3 Ways to Cook an Unripe Avocado (Don't Throw It in the Trash!)

An unripe avocado has a somewhat bitter taste and a hard, firm texture that some would find unpleasant. But there are a few ways to salvage an unripe avocado — one way is to cook it, which will help to soften the flesh.

If your avocado is extremely unripe, the flavor will not be enjoyable no matter how you prepare the avocado (it might be really bitter). In that case, you're better off using it for another purpose, like in a face or hair mask. Or, you can close the two avocado halves back together, wrap it in plastic wrap so that the flesh isn't exposed to air and wait for it to ripen on the counter (give it a day or two).

Here's how to cook avocado in three different ways.

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Slice the avocado in half and quarter the halves. Remove the avocado skin and place the avocado in a small baking dish.
3. Squeeze the juice of 1/4 lemon over the avocado on the baking dish. Season the avocado lightly with coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
4. Bake the avocado in the oven for 10 minutes or until slightly softened.

1. Slice the avocado in half and remove the seed. Scoop the fruit out of the avocado and place it in a small mixing bowl.
2. Mash the avocado with the back of a spoon or a potato masher for about 1 minute. The avocado should have some lumps and not be completely mashed.
3. Heat 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil in a medium sauté pan until hot but not smoking. Meanwhile, season the avocado with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
4. Mold the avocado into a patty about 1-inch thick.
5. Place the avocado patty in the sauté pan and cook it for 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
6. Allow the avocado patty to cool for 5 minutes before cutting into it.

1. Slice the avocado into quarters and place it in a microwave-safe baking dish.
2. Squeeze the juice of 1/4 lemon over the avocado slices and season them to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
3. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and poke four holes into the plastic wrap with the tines of a fork.
4. Microwave the avocado on medium heat for 2 minutes.
5. Remove the plastic wrap and allow the avocado to rest at room temperature for 5 minutes before using it.

Now that you've baked, fried or microwaved your avocado, you can use it in all the same ways you'd use a ripe avo. Here are some ideas — besides mashing it on a piece of toast — to get you started:

• Toss it over salads or grain bowls for added healthy fats
• Crack an egg into it and bake it in the oven for a fun breakfast
• Coat it in your favorite batter and lightly fry it for a crispy-creamy snack