This Guy Found an Easy Way to Make Guacamole Last for Over a Month (2024)

Here's the one trick that prevailed over six other methods.

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This Guy Found an Easy Way to Make Guacamole Last for Over a Month (1)

There's nothing quite like freshly made guacamole, but it does have one drawback; it tends not to last very long before it becomes tinged with that unappetizing brown color. In a recent YouTube video, Nate Bonham and Calli Gade from the King of Random YouTube channel tried a variety of methods that are supposed to help keep homemade guac fresh for longer.

Bonham and Gade prepared six bowls of guacamole, then added a different ingredient to each dish, covered them in film, and then left them in the fridge for a few days to see what would happen.

Salt

Salt was used for years to preserve foodstuffs in storage, but alas, it can't prevent guac from losing that fresh green color after a few days. "It's not massively darker, but it is darker," says Bonham.

Lime juice

Already a popular ingredient in guacamole as it brings a zesty, tangy flavor to the creamy avocado, lime juice is also believed to help keep guac from going bad — which makes sense. Lemon and lime juice contain citric acid, which acts as a preservative and helps food from becoming discolored by slowing the rate of oxidization. After a couple of days, the guac with the lime juice has retained its green color better than the one with the salt.

Avocado pits

Rumor has it that leaving the avocado seeds in the guac will prevent it from going brown. However, after a few days, Bonham and Gade find that any guac surface which is not directly touching the seeds has turned a very noticeable shade of brown — even moreso than the control dish, which contained no additional ingredients.

Water

For this one, Bonham and Gade don't do any mixing, they just pour a small amount of water over the top of the guac before wrapping the dish. When they pour the water out after a few days in the fridge, the guacamole still looks bright green — but the tomatoes in it look soggy and brown.

Water and lemon juice

Bonham and Gade mixed lemon juice into some water and poured it over the top, and it showed some great results; bright green guac, and red tomatoes.

Vacuum

Having forgotten entirely about the vacuum-sealed guacamole when testing the other dishes, Bonham returned to it more than a month later and found that it was still a light, enticing green color. "I am amazed at this," he says. "Whatever processes that usually happen have been halted in their tracks."

And while the texture of the guac is a little dry (Bonham speculates that the vacuum pulled some moisture out of it), it tastes just fine. "This could have been guacamole made 20 minutes ago," he says. "It's not bad!"

This Guy Found an Easy Way to Make Guacamole Last for Over a Month (4)

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This Guy Found an Easy Way to Make Guacamole Last for Over a Month (2024)

FAQs

How to make guacamole last long? ›

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.

Who discovered guacamole? ›

The history of this tasty treat dates back to the Aztec Empire in Central America during the 1500s. Avocados were a favorite fruit in the area, and the Aztecs loved their “ahuaca-mulli” or avocado-mixture. The Spaniards also loved this treat, but could not pronounce the name correctly.

How long will guacamole last? ›

From the second you crack open that avocado, it's a race against the clock before it goes brown. But with the right prep, you can make guacamole last in the fridge for three to four days. Planning on storing guacamole in the freezer? It should last for three to four months.

Can you freeze guacamole to make it last longer? ›

You can freeze guacamole for up to 3 months. So, if you have a good avo that's about to turn, mash it, mix it with guac ingredients (here's the full recipe), drizzle with oil and freeze for when you next need a creamy avo dip hit, or want to jazz up a mid-week Mexican dinner.

How do you increase the shelf life of guacamole? ›

Add about a half-inch of water to the top of the guacamole. Make sure the water covers the whole surface of the batch. Put the lid or covering on the container, and store in the fridge for two to three days. When you're ready to enjoy your guac, gently pour off the water and stir before serving.

Who was the first person to eat an avocado? ›

It is impossible to tell who the very first person to eat an avocado may have been. As they are known to have been a part of the Mesoamerican culture for at least 10,000 years prior, there is no written record of the first person's discovery and eating of avocado.

Did Mexicans invent guacamole? ›

Guacamole (Spanish: [ɡwakaˈmole]; informally shortened to guac in the United States since the 1980s) is an avocado-based dip, spread, or salad first developed in Mexico. In addition to its use in modern Mexican cuisine, it has become part of international cuisine as a dip, condiment, and salad ingredient.

What was avocado first called? ›

Before 1915, the avocado was commonly referred to in California as ahuacate and in Florida as alligator pear. In 1915, the California Avocado Association introduced the then-innovative term avocado to refer to the plant.

Can you eat brown avocado? ›

You can safely eat an avocado or guacamole that has turned brown due to oxidation, just as you could eat an apple that has undergone the same chemical reaction. However, it certainly doesn't look as appetizing when presented on a plate, and the taste may be slightly altered (read: a tad bitter).

Is guacamole healthy? ›

Guacamole can be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet, and is a great way to increase your intake of health-promoting nutrients like monounsaturated fats, fiber, folate and potassium. Because it is a calorically dense food, enjoy it mindfully and pair it with other healthy foods to get the most out of your meal.

How to tell if guacamole is bad? ›

Once opened, store-bought guacamole usually lasts 1-2 days. Homemade guacamole also usually lasts 1-2 days. You'll know it's gone bad when it has a substantial puddle of brown liquid and the layers below the surface have lost their vibrant green hue. That's when it's time to throw it out.

How to make guacamole last longer? ›

Slowly add some lukewarm water over the top. You can fill a measuring cup and pour the water gently down the sides so it doesn't disturb the surface of the guac too much. Make sure the water covers the surface of the guacamole until it's about 1/2 inch up the sides. Put on the lid and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Why does guacamole go bad so fast? ›

"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.

How to tell if an avocado is bad? ›

Here are 5 telltale signs when an avocado has gone bad and shouldn't be used anymore.
  1. The avocado is soft and the rind is concave. ...
  2. The shell turns dark black. ...
  3. The avocado flesh is dark and black. ...
  4. Strange smell and taste appear. ...
  5. Milestones.

How do you keep leftover guacamole fresh? ›

Make your guacamole, then place any uneaten dip in a resealable container. Place a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the dip, lightly pressing all over to make sure the plastic is directly in contact with the entire surface of the dip. Store the guacamole in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Can I make guacamole ahead of time? ›

The key is simple: you need to press the plastic wrap directly and completely against the surface of the guacamole. When stored this way, guacamole can be made ahead and stored in the fridge up to overnight with nary a brown spot in sight.

How does Chipotle keep their guacamole from turning brown? ›

“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.

How do you make store guacamole better? ›

The first step to sprucing up your store-bought guacamole should be to transfer it from the plastic tub it came in into a mixing bowl. Give it a stir to make sure all the ingredients are well-combined. You can also squeeze some fresh lime juice into your bowl for more flavor and to prevent your guacamole from browning.

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