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    Home > Meal Type > Party Snacks

    Stay Green Prepare Ahead Guacamole

    Updated: Feb 11th 2019 • Published: Apr 23rd 2018 • 32 Comments

    Jump to Recipe SaveSaved!
    Prepare Ahead Stay Green Guacamole | Rich and creamy, with a nice bight punch of lime and the subtle hint of jalapeño and onion. With my top tips you can make this up to 3 days before you need it! This Prepare Ahead Stay Green Guacamole really does stay green! Recipe by Sprinkles and Sprouts | Delicious Food for Easy Entertaining #dip #avocadorecipe #cincodemayo #tacotuesday #guacamolerecipe

    This prepare ahead Guacamole is sure to impress. It is rich and creamy, with a nice bright punch of lime and the subtle hint of jalapeño and onion. Serve it with chips for your next game day, stuff it into tacos on Taco Tuesday or add it to the table this Cinco De Mayo. PLUS!!!! With my top tips you can make this up to 3 days before you need it! 3 days and no gross brown guacamole. This Prepare Ahead Guacamole really does stay green! 

    Orange bowl filled with a very green guacamole, on a bright blue table.

    Wait what?? Prepare Ahead Guacamole??? How do you stop Guacamole turning brown?

    That is right! This method for prepare ahead Guacamole, ensures your dip stays bright green for up to 3 days.

    So why does Guacamole turn brown?

    Guacamole turns brown because the flesh of the avocado reacts with the oxygen in the air (a process called oxidation).

    This is why most recipes say to prepare and eat your Guacamole within 20 minutes.

    There are various hacks out there for trying to keep your Guacamole green, but I have found they aren't that reliable!

    So I came up with my own.

    Blue table with the orange bowl of super green guacamole and pico de gallo in the background.

    Tricks to keeping your Guacamole Green

    The first thing I do (or don't do!) is I don't add tomatoes to my Guacamole. Think about your school days. Red plus green makes brown. So by adding tomatoes to your Guacamole you are already muddying the glorious green colour! So this Guacamole is tomato free. And I think even more delicious for it!

    The second tip is to use Shepard Avocados. They tend to have a much brighter green flesh and they also have the added advantage that they don't oxidise as quickly. In fact in any dish where I know my avocado is going to sit for some time, I use shepard avocados. BUT shepard avocados aren't always available and have a small season. So if all you can find is the more common Hass avocado the next tip will still ensure you can keep your green guacamole over 3 days!

    My last tip is pretty cool!

    Once you have made your Guacamole, place it in a tupperware/bowl, smooth the top best you can and then pour over a layer of lukewarm water. I aim for about ½ inch (1cm) of water over the top of the avocado. The key is to ensure there is no avocado exposed to the air. This stops the guacamole from oxidising. After this you can add a lid and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

    When you are ready to eat, remove the lid, carefully pour away the water and then give your guacamole a quick stir. Your guac will be as good as the moment you made it.

    This trick for keeping guacamole green is perfect for people who meal prep!!! Divide your guacamole up into 3 small pots, cover each with water and store in the fridge. Each morning, grab a pot and you are good to go at lunchtime. (just make sure you have a watertight lid on your pot....OTHERWISE Your bag will get wet)

    Someone scoop this stay green guacamole up with a blue corn chip.

    Enjoy x


    For more dips for Cinco De Mayo or #TacoTuesday check out my vegan and GF Black Bean Dip and this classic pico de gallo.

    And for the perfect soft tortilla to spread with your make ahead guacamole check out my homemade soft flour tortillas.


    Why not pin this recipe for this Prepare Ahead Guacamole for later. Pin it here

    Prepare Ahead Stay Green Guacamole | Rich and creamy, with a nice bight punch of lime and the subtle hint of jalapeño and onion. With my top tips you can make this up to 3 days before you need it! This Prepare Ahead Stay Green Guacamole really does stay green! Recipe by Sprinkles and Sprouts | Delicious Food for Easy Entertaining #dip #avocadorecipe #cincodemayo #tacotuesday #guacamolerecipe
    Print Recipe
    4.74 from 15 votes

    Stay Green Prepare Ahead Guacamole

    This prepare ahead super green Guacamole is sure to impress. It is rich and creamy, with a nice bright punch of lime and the subtle hint of jalapeño and onion. PLUS!!!! With my top tips you can make this up to 3 days before you need it! 3 days and no gross brown guacamole. This Prepare Ahead Guacamole really does stay green!
    Prep Time5 mins
    Total Time5 mins
    Course: Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 56kcal
    Author: Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
    For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
    Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)
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    Ingredients

    • 1 lime to yield 2 tablespoon of juice
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ fresh green chili
    • 1 scallion white and green parts
    • 2 ripe avocados (See notes)
    • 2-4 tablespoon lukewarm water

    Instructions

    • Cut the lime in half and use a fork or a reamer to juice it into a small jug. (you want about 2 tablespoons of juice)
    • Dissolve the salt in the lime juice and set aside.
    • Finely chop the green chilli and the scallion.
    • Cut the avocados in half and remove the pit. Use a small spoon to scoop out the avocado flesh.
    • Mix everything together until you have a nubbly lumpy mixture.

    TO STORE

    • Place the guacamole into a plastic container and use a spoon to smooth the top.
    • Pour over enough lukewarm water to cover the top of the guacamole by ½ inch. Ensure no part of the guacamole is poking out of the water.
    • Seal the pot and store in the fridge for 3 days.
    • When you are ready to eat, carefully pour away the water and give the guacamole a quick stir.
    • Taste your guacamole and add more lime juice and salt if needed.

    Notes

    If you can find them shepard avocados are the most perfect avocado for this guacamole! They are bright bright green and resist oxidation. But if they are unavailable then Hass avocados will work just as well here.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 56kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Fat: 4g | Sodium: 105mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 2g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 5.4mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sprinklesandsprouts or tag #sprinklesandsprouts
     

     
    Close up on the nubbly texture of this gorgeous prepare ahead guacamole.

    Prepare Ahead Guacamole Anecdote
    (aka my recipe ramble for those who love the waffle)

    It is the school holidays, I am sat at the park with a spoon and a pot of guacamole. I am happy!

    I don't have chips, I don't have vegetables batons, I have a spoon and a smile!

    Avocados are super healthy! They are good for my skin, good for my hair, good for my nails! So really I am sat here with my own little pot of glorious green power food!

    Plus being healthy now, means I can have a bottle of wine later, because  let's face it...it is the second week of the school holidays and I have spent all day at the Apple fun park in Donnybrook! I deserve it


    If you love food why not subscribe to my newsletter, I will drop you an email every now and then, just to say hi and send you a couple of recipes think you might love, like this prepare ahead guacamole.
    It isn't everyday! I am not that organised. Usually it is once a week (ish). And as a thank you I will send you my soup cookbook FREE. Full of my fav soups!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rosie says

      June 11, 2020 at 7:31 pm

      Dumb question, but does the container have to be plastic ???

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        June 22, 2020 at 5:18 am

        No such thing as a dumb question 🙂
        Plastic or glass would work, but avoid metal containers.
        Hope that helps
        Cx

        Reply
    2. Anne|Craving Something Healthy says

      June 24, 2018 at 2:02 pm

      I think I've tried every trick out there to keep guac green - except for this one! I've heard about topping it with water, and glad to know it works. I will definitely try it next time 🙂

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        July 27, 2018 at 12:14 pm

        It is a game changer this one 😀

        Reply
    3. Danielle says

      April 26, 2018 at 2:29 am

      5 stars
      What a neat tip about the water! I'm going to have to try that sometime!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 26, 2018 at 4:22 pm

        It really is a great trick 😀

        Reply
    4. Marjory says

      April 26, 2018 at 12:14 am

      5 stars
      These are awesome tips for perfect guacamole every time. Thank you!!!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 26, 2018 at 4:22 pm

        You are so welcome 🙂

        Reply
    5. April says

      April 25, 2018 at 11:10 pm

      5 stars
      Best tip ever!!!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 26, 2018 at 4:23 pm

        Thank you April, isn't is amazing how well it works!

        Reply
    6. Calleigh K says

      April 25, 2018 at 11:02 pm

      Love the tips on keeping the guac green and just like you, I dont add tomatoes on my guac as well because they easily get soggy.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 26, 2018 at 4:23 pm

        YEAH for guac without tomatoes 😀

        Reply
    7. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      April 25, 2018 at 11:30 am

      5 stars
      What great tips to store the guacamole. That sure would come very handy for me. I have never seen the Shepherd Avocado. I will keep an eye open for that. Between, love my tupperwares and they are just so good in storing food.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 26, 2018 at 4:24 pm

        If you can find them they are a lovely variety, such a bright green colour. But the water trick will work with hats avocados too 😀

        Reply
    8. April says

      April 25, 2018 at 10:39 am

      5 stars
      Wow I love all your tips. I used to get so annoyed when my guac turned brown. Thanks for this post. Now I will never ever ever have ugly green quac again! 🙂

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 26, 2018 at 4:24 pm

        It is always so upsetting when you go to the fridge and it looks so gross and brown. Glad you found it useful 😀

        Reply
    9. Michelle says

      April 25, 2018 at 7:02 am

      Wow, I have never heard about this tip before and it is amazing! I always have problems with my haas variety getting oxidized, I will definitely try your method.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 26, 2018 at 4:25 pm

        I hope you do.
        It is such a great and cheap trick 😀

        Reply
    10. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says

      April 25, 2018 at 4:08 am

      5 stars
      I loved reading about your tips. Some I knew but the one that surprised me the most was the water. I've never put tomatoes in my guacamole- in fact I've never seen it done. Another tip I liked was using lime instead of lemon. In this it would give it more flavor. Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 25, 2018 at 10:30 am

        So happy others don't put tomato in their guac!!! I have seen it done so often and I don't like it 😉

        The water is such a great trick. And because the guacamole is quite dense the water just sits on top!

        Reply
    11. Catherine C says

      April 25, 2018 at 2:40 am

      First of all, I love these tips and will definitely be trying them next time! I hate waiting and waiting for the avocados to ripen and then only being able to keep them a day once I've cut them! Great tips and I'm so excited to try. Also, this guacamole sounds and looks fabulous! I could eat the whole bowl!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 26, 2018 at 4:26 pm

        Hehe I am definitely a guacamole hogger. I always move it closer to me at the table 😉 so a whole bowl sounds perfect 😀
        Give the water trick a go, it is so simple but so effective.

        Reply
    12. Wajeeha says

      April 24, 2018 at 7:31 pm

      5 stars
      Love all your tips to keep guacamole green...now I'll see if I can find shepard avocadas at the supermarket! Thanks a ton 🙂

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 25, 2018 at 10:31 am

        Hope you find them 😀
        Although the tips will work for Hass avocados too.

        Reply
    13. Karyl Henry says

      April 24, 2018 at 7:19 pm

      I've never heard of the water method! I'm going to have to give this a try, because I hate when the guac turns brown. I know it technically tastes the same, but I always feel like it doesn't once it turns color

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 26, 2018 at 4:27 pm

        It is just so disappointing when it goes brown and looks so gross 🙁
        I love this trick for keeping it's colour 😀

        Reply
    14. Adriana Lopez Martin says

      April 24, 2018 at 11:46 am

      4 stars
      Nice tips thanks for sharing those with us! I have not heard before of shepard avocados as I use hass. Interesting how in the different parts of the world you can find different produce.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 24, 2018 at 3:47 pm

        You are welcome.
        Shepard avocados have a small season here, so this recipe will still work just as well with hass avocados 😀

        Reply
    15. Amanda Livesay says

      April 24, 2018 at 1:47 am

      5 stars
      Love these tips! I've never had good luck keeping guac green so I can't wait to try the water trick!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 24, 2018 at 3:44 pm

        It is so simple, but it really does work Amanda 😀

        Reply
    16. Dana DeVolk says

      April 24, 2018 at 1:13 am

      5 stars
      Genius! Not only is this recipe delicious but your tips worked- thanks so much!!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 24, 2018 at 3:44 pm

        YEAH So happy you gave it a go 😀

        Reply

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