A medium avocado weighs around 5 to 7 ounces on average. However, avocados can vary in size and weight. Here is a more detailed look at estimating the weight of a medium avocado.
Typical Weight of a Medium Avocado
Most sources estimate a medium avocado weighs approximately:
- 5 to 7 ounces
- 140 to 200 grams
According to the USDA, a medium avocado weighs around 170 grams. This converts to roughly 6 ounces.
The size guides below also indicate a medium avocado weighs about 6 ounces or 170 grams:
| Avocado Size | Average Weight |
|---|---|
| Small | 3-5 oz (80-140 g) |
| Medium | 6-7 oz (170-200 g) |
| Large | 8-12 oz (220-340 g) |
However, avocados are natural products and can vary significantly in size and weight. The actual weight of a medium avocado depends on factors like:
- Avocado variety – Some varieties are larger than others on average.
- Growing conditions – Climate, soil quality, etc. impact size.
- Time of year – Avocados grow larger in some seasons.
- Individual avocado – No two avocados are exactly the same.
So you’ll find variation in the weight of medium avocados at the store or market. Expect a range of approximately 5 to 7 ounces for a medium avocado.
Estimating Weight by Feel
You can also estimate the weight of an avocado by feel. Here are some general guidelines:
- Small avocados feel light and give slightly to gentle pressure.
- Medium avocados feel somewhat heavy and firm.
- Large avocados feel very heavy and are solid.
A medium avocado will feel heavier than a small avocado. It will have a little more heft in your hand. When you gently squeeze a medium avocado, it should feel firm with a slight give.
Weighing a Medium Avocado
For a more precise measurement, you can weigh a medium avocado on a kitchen scale at home. Here are some tips for weighing avocados:
- Use a digital kitchen scale for most accuracy.
- Place the avocado directly on the weighing platform.
- Wait for the display to stabilize before taking the reading.
- Weigh the avocado whole, with skin on.
- Subtract the weight of the pit (around 1-2 oz) if desired.
When weighing medium avocados purchased from a store or market, expect a range of weights from around 5 to 7 ounces. Weigh several avocados to get a feel for the variation.
Weights of Different Avocado Varieties
There are many different varieties of avocados, and some tend to be larger than others on average. Here are typical sizes of some popular avocado varieties:
| Avocado Variety | Typical Medium Size |
|---|---|
| Hass | 5-7 oz (140-200 g) |
| Reed | 8-12 oz (230-340 g) |
| Bacon | 6-9 oz (170-255 g) |
| Fuerte | 5-10 oz (140-280 g) |
| Gwen | 6-11 oz (170-312 g) |
As you can see, Hass avocados tend to be on the smaller side, while varieties like Reed and Gwen are larger on average. But there can still be variation in size within each variety.
Avocado Sizes by Ounces
If you are purchasing avocados at a store or market, they will often be labeled with a size designation like small, medium or large. Here is an overview of typical avocado sizes by weight in ounces:
- Small: 3 to 5 ounces
- Medium: 5 to 7 ounces (Most common size)
- Large: 8 ounces or larger
However, there are no standardized size categories. Retailers may use slightly different size profiles. For example, one store may consider 4-5 ounces a small avocado, while another considers 3-4 ounces to be small.
Estimating Avocado Ounces for Recipes
When a recipe calls for a medium avocado, you can estimate it contains around 5 to 7 ounces of edible flesh. Here are some tips for converting avocado size to ounces in recipes:
- Start with around 6 ounces or 170 grams if medium size is specified.
- Adjust slightly up or down based on desired yield.
- Add extra if using smaller Hass avocados.
- Reduce amount for larger varieties like Bacon or Reed.
- Weigh the avocado if precision is vital.
If a recipe simply lists “1 avocado” without size, you can substitute a medium avocado at approximately 6 ounces. Adjust the quantity if you are using very small or very large avocados.
Common Uses for Medium Avocados
A medium 5-7 ounce avocado is a versatile fruit perfect for many uses. Here are some of the most common ways to use medium avocados:
- Guacamole – One medium avocado yields around 1 cup mashed or diced.
- Toast or sandwiches – Slices from one medium avocado are enough for 2-4 slices of toast.
- Salads – Cubes from one avocado provide a nice accent to salad for 2-4 people.
- Smoothies – Half a medium avocado blends well into smoothies for 1-2 people.
In general, one medium avocado provides enough flesh for use in recipes or meals for 1-4 people. The richer, creamy texture makes it a great substitute for foods like mayo or cheese.
Nutrition Information for Medium Avocados
Medium avocados not only provide delicious flavor and texture, they are also loaded with beneficial nutrients. Here are some of the nutrition highlights of medium avocados weighing around 170 grams or 6 ounces:
- Calories: 330
- Fat: 29 grams (44% DV)
- Carbs: 17 grams (6% DV)
- Fiber: 13 grams (54% DV)
- Vitamin C: 33% DV
- Vitamin K: 53% DV
- Potassium: 28% DV
Avocados provide nearly 20 essential vitamins and minerals. Their rich supply of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and fiber make them a great food for health as part of a balanced diet.
Storing Medium Avocados
Follow these tips to help medium avocados stay fresh until you are ready to use them:
- Leave whole avocados at room temperature until ripe.
- Once ripe, refrigerate whole avocados to slow ripening.
- Store cut avocado flesh with plastic wrap pressed onto the surface.
- Seal tightly and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Sprinkle with lemon or lime juice to prevent browning.
Properly stored, medium avocados maintain quality and flavor for around 1 week from purchase. Discard if mold develops or the flesh becomes overly soft or brown.
Picking Ripe Medium Avocados
Follow these easy tips for identifying perfectly ripe medium avocados at the store:
- No cosmetic blemishes or cuts in skin.
- Skin color varies by variety. Should be dark green to purplish-black.
- Gently squeeze the avocado. It should feel slightly soft but not mushy.
- Medium avocados feel heavier than small avocados.
- The stem area pops off cleanly when ripe.
If an avocado feels very firm, let it ripen for 2-5 days at room temperature before enjoying.
Freezing Medium Avocados
Medium avocados can also be frozen for longer term storage. Here are some freezing tips:
- Cut avocado flesh from skin and pit.
- Mash flesh or cut into chunks.
- Coat with lemon or lime juice.
- Seal in airtight freezer bags or containers.
- Freeze up to 10 months.
Thaw frozen avocado in the refrigerator before using. The texture may be slightly softer after thawing.
Drying Medium Avocados
Medium avocados can also be dried for use as chips, powder or seasoning:
- Chips: Slice flesh thin, coat with oil and spices. Dehydrate 2-6 hours.
- Powder: Dry mashed flesh on low heat 4-6 hours. Grind into powder.
- Seasoning: Dry slices or cubes. Grind dried pieces to use like a spice.
Store dried avocados in airtight containers in the pantry up to 1 year. Rehydrate in water before use in some recipes.
Common Medium Avocado Uses
Here is a summary of the many great ways to use medium 5-7 ounce avocados:
- Guacamole
- Toast
- Sandwiches
- Salads
- Smoothies
- Wraps
- Salsa
- Soup
- Sauce
- Dip
- Spread
- Chips
- Ice Cream
- Pudding
- Yogurt
- Dressing
- Mayo
- Burger
- Omelet
- Quesadilla
- Stir Fry
A medium avocado can complement both sweet and savory dishes. Their rich, creamy texture and nutty flavor pairs perfectly with so many meals and snacks.
Conclusion
A medium avocado weighs approximately 5 to 7 ounces on average. However, there is no set standard size and avocados can vary based on individual fruit, variety and season. For a medium avocado, expect around 6 ounces or 170 grams of edible flesh.
Weigh your avocados for the most precise amounts. Otherwise, judge by look and feel to estimate if it matches the medium range. Allow for some flexibility in recipes to account for natural variability in avocado sizes.
At around 6 ounces, a medium avocado provides the perfect amount for many uses like guacamole, salads, sandwiches and more for 1-4 people. Their nutrition, convenience and versatility make medium avocados a handy staple fruit to always have on hand.
