Avocado oil is not only versatile but also packed with health benefits. Did you know that you can make your own avocado oil at home using scraps that would otherwise go to waste? Not only is this method sustainable, but it also provides you with pure, unprocessed avocado oil that is rich in nutrients.
Why Make Avocado Oil at Home?
Store-bought avocado oil can be expensive and often processed, which can reduce its natural goodness. By making avocado oil at home, you have full control over the ingredients, ensuring that the oil is as pure and natural as possible. Additionally, using avocado scraps is an eco-friendly way to minimize waste, benefiting both you and the environment.
What You’ll Need:
- Avocado skins and seeds from 4-5 avocados.
- A sharp knife.
- A clean glass jar with a lid.
- High-quality cooking oil (such as extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, or sunflower oil).
- A strainer or cheesecloth.
- A refrigerator.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Avocado Oil from Scraps
Step 1: Prepare the Avocado Scraps
Start by gathering the avocado skins and seeds from your used avocados. These are the parts that usually end up in the trash, but they actually contain a significant amount of oil. Wash the skins and seeds thoroughly to remove any remaining fruit flesh or dirt. Cleanliness is crucial to ensure that your homemade oil stays fresh and safe to use.
Step 2: Process the Seeds and Skins
Once clean, cut the avocado seeds into smaller pieces using a sharp knife. This step is important as it increases the surface area, allowing more nutrients and oil to be extracted during the infusion process. Similarly, tear the avocado skins into smaller pieces.
Step 3: Infuse the Oil
Place the chopped avocado seeds and skins into a clean glass jar. Next, pour your chosen cooking oil over the avocado scraps until they are fully submerged. The type of oil you use can vary depending on your preference—extra virgin olive oil will add a fruity flavor, while coconut oil will lend a subtle sweetness. The key is to use a high-quality oil that you are comfortable using in your cooking or skincare routine.
Once filled, seal the jar tightly with its lid. Shake the jar gently to ensure the oil is evenly distributed and fully covers the avocado scraps.
Step 4: Refrigerate and Infuse
Place the sealed jar in the refrigerator and allow it to infuse for 24 hours. The cold environment helps the oil absorb the beneficial compounds from the avocado skins and seeds. Be careful not to exceed 24 hours, as keeping the avocado scraps in the oil for too long can lead to an undesirable taste or spoilage.
Step 5: Strain the Oil
After the infusion period, remove the jar from the refrigerator. The oil should now have a slightly greenish or brownish tint, indicating that it has absorbed the nutrients and oils from the avocado scraps.
Using a strainer or cheesecloth, carefully strain the oil into a clean bowl or jar, separating the liquid from the solid scraps. Press down on the scraps to extract as much oil as possible. Discard the used skins and seeds or compost them if possible.
Step 6: Store and Use Your Homemade Avocado Oil
Pour the strained avocado oil into a clean, airtight container for storage. Keep it in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry or cupboard, to maintain its freshness. This homemade avocado oil can be used in a variety of ways:
- Cooking: Drizzle it over salads, use it as a base for dressings, or add it to your favorite recipes for a healthy fat boost.
- Skincare: Apply it directly to your skin as a moisturizer, use it as a makeup remover, or add it to your DIY skincare products.
- Haircare: Massage it into your scalp to nourish your hair or use it as a deep conditioning treatment.
Benefits of Avocado Oil
Homemade avocado oil retains many of the nutrients found in fresh avocados, including vitamins A, D, and E, as well as healthy monounsaturated fats. These components make it excellent for improving skin elasticity, promoting hair growth, and supporting overall heart health when used in cooking.
Eco-Friendly and Rewarding
Making avocado oil from scraps is a rewarding and eco-friendly way to harness the benefits of this nutrient-rich fruit. Not only do you reduce waste, but you also create a versatile product that can enhance your cooking, skincare, and haircare routines. With a little time and effort, you can enjoy the pure goodness of avocado oil right from your kitchen—proof that sometimes, the best things come from what we usually throw away.
Try this method today and experience the rich, natural benefits of homemade avocado oil. For more ways to maximize your avocado leftovers, check out “Avocado Pit Magic: Transforming Kitchen Leftovers into Plant Superfood” and learn how to cultivate your own avocado trees with “How Do Farmers Grow Avocado Trees?”.
