Apparently, “Avocado Hand” Is A Thing — And This Doctor Just Saved Thousands Of Brunch Lovers From The ER

Avocados may be delicious, but according to one emergency room doctor, they’re also a surprisingly dangerous fruit — and he’s begging people to stop cutting them the wrong way. Thousands of people each year end up in the hospital with deep hand wounds, all thanks to a moment of overconfidence while slicing into that creamy green goodness.

The humble avocado, once just a fancy brunch extra, has become a full-blown global obsession. From toast to smoothies, it’s everywhere — and apparently, so are the ER visits that come with it.

Dr. Joe Whittington, an emergency physician with 2.2 million followers on TikTok, decided enough was enough. In a viral video, he revealed exactly how to avoid what he calls “avocado hand,” and let’s just say the internet was both horrified and grateful.

“Avocado hand is a real thing,” Dr. Joe explained. “You’re craving some guac, and next thing you know, you’re getting stitches.” And he’s not exaggerating — one study found that nearly 8,900 people in the U.S. went to the ER in a single year because of avocado-related knife injuries.

The danger usually happens when people try to remove the pit by stabbing at it while holding the avocado in their palm. Spoiler alert: that’s a one-way ticket to the emergency room. “The difficulty usually arises when people try to remove the pit and accidentally stab themselves in the hand,” Dr. Joe said.

To save everyone’s fingers (and dignity), Dr. Joe demonstrated the right way to do it. “Grip the blade near the base, close to the handle, and use your index finger and thumb to create a small wedge of blade that will stab the pit,” he explained. “Then twist to release the pit, and you’re good to go — no stitches required.”

His video quickly blew up across TikTok and Instagram, with fans thanking him for saving their brunch plans — and possibly their hands. The comments section became a mix of relief, shock, and a little humor.

“I’m Mexican, so I had no idea this was an actual danger,” one commenter joked. Another offered a no-knife solution: “Just push with two thumbs on the back where the pit is — it pops right out!” Honestly, that sounds like a life hack worth trying.

The same study Dr. Joe mentioned found that between 1998 and 2017, there were over 50,000 avocado-related knife injuries. For context, that’s way more than the 1,790 shark bites reported worldwide during that same period. That means you’re statistically safer swimming with sharks than making guacamole.

While Dr. Joe tackled the “how not to stab yourself” issue, others in the food world are clearing up another common avocado mystery: what’s the deal with them turning brown? Many people assume a brown avocado has gone bad, but according to food scientists, that’s not necessarily true.

“When you cut open an avocado, you’re exposing enzymes in the cells to oxygen,” explained Matthew Fatino, a subtropical crops expert at the University of California. “That reaction creates melanin, the same pigment that turns it brown.”

The enzyme responsible, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), is also found in apples — which explains why both fruits brown so quickly once sliced. As oxidation continues, the flavor and texture can change slightly.

“If you let it go too far — like days — you can get kind of a rancid taste,” Fatino said. The good news? A little browning isn’t dangerous. You can still safely eat an avocado up to two days after it starts to darken.

After several days, though, the fats begin breaking down into bitter compounds — that’s when it’s time to say goodbye. Basically, brown doesn’t mean bad, but black and mushy definitely does.

So, while “avocado hand” might send thousands to the hospital, a brown avocado won’t send anyone running for help. It might just make your toast look a little less Instagram-worthy.

In a viral video, Dr. Joe Whittington revealed exactly how to avoid what he calls “avocado hand.”

angel/Adobe Stock

Dr. Joe said between 1998 and 2017, there were over 50,000 avocado-related knife injuries.

Daniel/Adobe Stock (Not the actual photo)

“You’re craving some guac, and next thing you know, you’re getting stitches.”

Instagram/drjoe_md

The danger usually happens when people try to remove the pit by stabbing at it while holding the avocado in their palm.

Miriam Alonso/Pexels (Not the actual photo)

“Grip the blade near the base, close to the handle," Dr. Joe explained.

TikTok/philiplemoine

"And use your index finger and thumb to create a small wedge of blade that will stab the pit. Then twist to release the pit, and you’re good to go — no stitches required.”

TikTok/philiplemoine

The video quickly blew up across TikTok and Instagram, and the comments section became a mix of relief, shock, and a little humor.

TikTok/bunny_show21

Why would anyone do that?

Talon Smith

"Sometimes people just scare me."

Dogmommyof2

Why do people keep pushing?

Kris

"Don't mess with avocados."

Dr-Ving

"Something's wrong."

All about mortal kombat

Why would anyone stab the pit anyway?

GenericAnemone

"Just squish the pit out."

gimpyviper

Put it down before you smack it!

Kenmsm

"No way!"

Kimberly

The takeaway? Be cautious with your knife, ditch the palm-pitting method, and don’t panic over a little discoloration. Your brunch — and your hands — will thank you.

Because let’s be real: the only thing worse than missing brunch is explaining to an ER doctor that your battle wound came from a piece of fruit.