The age-old question, can you freeze guacamole, is a question best answered by the science of personal experimentation. In the end, it comes down to what ingredients have been used.
You can freeze guacamole, however, it can lose some of its distinctive freshness, texture, and flavor in the process. Freezing guacamole works best if it doesn’t include tomatoes or onions since the water in these ingredients will affect the quality when the dip is thawed.
The debate on whether or not to freeze guacamole is ongoing, but we believe in positivity. Below are some tips on the best ways to freeze and use guacamole as well as the best ways to dethaw it. I’ve also included some other fun alternatives if you decide freezing isn’t for you!
Best Ways To Freeze Guacamole
The number one rule of freezing guacamole is to ensure it only has simple ingredients that don’t include much water. An example of this would be a guac with lime, salt, pepper, and nothing else.
If your guacamole has only simple ingredients, place the dip in a sealable, airtight plastic bag, put it in the freezer, and plan to use it within the next three months. When ready to eat it, take it out of the freezer and place it in the refrigerator to thaw for about 24 hours.
If your guacamole is fancier than the basics, it’s probably best if you keep it in the fridge and plan on using it for something before it turns brown. If you are determined to freeze it, you absolutely can, but keep in mind that guacamole with many ingredients is likely to be watery and ultimately sub-par when thawed.
Best Ways To Use Thawed Guacamole
If you’re a guacamole connoisseur or a big fan of flavor in general, it’s probably wise to avoid using frozen and thawed guacamole the centerpiece of an evening meal or afternoon snack. In other words, unthawed guacamole isn’t the best chip dip.
Instead, add the guac to something already flavorful, such as a taco, quesadilla, or sandwich. If you don’t expect thawed guacamole to be the same as your fresh guacamole, this will save you the disappointment and allow you to enjoy it as-is.
Note: As a helpful suggestion from your friendly author, it’s also possible to add more of your beloved ingredients – such as lime juice, onions, cilantro, and tomatoes – into your thawed avocado sauce to make it more like the flavorful guac you know and love. However, this method doesn’t seem to be very internet-tested, so don’t expect this to be the magical solution to the guac-freeze problem.
Other Things To Do With Leftover Guacamole
If the freezing and unfreezing idea doesn’t seem to suit your needs, don’t despair. There are a few things you can do with leftover guacamole days after refrigeration. Or, if you did freeze your guac and the three-month deadline is looming close, feel free to try these options for your thawed guacamole as well.
Thankfully, guacamole is a forgiving substance in most cases, and experimentation is highly encouraged. Guacamole isn’t limited to garnishing Mexican dishes by any means, so add it to whatever suits your fancy! Here are some suggestions:
Guacamole as Bread Spread
Avocado toast was an internet sensation a few years back, and it’s understandable. Avocado’s creamy texture and nutritional benefits make it a perfect bread spread, and there’s no reason you can’t do this with guacamole, too.
In fact, why stop at one slice of bread? If you have the other ingredients needed for a BLT, go ahead and put guacamole alongside the bacon, tomato, and toasted bun. Or try mixing it with mayonnaise for a delicious sandwich spread. Guacamole also goes well with turkey and tomato sandwiches, so try a few different things.
Guacamole Salad Topper
Another good option for leftover guac is to make it into a unique vinaigrette. With olive oil and more lime or lemon juice, your guacamole can be stored in a jar and used for various fresh salads. Adding hot spices to the dressing is also possible if you are unsure about the flavor.
Guacamole Soup
Hear me out on this one – it turns out that the fresh, clean feeling you get from eating guacamole on chips can quickly transfer to a smooth, green soup. Just put your refrigerated guacamole in a blender with water, milk, and lemon or lime juice to create a cold, wholesome soup. This recipe would likely make a good chip dip as well.
Guacamole Ice Cream
If your guac is simple (that is, made with avocado, lime juice, and maybe salt or some other spice), and you love ice cream, try the daring guacamole ice cream recipe invented by the Tabasco brand:
Blend 2 ½ cups of simple guacamole (for the love of beautiful things, do NOT use guac with onions or tomatoes) with a can of sweetened condensed milk in a blender until smooth.
Then add 2 tablespoons of lime juice, 1 tablespoon of Tabasco Green Jalapeno Sauce, and stir in 12 ounces of thawed whipped cream.
Place the mixture in a baking tin and put it in the freezer.
After about twelve hours, the ice cream should be properly frozen.
Tabasco recommends sprinkling pistachio bits on top once you are ready to taste your creation. I imagine you could also use this strange ice cream as an unprecedented chip dip if it doesn’t work as a dessert (everything comes back to chips, does it not?). I wish you the best of luck in these endeavors.
This video will show you how to make fast, freezable guacamole at home.
Bottom Line
No one wants to waste good guacamole. You can freeze leftover guac to preserve it, but the best option to maintain quality is to refrigerate it and hope to use it within a week. Generally speaking, it’s best to avoid freezing guacamole if you don’t have to.
However, if you find yourself in a position where you must freeze your guac, make sure to plan its future use appropriately. As mentioned, it’ll never be the same as fresh guacamole, but that doesn’t mean it won’t mix well into other dishes.
