Avocados are beloved around the world for their creamy, rich flesh and versatility in both sweet and savory dishes.
However, many people don't realize that the large seed inside the avocado also has value. Avocado seeds can be dried, ground into a powder, and used in a variety of ways.
What is Avocado Seed Powder?
Avocado seed powder is made from the seed or pit inside avocados. After removing the seed from the fruit, it is thoroughly cleaned and then dehydrated until completely dry. The dried seed is ground into a fine powder that can be smoothly incorporated into foods, drinks, DIY beauty products, and more.
The powder has become popular because research shows avocado seeds contain a diverse range of nutrients and plant compounds, including:
- Dietary fiber
- Antioxidants
- Healthy fats
- Amino acids
- Vitamins and minerals like potassium, magnesium, and zinc
Additionally, some early studies suggest avocado seed extracts may have beneficial properties, like anti-inflammatory effects. Much more research is still needed, but the promising health benefits of the seeds have captured people's interest.
Key Takeaway: Avocado seed powder is simply the dried, ground-up interior seed of avocados. It's gaining popularity as a supplement and ingredient.
How to Make Avocado Seed Powder
If you want to make your own avocado seed powder at home, the process is simple:
Step 1: Remove and Dry the Seeds
First, remove the large seed from inside a ripe avocado. Rinse residue from the fruit off under running water and gently scrub if needed. Pat the seed very dry with paper towels or a clean dishcloth.
Next, set the seed out in a dry spot to air dry for 1-3 days, flipping occasionally, until brittle. Placing it in a warm spot, gentle oven, or food dehydrator speeds drying. The seed is ready when completely hardened and shrunken.
Step 2: Grind the Seeds Into Powder
Once fully dried, the avocado seed needs to be ground up. Use a heavy duty blender, food processor, coffee grinder, or mortar and pestle to pulverize it into a fine powder. Continue grinding until it reaches the desired consistency.
Store the fresh powder in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 weeks. The powder can also be frozen for longer storage.
And that's it! With just a couple easy steps, those fibrous avocado seeds can be turned into a useful, nutritional boosting powder.
Key Takeaway: Thoroughly drying the avocado seeds is a crucial first step before grinding them into powder. Any moisture left on the seed will cause it to rot instead of properly dehydrating.
Culinary Uses for Avocado Seed Powder
The mild, earthy flavor of avocado seed powder adapts well to a variety of foods and drinks. Its powdery texture blends smoothly into liquids or sticks nicely to moist ingredients. Here are some of the most popular ways to use it:
Smoothies
Avocado seed powder's creamy texture makes it a fantastic addition to fruit and veggie smoothies. Start with about 1 teaspoon (2 grams) of powder per smoothie. Its hearty flavor pairs especially nicely with chocolate and coconut milks.
Breads and Baked Goods
Sprinkle just a pinch or two of avocado seed powder over doughs and batters to add extra nutrients before baking. The powder contains dietary fiber and protein that can help make baked goods like bread, muffins, and cookies heartier.
Yogurts and Puddings
Stir a teaspoon (3 grams) or more of the velvety powder into yogurts, custards, chia puddings, oatmeal, and similar soft desserts. Its slightly nutty flavor and fat content complements the creaminess.
Sauces and Dressings
Whisk some avocado seed powder into salad dressings, marinades, pesto, hummus, or dipping sauces for a nutritional upgrade. Start with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (1-2 grams) at a time to allow its flavor to shine through the other ingredients.
Soups and Stews
The earthy, rounded flavor of avocado seed powder makes it a smart addition to hearty soups and stews. Sprinkle in about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (1-2 grams) per serving while cooking for the best infusion of nutrients and flavor.
With a little creativity, the powder can be incorporated into just about any type of meal or snack!
Key Takeaway: At 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (1-3 grams) per serving, avocado seed powder can boost the nutrition of all kinds of dishes without overpowering them with flavor. Start small when adding it to recipes and adjust amounts to taste preferences.
DIY Beauty Uses for Avocado Seed Powder
In addition to being a nutritional supplement, the antioxidants, oils, and minerals in avocado seed powder provide excellent skin care benefits. Here are some easy ways to add it into DIY beauty and hygiene routines:
Facial Scrubs and Masks
The coarse texture of avocado seed powder makes an exceptional natural face scrub. Simply mix a spoonful with some water or oil and gently scrub skin in circular motions before rinsing. It helps remove dead cells, dirt, and oils from pores.
For a purifying face mask, blend the powder with yogurt, lemon juice, honey, or other skin nourishing ingredients. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before washing off for smoother, clearer skin.
Body and Foot Scrubs
Mix a couple tablespoons (14-28 grams) of avocado seed powder into coconut or olive oil to make an exfoliating body and foot scrub. The coarse particles will efficiently buff away dead skin when massaged over rough areas like feet, elbows, knees, and hands before showering.
Soothing Skin Masks and Pastes
Avocado seed powder contains fatty acids and antioxidants that can help hydrate and repair dry, irritated skin prone to conditions like eczema. For an intensive treatment, mix the powder with just enough water or oil to form a spreadable paste. Apply on red, flaky patches overnight before showering for relief.
Volumizing Hair Treatments
Some people add avocado seed powder to their favorite conditioner or hair mask recipe for extra volume. The vitamins and minerals may help strengthen strands and fatty acids increase fullness. Use 1-2 tablespoons (7-14 grams) per treatment.
Give some of these simple beauty treatments a try take advantage of all those healthy antioxidants and oils hiding inside the seed!
Key Takeaway: On its own or mixed into homemade recipes, avocado seed powder makes an excellent natural skin and hair exfoliant for removing dead cells and boosting hair and skin health.
Other Unique Uses for Avocado Seed Powder
While culinary and beauty applications may be the most common uses for avocado seed powder, its versatility allows for even more unique ways to use it:
Natural Fabric Dye
The skins and seeds from purple/black avocados can be boiled to extract a pinkish dye. It will gently tint fabric dipped into the liquid. Light colored fabrics work best for showing the pretty color.
Compost Accelerator
As an organic material rich in nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, avocado seed powder makes excellent compost. Sprinkle onto outdoor compost piles to speed decomposition.
Fertilizer Booster
Mix some avocado seed powder into potting soil or water it into the ground around gardens and houseplants for a fertilizer containing amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. This organic matter nourishes soil and plant health.
Pet Health Supplement
Some holistic veterinarians recommend sprinkling small amounts of avocado seed powder onto dog or cat food. In moderation, the nutrients may help with joint health, skin issues, and digestion in pets. Always check with a vet before supplementing animals' diets.
With the right amount of creativity and experimentation, there are endless ways avocado seeds can be utilized!
FAQs
Is avocado seed powder safe to eat?
Avocado seed powder is generally recognized as safe for consumption in the amounts typically used to supplement foods. No negative side effects have been reported. However, moderation is still best as high amounts may cause mild stomach upset in sensitive people due to its fiber content.
What are the health benefits of eating avocado seeds?
Early research shows avocado seed extracts may have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and other protective health effects in the body when consumed, but much more study is still needed. Their diverse nutrient content also helps enhance foods. But currently there’s no solid proof of any major health benefits directly linked to simply eating the powdered seeds.
Can dogs or cats eat avocado seed powder?
While the fruit flesh and skin of avocados contain persin, which is toxic to many pets, the seeds themselves do not. This means avocado seed powder is safe for animals and may even provide benefits. But consult a vet before supplementing any pet's diet, and only offer small amounts.
What’s the best way to add avocado seed powder when cooking or baking?
For optimal flavor and nutrient absorption, it’s best to add avocado seed powder during the cooking process rather than sprinkling it onto finished dishes. Mix the powder into doughs, batters, sauces, dressings, and more for direct infusion into recipes.
How long does homemade avocado seed powder last?
If stored in an airtight container in the fridge, fresh avocado seed powder will keep for 3-4 weeks. Freezing extends storage time even longer - up to 6 months. Be sure to use completely dried seeds when prepping it for maximum shelf life. Over time the oil content may oxidize, causing some loss of aroma and flavor.
Conclusion
While most people focus on using the soft, creamy flesh inside avocados, the large pits can also be utilized. After drying and grinding them into powder, the seeds can be incorporated into foods, drinks, DIY beauty recipes, gardening projects, and more to take advantage of their diverse nutrients.
Avocado seed powder is simple to make right at home. And the ways to use it are virtually endless thanks to its mild flavor and powdery texture that seamlessly blends into many items for a nutritional boost. Although still under-researched, the seeds seem to offer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other wellness benefits that deserve some attention, too.