A staple for Sunday brunch with its iconic avocado toast, the avocado is also among the most dangerous foods worldwide. Why? Despite its irresistible taste and creamy texture, it has earned a notorious reputation in hospital emergency rooms, dubbed the "lawyer's hand."
Avocado-related cutting injuries are surging, driving more emergency room visits. These range from cuts and lacerations to bruises—and in extreme cases, patients arrive with a knife embedded in their hand. Shockingly, avocados contribute to 60% of household kitchen accidents. Now a kitchen favorite and ER staple, avocados even feature in medical training due to their potential for severe injuries.
In a 2017 article in the Times, the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons highlighted avocado consumption injuries and shared expert guidance on safely preparing the fruit.
Accidents often happen when cooks try to remove the pit with a knife. This risky maneuver can lead to "wounds, and in severe cases, severed nerves and tendons requiring intricate surgery and extended rehabilitation"—all preventable with proper techniques, according to association experts.
To cut an avocado safely (put down that knife!), see our slideshow above for step-by-step guidance.
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