master-cooks | Prue Leith's Hack For Cutting Avocados Uses An Unexpected Baking Tool

Prue Leith, the renowned chef and television personality, has shared an innovative hack for cutting avocados that involves an unexpected kitchen tool: a cooling rack. This clever technique simplifies the often cumbersome and messy task of slicing avocados. To execute this method, Prue suggests halving the avocado and removing the pit as usual. Then, instead of using a knife or spoon to cut the flesh, she places the avocado half face down on a cooling rack. By gently pressing on the avocado, the flesh is pushed through the grid of the rack, creating perfectly uniform cubes that fall directly into a bowl or onto a plate. This approach not only saves time but also reduces the risk of injury associated with traditional avocado cutting methods, which often require handling slippery surfaces and sharp knives. Additionally, it ensures that the pieces are consistently sized, which can enhance the presentation of dishes such as salads or avocado toast. Prue’s inventive use of a cooling rack demonstrates her knack for practical culinary solutions and has garnered attention from home cooks looking for efficient ways to prepare their meals. This method is particularly appealing for those who enjoy avocados regularly and are seeking a safer, more efficient cutting technique.

Using a baking rack is a safe, mess-free alternative

Prue Leith suggests you completely rethink how to handle avocados. Start by gathering a bowl, a metal cooling rack, and a ripe avocado that has been halved and pitted (she advises removing the pit by giving it a solid tap with a large knife and then twisting). Place the cooling rack over the bowl and press the avocado half, flesh-side down, against the rack with enough pressure to push the flesh through the metal, resulting in cubes that drop directly into the bowl. Leith recommends scraping out the remaining flesh from the shell to avoid wasting any valuable avocado. After that, you can add seasonings, mash it into guacamole, or use the cubes as a topping for a salad.

Leith is straightforward about her time-saving hacks. While she clearly enjoys cooking, she admits to "cheating all the time" and encourages those who are pressed for time or not particularly fond of cooking to do the same. One of her shortcuts is to skip the traditional method of cubing an avocado, which often involves dealing with slippery, mushy flesh or cutting towards your hand while holding the halved fruit. Plus, there's the dilemma of choosing the right knife, as using a metal knife can actually damage the delicate green flesh and hasten spoilage. A technique that requires no new tools, eliminates knife work, and avoids dirtying a cutting board or risking a cut hand? Count us in!

Prue Leith's Hack For Cutting Avocados Uses An Unexpected Baking Tool

Using a baking rack is a safe, mess-free alternative

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