HAND/WRIST
Whether you are making a salad, guacamole or looking to garnish a main course, avocados are a frequent addition to any meal. But did you know that cutting one of these fruits can be tricky and potentially dangerous? Many avid avocado users will confidently grab one in their palm and cut down with a knife towards their hand to slice lengthwise around the pit and show off those in-hand manipulation skills. But if you’re not careful a slip of the hand can result in deep cuts to the palm or fingers.
With injuries like this, damage to nerves and tendons are common. Loss of sensation, hypersensitivity, and decreased coordination of the hand can result from damage to nerves. Immobility and loss of function to fingers can result from flexor tendon injuries. Scars can be a bother for months. These injuries often require the attention of skilled hand surgeons and hand therapists. Surgery may be required as well as months of frequent hand therapy visits.
So how can we avoid a trip to our friendly neighborhood hand team? Proper cutting techniques are a must!
The first step to properly cut an avocado is to place it on a cutting board with a dish towel beneath to prevent slipping. Hold the avocado down against the cutting board lengthwise with your non-dominant hand. Fingers and thumb should securely hold on to the avocado from the top. With your other hand carefully slice sideways into the fruit at its midpoint.
This should be far away from your hand. Once you have sliced it down to the pit take the hand on top and help twist the avocado slightly. Repeat this process on the other side until you have a clean cut around the avocado and then do this again with a perpendicular cut. Then putting the knife aside use both hands to twist and open along one cut line.
This should be far away from your hand. Once you have sliced it down to the pit take the hand on top and help twist the avocado slightly. Repeat this process on the other side until you have a clean cut around the avocado and then do this again with a perpendicular cut. Then putting the knife aside use both hands to twist and open along one cut line.
To remove the pit you simply split the avocado into quarters and the pit can be easily removed by hand.
This is a safe and effective method to cut an avocado. Remember to be careful in the kitchen and to respect your knives. Happy cooking!
