How to Make Perfect Guacamole and Keep it Green

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Homemade guacamole is always a hit. Whether you’re eating dinner with your family or throwing a party, this guacamole will be a show stopper.

This guacamole is made with simple ingredients and is a great way to let kids in the kitchen, or whip up a big batch to freeze for later.

Who Created Guacamole?

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

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 and I want some tomato flavor, I would rather eat salsa or pico de gallo WITH my guacamole. I like the pure lime and creamy guacamole to stand out as much as possible.

Traditional Homemade Guacamole

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.

Cilantro is an optional ingredient 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 ingredients I have on hand. In a pinch you could even use lemon juice. You might not even be able to tell the difference.

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’s a few other tools that might help make it memorable.

Can I Buy Store Bought Guacamole?

Sure, store bought guacamole is convenient. And yes it is nice when you don’t have to wait on your avocados to ripen.

But the benefits of homemade guacamole are worth it, in my opinion. 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.

And often it’s more expensive, so watch out!

How Long Does Homemade Guacamole Keep?

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.

3 ways to keep guacamole 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!

Can I Freeze Homemade Guacamole?

Do you have a bunch of avocados on the counter ready to be eaten? You can make a big batch of guacamole and freeze it for later. Here’s how:

• 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.

Here’s a tip: Don’t add onion, tomato, or dairy when freezing guacamole.

The onion and tomato will release water and make your guacamole runny. And dairy will likely separate in the freezer.

What Should I Serve with Guacamole?

We love guacamole in our house. And I could eat it by the spoonful without even feeling bad about it. But it’s also nice to eat it with something. Here are some ideas if you wan to incorporate guacamole into your next meal.

If you don’t already have a serving bowl for your guacamole, consider this one. You can find it on Amazon. It’ll be a hit at your next party!

10 ways to use guacamole

1. With chips and salsa
2. On nachos
3. In tortilla soup or chili
4. On toast
5. Dip for veggies – carrots, cucumbers, celery
6. Dip for crackers (like these 3 ingredient cheese crackers)
7. As a topping on fajitas (like these sheet pan fajitas)
8. On a quesadilla
9. In a grilled cheese sandwich
10. In a smoothie

How do you like to use your guacamole? Tell me about it in the comments below!

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