Chipotle tests robot that can prepare avocados to make guacamole faster (2024)

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Chipotle tests robot that can prepare avocados to make guacamole faster? ›

Chipotle Mexican Grill has developed a robot that can cut, core and peel avocados used in its guacamole as the restaurant industry faces a sustained labor shortage. Today, it takes roughly 50 minutes to make a batch of Chipotle's guacamole. But the Autocado unveiled Wednesday could cut the prep time in half.

"The flesh of the avocado oxidizes quickly — much like a cut apple — which changes the color. The addition of citric acid, like from lime juice in your guac can help delay this process but will not completely prevent it," she says.

A team member removes the bowl of avocado fruit and moves it to the counter where they add additional ingredients and hand mash the avocados to make Chipotle's signature guacamole.

In July 2023, Chipotle began testing the Autocado robot, essentially a robot that could cut, core, and peel avocados. In March 2022, Chipotle deployed “Chippy,” a tortilla chip-making robot. “The biggest challenge was the cleaning of it,” Niccol said. “It just became way too cumbersome for the team to clean it.”

The recipe is simple and basic, which is probably why so many find it irresistible. Unlike fake versions which have included add-ins like garlic or tomatoes, Chipotle's guac uses just six ingredients: avocados, lime juice, cilantro, red onion, jalapeño and kosher salt.

Pour a thin but visible layer of water or lemon/lime juice over the guacamole to form a barrier with the air. Cover the dish with plastic wrap, pushing the wrap, so it is flush with the guacamole to prevent air pockets, or put the guacamole in a sealed tub.

The main goal is to prevent oxygen from touching the avocado's flesh. Plastic wrap is a practical, albeit not foolproof way to slow down the natural course of fruit aging. The trick is to make sure the plastic wrap is sealed flush with the flesh.

The firm uses artificial intelligence to monitor inventory levels and estimate demand, allowing it to reduce food waste and ensure that it has enough food on hand. Chipotle also uses AI to target customers with personalized marketing messaging, which aids in sales growth.

Chipotle announced its first robotic crew member, an AI kitchen assistant named Chippy from Pasadena, Calif.

Although adding mayonnaise to guacamole can be a divisive topic, plenty of people swear by it for its textural benefits. Blending just a little bit of mayo into your guacamole will help make it extra creamy and silky smooth for dipping or spreading.

How does Chipotle keep their guacamole so green? ›

“Each panned guac gets sealed airtight with Saran Wrap,” he said. “Then it gets lidded, labeled and stored for later use. This process ensures freshness and prevents browning,” he continued.

Each batch of ripe avocados is hand-mashed and seasoned with freshly diced red onions, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, citrus juice and salt. Each of Chipotle's 2,200-plus restaurants goes through approximately five cases of avocados a day, amounting to about 45,000 pounds of avocados in each restaurant annually.

It may be slightly more mushy and/or bitter than fresh green guac, but it's still safe to eat. If you didn't store your guacamole ahead of time with a layer of water on top, you can simply scrape off the top layer to reveal the brighter green portion underneath.

How long does Chipotle guacamole last in the fridge? With the proper protection, homemade Chipotle guac should stay fresh for 3 to 4 days. A little bit of browning is safe to eat, but I would recommend making a new batch if the entire container has turned.

Some people swear by this one, so we had to put it to the test. The verdict: Contrary to popular belief, adding the avocado pit to guacamole does not prevent oxidation. In fact, if it sticks out above the surface, it creates air pockets that prevent the plastic wrap from adhering tightly enough.