rating on the recipe card below. Then snap a photo of your freeze-dried avocados or guacamole and tag us on social media @homesteadingfamily so we can see!

Three jars of freeze-dried chicken pot pie.

More Freeze-Dried Recipes You May Enjoy

Freeze dried guacamole being crumbled.

Freeze Dried Avocados (and Guacamole)

Learn to make delicious freeze-dried avocados and guacamole that rehydrate into perfect, just like fresh, food.
4.24 from 13 votes
Print Pin
Course: Appetizer, Condiment
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Freeze-Dry Time: 1 day
Author: Carolyn Thomas

Equipment

  • Freeze Dryer

Ingredients

  • Avocados
  • Lime juice
  • Salt to taste

Additional Ingredients for Freeze-Dried Guacamole

  • Add-ins tomatoes, onions, cilantro, etc.

Instructions

To Freeze Dry Avocados

  • Start with fully ripe (but not overripe) avocados.
  • Pit and skin them, then cut them into cubes.
  • Toss cubes with lime juice and spread them onto the freeze-dryer trays.
  • Freeze dry.
  • Once avocados are completely dry, store them in a glass Mason jar or mylar bag.

To Freeze Dry Guacamole

  • Start with fully ripe (but not overripe) avocados.
  • Pit and skin them, then mash them in a bowl (leave it as chunky or make it as smooth as you like it).
  • Squeeze in fresh lime juice and salt, then mix until well incorporated.
  • Do a taste test and adjust seasonings as needed. You should be able to taste the avocado with a slight citrus zing. Again, this is to preference.
  • If adding additional ingredients, go ahead and chop and mix them into the guacamole at this time.
  • Taste and adjust, again to preference.
  • Spread guacamole onto the silicone-lined freeze-dryer trays.
  • Freeze dry.
  • Once guacamole is completely dry, crumble it up into pieces and store it in a glass Mason jar or mylar bag. For extra smooth and creamy guacamole, you could pulse the freeze-dried guacamole in a food processor until it’s completely powdered.

Notes

  • Because this recipe is dependent on how many avocados you have, there are no ingredient measurements listed. Simply chop as many avocados you want to freeze-dry, or make up your guacamole however you enjoy it for fresh eating.
Tried this recipe?We want to see! Tag @homesteadingfamily on Instagram.
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Josh and Carolyn bring you practical knowledge on how to Grow, Cook, Preserve and Thrive on your homestead, whether you are in a city apartment or on 40 acres in the country. If you want to increase your self-sufficiency and health be sure to subscribe for helpful videos on gardening, preserving, herbal medicine, traditional cooking and more.

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