hOW tO mAKE aVOCADO oIL - dIY rECIPES
THE STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1: PREPARE AN AVOCADO PASTE
First, mash the avocados into a smooth paste. You can use a hand masher or blender/food processor for this. I personally use a food processor or blender to create a very creamy and smooth Avocado paste.
Once processed into a smooth paste, spread the avocado paste in a thin layer over a parchment paper-lined tray or similar surface. Aim to keep the layer below 1/2-inch thickness. Use multiple trays, if necessary.
STEP 2: DRY THE PASTE
Allow the avocado paste to dry naturally in a well-ventilated area in the sun if possible for a few days.
You may also use a dehydrator to speed up this process, which is the method I often use. Keeping it at around 95º
The amount of time this takes may differ depending on the climate/weather where you live or the temp you have your dehydrator set to.
Once you notice that the top of your avocado paste has gone considerably brown, then mix it up well and re-spread into a thin layer. You’ll need to do this several times (at least 2 times a day – usually morning and evening).
Continue to do this until you have a very dark brown colored paste. If it is super smooth, it’s likely that the entire paste is now brown.
Some people wait until the paste is almost completely dried, but if you do so, then you’ll find it incredibly difficult to extract the oil. One good way to know that it is ready is to look at your spoon when mixing the paste; the first few times you mix the mixture, it will pick up avocado. However, when it’s ready, you’ll notice that the paste no longer sticks to the spoon. Instead, it will look slightly oily.
STEP 3: EXTRACT THE AVOCADO OIL
Place the avocado paste in a nut milk bag, muslin cloth, or similar material.
You can now either hand-squeeze the oil into a container or leave it to naturally drain, squeezing it at the end of the draining process to get the last of the oil.
If, for whatever reason, there are any ‘bits’ in the oil, then feel free to strain it once more when decanting it into a sterilized glass container.
HOW TO STORE
Avocado oil is shelf stable and should last for months (possibly even up to a year) when stores in an airtight container away from direct heat and sunlight.
You can also keep the oil stored in the fridge to extend the shelf life further, by a few months even.
AVOCADO OIL USES
You can use this oil in many of the same ways that you would extra virgin olive oil. Though, luckily for avocados, this oil has a higher smoke point (around 250C/480F) than many oils and yet still has a fairly neutral flavor (especially when heated).
- Within salad dressings and marinades
- As an oil when baking
- Use as a frying oil
- Drizzled over roasting veg
- Use it to make homemade mayonnaise.
- Drizzle it over salads, soups, and dips
- Add a little to your daily smoothie as a healthy fat boost.
- When using it for beauty purposes, there are several different methods. This includes as a moisturizer, facial moisturizer, face mask, skin cream, scalp oil, hair mask, bath oil, etc.
Save the Avocado seed and grow a new avocado plant! With the leftover avocado pulp you can use for hair and face masks. It can also be composted or dried into a powder and added to increase nutrients within dishes. If you don’t want to use it all immediately, then freeze the paste into ice-cube trays and thaw when needed.
- Danielle Lasit