Let's be honest, avocados are expensive. If you cut into it and find out your avocado is stringy, it can be upsetting. When they have strings or threads in them, we want to know why and how to still enjoy that pricey fruit. Whether you want it to top your tacos or in a delicious summer slaw, avocados are healthy and irresistible.
I have done some research on why this happens. I have also had enough of these unfortunate avocado mishaps to figure out many ways to still get my avocado fixed and not waste my money throwing them away. So don't be too worried and do not throw away that avocado. Keep reading about these avocado fibers and how to still eat an avocado even with brown or black streaks.
Jump to:
- Strings (fibers) in Your Avocado
- Black or Brown Spots in an Avocados
- How to Tell if an Avocado is Bad?
- Why Does This Happen to Good Avocados?
- Can You Eat a Stringy or Brown Avocado?
- How to Still Enjoy the Avocados?
- Recipes For Mashed/Pureed Avocado
- Save your Avocado from Strings & Fibers
- Recipes to Make with Strained Avocado:
- PIN FOR SAFEKEEPING & SHARING!
Strings (fibers) in Your Avocado
The brown strings found in avocados are actually more common than we wish. It turns out, these “strings” or "threads" are the fibers (vascular bundles) of the fruit. There are numerous reasons why some avocados have them. Even some avocado varieties are more susceptible than others when it comes to being stringy.
Black or Brown Spots in an Avocados
Black or dark brown spots are a form of bruising. This can happen while it is growing on the tree, in transit/shipping, or by human handling. Extreme cold or heat can also cause discoloration in the flesh of an avocado.
It is best to cut out and remove these dark patches or spots. Though they are safe to eat, they are not appetizing and can be bitter or stringy. The rest of the avocado is perfectly fine to eat. The next section reviews when an avocado is brown inside and how to tell if it is still good or has spoiled.
How to Tell if an Avocado is Bad?
An avocado will go to bad rather quickly after it is ripe. The best way to preserve a ripe avocado for a few extra days is by placing it in the refrigerator. It should stay ripe and not get too overripe/mushy for 2-3 days.
When an avocado is watery, mushy, discolored, or moldy it has gone bad. If it has a sour, pungent, or rancid smell then the avocado is no longer good or safe to eat. The best way to check if an avocado has gone bad is to cut it open to see what it looks like and smell it. If in doubt, throw it out.
Why Does This Happen to Good Avocados?
So I did some “googling” research and asked around, including the nursery where we bought our avocado sapling almost 10 years ago. There was not a lot of information out there so I wanted to share what I have found out.
The main reasons I have found all point to a few possible reasons for these fibers:
- Immature trees - they will produce better fruit as they mature (our tree is about 12 years young in avocado years)
- Types – certain types are more prone to strings (Haas is less likely but Stuart is more likely to be stringy – we have a Bacon avocado tree)
- Improper storage – damage to the fruit before it is ripe may also cause extra strings in the stem area (handle your avocados with great care)
Can You Eat a Stringy or Brown Avocado?
YES! Yes, it is ok to eat an avocado that is stringy. Below I show you how to still enjoy that avocado by doing one easy step. What results is smooth creamy avocado flesh that can be used in numerous ways. Several recipe ideas are below as well.
That is the good news in this story. As long as the flesh is still green and not completely brown, there is no reason to throw it out. You have likely spent a good chunk of change on this avocado and the last thing you want to do is waste your hard-earned money.
Oxidation also causes browning to an avocado. This happens when the air hits the flesh of the avocado or your bowl of homemade guacamole. This change of color is not as vibrant and appetizing; however, it is still fine to eat it. Keeping guacamole from browning is easy and keeps it pretty and fresh looking.
How to Still Enjoy the Avocados?
Avocados are expensive so the last thing we want to do is waste them. No one enjoys having floss-like strings in their avocado either. Therefore, here are some things you can do to still enjoy those stringy/fibrous avocados that you paid good money for. Or in my case, saved from the squirrels getting to them.
When still eating the flesh of the avocado after you have separated it from the stings and fibers, there are many ways to still enjoy it. Here are two of my favorite recipes that I make and are great when you add strained avocados to the recipe or serve the smashed avocado on the side as a sauce or dip.
Recipes For Mashed/Pureed Avocado
When you have removed the fibers or strings from your avocado you can still enjoy it. Here are some recipes that would be great to use the fresh avocado or add to it to make it even better. My favorite is blending some into homemade ranch dressing.
Save your Avocado from Strings & Fibers
Simply push the avocado through a fine strainer to separate the fibers from the fruit - see photos below. I have a small tea strainer that I use for this. What remains is smooth creamy avocado goodness. It does take a bit of time but it is worth it and there are many ways to still enjoy the avocado, recipes listed below. Additional recipe ideas too, please continue scrolling.
Recipes to Make with Strained Avocado:
- Add to a smoothie
- Make creamy guacamole
- Spread on toast
- Top/Spread on eggs, burgers, or sandwiches
- Whip up chilled avocado soup
What would you make with avocado if you found it was stringy?
PIN FOR SAFEKEEPING & SHARING!
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Kristi says
Thanks for the info. There are times your scenario plays out in my household. Oh the grief of that stringy avocado. I’ve gotten used to just making stuff with it anyway.
Angela says
It sure is a sad scenario, isn't it. Now you know some more options on how you can enjoy them, string free as they should be.
Debra says
I'm so jealous you have an avocado tree. We buy ours in bulk at Costco because we can go through 5-6 in a week! Sometimes they do end up with strings, so now I know what to do. Thanks!
Angela says
Yes, our avocado tree does cause a lot of jealous feelings. Even when we have a lot, we hate to waste any so those darn strings were not going to get the best of me and those avocados.
Christen Scofield says
Great article!! I had absolutely no idea what the strings were from, or how to get rid of them. Thank you!
Angela says
Great, glad I can help. Next time this happens, remember to not throw it away and use one of my ideas to still eat it.
Anne says
Great simple fix, who knew?! And I luv the recipes that you gave with the avocado--shall definitely add avocado to the next batch of deviled eggs I make.
Makyla says
Ahhh so that's why! I always wondered but it never occurred to me to actually find an answer or a way around it! Great information and great tips to work around the unwanted string avocados can sometimes produce!
Irene says
Great post, and thank you for including an easy solution!
Angela says
Thank you - happy to hear this is helping people. No one should ever waste an avocado.
Ekim Yazici says
I was horrified to find strings in an avocado for the first time in my life (53 here). I had no idea what this strange event which befell me was. I'm so thankful I found this page. Great idea. I was already getting ready to live my life without them until I found this article.
Angela says
I am so glad I was able to help and save your avocado! Enjoy.
Tamara says
I did not know this! Love the idea of straining and still being able to enjoy a stringy avocado! Thank you for sharing!!
Beth Shields says
Very interesting. I don't think I have ever had a stringy avocado or just didn't notice. Thanks for sharing - I will keep a look out. I use them all the time!
Linda says
oh, my goodness! Lol, you saved me right now with this page! Lol. I went on a research rampage trying to find out what those things in my avocado were! I thought they were worms that somehow got in at some point but I couldn't find an entry point lol!
Angela says
Oh, I am so glad you found this post and your answer to what the strings/fibers are in your avocado. I hope you still enjoyed it and made something yummy.
Nisha says
Wonderful tips and thanks for sharing them. How wonderful to have an avocado plant ! We had a sapling growing but sadly it didnt't survive the winter.
Joe says
I pick avocados on Oahu and when it is in season I have at least 2 a day. It’s perfect size. When I was a kid we use to call them pears because a lot of them were shaped that way.. as far as strings I think it has to be maturity of the single fruit itself. But sometimes in the same tree a different younger fruit does not have strings. So much for that theory. The trees here in the mountains are more than 30 feet tall with a lot of in the city trees are 15 to 20 feet tall or less than..
I like to sprinkle a little lemon and sugar and call it good. In fact I just had half of one that I picked 2 days ago.
It’s awesome I love it...
Angela says
Thanks for sharing that story and all the love of avocados (pears) in Hawaii. My grandma grew up on Maui and still to this day she eats 2-3 avocados a week. She likes them just sliced with lemon and salt. Sometimes a fancy salad with tomatoes and red onion too. I cannot wait for my trees to get that big here in California and to be mature enough we do not have as many strings or fibers in our avocados.
Keith Baker says
If you still want pieces or slices, I found that cutting it crosswise with a sharp knife effectively "hid" the strings! The thinner, the less they stand out. Do this with the skin ON and peel the skin off each slice, and you will have an easier time of it.
Angela says
Thanks for sharing. Next time I come across a stringy avocado I will try that too.