Cutting and peeling an avocado can be really frustrating if you don't know what you're doing, and really simple if you do. First, stand the avocado up tall and cut around it with a knife (so you're splitting it into two tall and skinny halves). You'll run into the pit in the middle. Don't try to cut through it. Just go around it. Once you're done, you can split it into the two halves. One will have the pit and the other will not. The easiest way to remove the pit is to tap the knife against the pit so it cuts it just a little bit. When you pull the knife up the pit should come with it. Just be careful when you do this, as you don't want to lose any part of your hand in the process. Another way to remove the pit is with a spoon, but you'll generally end up taking some of the flesh of the avocado with it. Lastly, you need to remove the flesh. The flesh is pretty easy to scoop out with a spoon but you might find it easier if you score it first. Just be careful to score only the flesh and not the skin as well, or you'll run into problems. That's it! It should only take a minute or so to do once you've got the hang of it.

FYI! I heard that if you're making guacamole, leaving the pit IN the bowl with the guac prevents it from turning brown!

I never heard that leaving the pit in keeps the avocado from turning color. Interesting. I add lemon juice which definitely helps as well. Also, another tip on peeling. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, then cut the avocado in quarters. The peel will come off very easily. Just peel it back off the quarter of avocado and repeat. Super easy and you don't waste any by scooping it out.

Leaving the pit is definitely a MUST for guacamole. Try it and you'll see your guac last a couple of days!

Hi from Sydney,Australia I went to "google to find out which avocado turns from green to brown when ripe, if you type in avocadocentral.com You will be able to get into the site for USA's Hass Avocado Board, which seems grerat, eveerything from how to cut, plus recipes plus history I think you will enjoy finding more on avocados Regards Krystyna