4-Ingredient Guacamole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What do restaurants put in guacamole to keep it from turning brown? ›

Guacamole enthusiasts have devised all kinds of tips and tricks for how to keep avocados from turning brown and many have trickled down to guacamole storage: Leaving the pit in, pressing plastic wrap onto the surface, and adding citrus juice are popular options, but there are plenty of eclectic anti-browning methods ...

DOES LEMON JUICE KEEP GUACAMOLE FROM TURNING BROWN? Yes! The lemon forms a barrier between the outside air and the guacamole to make sure the dip stays its greenest. Seal it in a container or with plastic wrap and refrigerate it.

I know the traditional way uses lime, but I personally prefer guacamole with lemon! I like the flavor better with lemon juice, but lime works too. If you're out of fresh lemons or limes, try using bottled lime or lemon juice. Although, freshly squeezed juice is definitely the best!

Add tomatoes to your guac.

In my opinion, all guacamole should include tomato for texture and flavor. Regular tomatoes tend to be too watery, so go for grape tomatoes instead! You can quarter them and they'll stay nice and firm.

You see, lime is a very strong acidic flavor and it can easily overpower the delicate flavor of the avocado.

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.

To keep fresh overnight:

Adding a thin layer of water over top of your bowl of guacamole is a great barrier against oxygen, and since guacamole is heavy, the little liquid that may seep down into the bowl will not water it down. If you use this method, your guacamole should stay fresh for up to 3 days.

The most likely answer is an ingredient most people don't put in their homemade recipe but is in almost all store-bought versions. Citric acid is a commonly used flavoring and preservative in mass food production. This ingredient is used to prevent enzymatic browning and infuse a tart, bright flavor.

Here's all you need for traditional guacamole: ripe avocados, coriander/cilantro, red onions, jalapeño or Serrano chilli, lime and salt. Avoid unnecessary fillers such as sour cream and cream cheese. They only dilute flavour. Popular optional extras include: garlic, tomato, cumin powder.

Turns out, authentic guacamole doesn't have garlic. This is when Mark educated me on what goes into a proper guacamole (you should memorize this): avocados, lemon juice, red onion, a tomato, salt, pepper and two ingredients The Barefoot Contessa doesn't have in her recipe but which Mark considers essential....

How do I make sure my guacamole doesn't go bad? ›

Use a spoon to flatten the surface of the dip and remove any air bubbles. 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.

Store-bought guacamole often contains sour cream, added sugar, artificial flavors, preservatives, and a lot of sodium.

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.