Andi Dorfman and Joy Behar 'Avocado hand' claims its newest victims

Andi Dorfman and Joy Behar are the latest celebrities to fall victim to what the world has come to know as the dreaded “avocado hand” - a gruesome injury sustained when a person attempts to slice open an avocado and slices open their hand instead.

Andi Dorfman and Joy Behar recently fell victim to the dreaded “avocado hand,” sustaining hand injuries while attempting to cut the fleshy fruit. (Image: @SmitBruins via Twenty20)

“Avocado hand is the slicing of tendons and ligaments in the hand when slicing an avocado,” explains Taz Bhatia, M.D., a certified nutritionist and physician. How does it occur? When attempting to cut into one of those delicious, fleshy fruits, the huge pits can get in the way and “the knife often slips as an avocado is being cut.”

But just how dangerous can these accidents be? The hand can be seriously damaged, involving injuries to the nerves and tendons that can result in the loss of motion and sensation (which will significantly impact your next attempt at carving up an avocado, quite frankly).

This is something former “Bachelorette” star Andi Dorfman has experienced firsthand (no pun intended): Last week she shared a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed, her left hand wrapped up in bandages after undergoing reconstructive surgery. “Successful surgery!” she wrote on Instagram. “Tendons and nerves have been reunited. Thanks for all the sweet messages. If only the avocado had been so kind.” Maybe right about now you are thinking “ouch!” Well, we are right there with you.

A post shared by Andi Dorfman (@andi_dorfman) on Jun 6, 2018 at 4:19pm PDT

Dorfman isn't the only one to fall afoul of the menacing avocado hand: Joy Behar had to skip her “The View” co-hosting duties on June 11 after slicing her hand open while cutting an avocado. “Saturday night on my way to the event at the retreat, I stabbed myself in the hand with a knife,” she revealed on the June 12 episode of the show. “I was trying to desperately eat something, so I was trying to open an avocado. So I stuck the knife into the pit to get it out… and I stabbed myself!” Once again, ouch!

After spending the night in the hospital on an antibacterial drip, 75-year-old Behar was informed by the hospital staff that these type of incidents have become the norm. “Apparently, there is a syndrome called avocado hand,” she continued. “It's real! The doctor said, 'We get this all the time.' And bagels also. Any time you're holding the item and you cut it, you can get this.”

OK, so none of this is a reason to quit eating avocados. Not only are they unbelievably delicious, but they boast a bevy of health benefits: Avocados can help prevent heart disease, improve blood cell and nerve function and are packed with loads of protein, omega-3s and many other necessary vitamins and minerals.

So instead of just winging it when you decide to cut into one, Dr. Taz offers a simple - and, more importantly, safe - method. “The key is using a cutting board,” she explains. When the avocado is in a stable position, cut it in half. “Then, simply peel and de-pit it.” Nothing to it, right?

So the next time you are craving some avocado toast, please let these “avocado hand” horror stories serve as inspiration to use a little patience when cutting into your beloved bumpy green treasure - it could save you a trip to the emergency room!

Read more: 12 Yummy New Avocado Recipes

What Do YOU Think?

Are you surprised “avocado hand” is so common? How do you cut avocados? Have you ever sustained any kitchen injuries? Let us know in the comments!