How to Make and Freeze Guacamole (and Save Money in the Process)

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If you're reading this post, you've probably asked the question, "Can you freeze guacamole?".

The answer is YES...sometimes.

After years of making guacamole from scratch (and also eating my share at Mexican restaurants), I believe the best guacamole is made so that the avocados are the stars of the show.

That means using only a few simple ingredients, and ensuring it still has TONS of flavor.

Who Created Guacamole?

Curious about guacamole history? Yeah I was too. Because. Um. It's delicious. And sometimes I get curious about who had these brilliant ideas first.

Apparently, back in the 1500s, the Aztecs invented guacamole. Except back then it was called "ahuaca-mulli" which translates roughly to "avocado-sauce".

And there it is. People have been enjoying the wonders of guacamole for hundreds of years!

Should Guacamole Have Tomatoes?

You'll see a lot of guacamole recipes out there with pico de gallo or chopped tomatoes in the ingredient list. But you won't find that here. Tomatoes are usually added to guacamole as a filler.

But when I'm eating guacamole, I just want the avocado, lime, and salt to shine. If I want tomato flavor, I'll throw some salsa on top of my taco. But NOT in my guacamole.

This is actually a good thing when you're looking at freezing your guacamole, because watery ingredients (like tomatoes) aren't going to hold up well in the freezing process.

We're sticking pretty close to tradition by using just avocados, salt, and lime juice. Of course you can add cilantro if you have some.

Related: Quick & Easy Avocado Mayo Recipe

Cilantro is an optional ingredient in this recipe because it's not something I always have. But I do always have lime juice. And I love when I can make something delicious with the stuff I always have in my kitchen.

Traditional Homemade Guacamole Recipe

Tools to make (and freeze) homemade guacamole

• Bowl and fork - if you're okay with chunky guacamole, you can just mash the avocados with a fork until you get to the consistency you like.
• Immersion blender or food processor - If you prefer a smoother guacamole, you'll need to use some sort of blender to get it there. My two favorite ways to blend up sauces are an immersion blender (this one has a good motor and won't burn up the first time you use it) or food processor (this one has lasted for almost 10 years and is still going strong).
• Freezer bags OR freezer safe containers with lids - for freezing the guacamole.

Ingredients to make guacamole

• Avocados - can't make guacamole without avocados
• Lime juice - we sometimes substitute lemon juice if it's all we've got
• Salt - we love this salt because it still has its trace minerals intact.
• Everything else - Onions, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, cilantro, garlic- all optional and not recommended for freezing (also not necessary for a delicious tasting guacamole).

How to make homemade guacamole

The process is extremely simple to make delicious tasting fresh guacamole at home.

First, scoop the insides of the avocados (minus the pit) into a bowl. Next, mash it with a fork (if you'd prefer a smooth guacamole, you'll need to use an immersion blender or food processor to get the lumps out).

Once the avocados are mashed, you can add the remaining ingredients. I like to go pretty heavy on the lime and salt (to taste) to amplify the flavor of the avocados.

Tips for the perfect homemade guacamole

• Cooking with kids? Let them smash the avocados. Guacamole is perfect when it's a little chunky. Your kids might enjoy squeezing the lime juice into a bowl, too. Here are some fun kids cooking tools to make kitchen time more memorable.
• Picking avocados - To make this as easy as possible on yourself, use the avocados that are slightly soft to the touch (not mushy and not hard). These will be the avocados that are perfectly ripe and will mash easily with a fork.
• Money saving tip - Buy avocados when they're on sale, make guacamole & freeze it for later! Here's a list of more vegetables you can freeze that you probably didn't know about.
• Ingredient substitutions - This recipe is super simple, so you likely will have everything you need. But if you need to substitute lemons for limes, you likely won't be able to tell much of a difference in flavor.

Can I buy store bought guacamole and freeze it?

It's rare for me to find guacamole in the store that doesn't have a bunch of fillers in it. But, if you can find some without tomatoes, onions, dairy, or other fillers (and you're happy with the price).

Go ahead and grab some - if you don't use it all, you can freeze it for later (more on how to freeze guacamole below).

In my opinion though, the benefits of homemade guacamole are worth the slight inconvenience of making it at home. When you make your own guacamole you can guarantee that it's fresh and delicious. And you get to decide what goes in, and what stays out. Plus, it usually tastes better and is a lot cheaper to make guacamole at home.

How to keep guacamole fresh?

When guacamole is exposed to oxygen it turns brown (oxidation). So if we want to keep the guacamole green, we just need to keep it away from oxygen (sounds simple enough, right?).

Here are four tips to keep guacamole fresh & green in the fridge:

1. Put the guacamole in an air tight container and drizzle with extra lime juice. The acid from the lime juice slows the oxidation.
   • This should keep it green for about 1 day.
2. Cover the guacamole with plastic wrap and push it down so no air is touching the guacamole.
   • Depending how close the plastic wrap is to the guacamole, and how porous your plastic wrap is, this will keep the guacamole green for 1-2 days.
3. Press the guacamole down into your container so there's no air bubbles with the back of a spoon. Then drizzle a little water over the top to cover. Put it in the fridge with the lid on, and when you're ready to use it, just pour the water off.
   • This could keep it green for up to 3 days!
4. You can also try to put the pits back in the guacamole. I haven't had much luck with this, but my friends swear by it!

How can I freeze guacamole?

So there you are - with a big bowl of guacamole with all those perfectly ripe avocados that were on sale. The question is - what do you do if you want to freeze it for later?

Here are the steps to freeze your guacamole:

• Scoop the guacamole into a quart size plastic bag.
• Get the air bubbles out and seal the bag.
• Put the bag in the freezer and lay it flat to freeze.
• The day before you want some, just put it in the fridge and let it thaw overnight.

Remember...don't add onion, tomato, or dairy when freezing guacamole. It won't work out so well because the onion and tomato will release water and make your guacamole runny. And dairy will likely separate in the freezing/thawing process.

How to use homemade guacamole?

We love guacamole in our house. I could eat it by the spoonful without even feeling bad about it (avocados have super healthy fats in them). But it's also nice to eat it with something. Here are some ideas if you wan to incorporate guacamole into your next meal (or healthy snack).

10 ways to use guacamole

Looking for ideas to use that your guacamole? Other than just eating it by the spoonful? Here are some ideas if you're drawing a blank.

1. With chips and salsa
2. On nachos
3. In tortilla soup or chili
4. On toast (avocado toast, anyone?)
5. As a dip for veggies - carrots, cucumbers, celery
6. As a dip for crackers (like these 3 ingredient cheese crackers)
7. As a topping on fajitas (like these sheet pan fajitas)
8. As a dip for chips (I've been loving these homemade sweet potato chips dipped in guacamole)
9. On sandwiches, burgers, or wraps
10. In a green smoothie

Looking for more delicious homemade dips?

• Trader Joe's Almond Jalapeno Dip
• 5 Minute Homemade Hummus With Tahini
• Avocado Mayonnaise (Egg Free)
• Homemade Mayonnaise With Avocado Oil
• Avocado Chocolate Pudding (don't knock it 'til you try it)!

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