Guacamole (or shortened as guac) is an exceptionally popular condiment in North America and around the world.
While commercially-prepared guacamole is easy to find, making it at home is quick and easy.
Whether having a movie night or craving for late-night snacks, nachos with guacamole can never go wrong. But, what about leftovers? How do you store guacamole? Can you freeze leftover guacamole?
Perhaps, you’re hosting a Mexican dinner night next week. Of course, guacamole is a must. Thinking of finishing as many tasks as possible in advance, you’re thinking: can you make guacamole and freeze for later?
If the scenario above sounds familiar to you, you’re in the right place. In this article, we talk about the storage, freezing, and all about preserving guacamole. So, keep reading!
How To Store Guacamole
Guacamole is undeniably creamy and yummy. This avocado-based sauce is not only delicious for Mexican food but also goes perfectly in salad and other dishes. But, this sauce can be quite tricky to handle.
First thing first, guacamole—homemade and store-bought—should be kept refrigerated in a sealed airtight container.
We all probably have known that the struggle with storing guacamole is how to keep it fresh and green. That’s because the main ingredient, which is avocado, turns brown quickly when exposed to air.
Here are some tips which you can choose to prevent the guacamole from turning brown. The key is to prevent oxygen from getting in contact with the sauce.
1. Coat the top layer with lemon or lime juice without stirring it. When it’s time to serve, simply scoop the juice, so the guacamole doesn’t taste too acidic.
2. Cover the surface with water. Flatten out the surface with a spoon and gently pour water to cover the surface completely. Pour off the water before serving.
3. Place and press a layer of plastic wrap directly onto the surface.
Next to the tips above, always use a clean spoon to take out the sauce, in case you’ll have leftovers later. This hygienic habit minimizes bacterial contamination and subsequently keeps guacamole fresh longer.
How To Freeze Guacamole
Guacamole only stays fresh for a few days in the fridge. Freezing works very well to store it for a much longer period, with a subtle change in texture or taste. It won’t be as tasty as the fresh one, but it is still acceptable.
You can freeze both homemade or store-bought guacamole. Here is how you should freeze guacamole dip.
- 1. Prepare guacamole as usual according to your favorite recipes.
- Avoid using tomatoes and onion during preparation since these two tend to release water during thawing. Add them later before serving.
- 2. Portion out guacamole into individual serving sizes.
- Freezing in individual serving size is useful for thawing. This way, no need to worry about thawing a whole pack and having leftovers. Plus, a smaller pack saves time for thawing.
- 3. Transfer guacamole into a freezer bag.
- 4. Flatten out the package and remove as much air as possible.
- 5. Seal tightly and label with a freezing date, use-by date, and the amount (if necessary).
For safety reasons, frozen foods should be continuously kept at 0 °F (−18 °C) or lower. Remember to check your freezer’s temperature regularly and set it to the recommended temperature.
How Do You Defrost Frozen Guacamole?
You can safely defrost frozen guacamole by placing the package in the fridge. For quick thawing, submerge the container in cold water. Make sure that it is tightly sealed.
After thawing, remove excess moisture, add the other ingredients left out during preparation, mix, and serve.
How Long Can You Refrigerate and Freeze Guacamole?
Guacamole only lasts for 2 to 4 days in the fridge. So, freezing is a good alternative for long term storage for up to 3 to 4 months. It is likely safe to keep it longer, but the texture and flavor changes might be more noticeable. (*)
FAQs
Unfortunately, that’s just a myth. Browning is natural as a result of oxidation as soon as avocados are exposed to air. To prevent the guacamole from getting brown, directly cover and press the surface with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge.
Guacamole that looks brown doesn’t look appetizing. But, browning doesn’t always indicate that it has gone off. Try to scrape off the brown surface and check the underneath. It should be fine to eat as long as it doesn’t smell sour, taste off, or look moldy.
Yes, you can simply cut an avocado in half, remove the seed, and peel it. Brush the halves with lemon juice to prevent avocados from turning brown. Wrap them in plastic wrap and make no room for oxygen. Pack wrapped avocados in a freezer bag, press the excess air, seal tightly, and freeze. Use thawed avocados for guacamole or sauces.
You can turn avocados into millions of yummy recipes. Use them up in salad, guacamole, burrito, taco, toast, California rolls, serve with your steak and meat dishes, blend into healthy smoothies, add to yogurt. Freezing avocados is also an option if you want to save some for later.
Summary
Guacamole is a delicious and nutritious condiment that goes with many dishes. For a quick ready-to-eat guacamole, make it in larger quantities and freeze for later up to 3 to 4 months.
Now that you know how to preserve and freeze guacamole, you can get your party-ready guacamole in advance and have more time to enjoy on the big day!
*image by AndreySt/depositphotos
