Home
Food Hacks

A Layer of Water Stops Guacamole from Browning

Aug 29, 2013 09:57 PM
May 4, 2015 09:26 PM
635586541847489007.jpg

Guacamole is one of those things that tastes far better than it looks. To someone who isn't a huge fan of avocados, guacamole's texture can appear slimy, and on top of that, its chunky green appearance brings up visions of Nickelodeon-style slime.

What's even worse is the browning that occurs in just a few minutes of being exposed to air, and it's even worse if there's salt in it.

I love guacamole, but that brown is enough to turn off even the most enthusiastic connoisseur. Few things are more disappointing than watching your creation go from delectable to disgusting right before your very eyes. Even if you're just at Chipotle's and order a side of guac (theirs has salt in it), who wants to eat browned food?

There are many purported solutions, such as adding more lime juice or storing guac with the pit of the avocado. Sometimes these solutions do help reduce or slow the browning, but they usually don't prevent it altogether.

The Best Way to Keep Your Guac Green

But finally, Faith Durand, the executive editor of The Kitchn, has figured out the best way to keep guacamole fresh and green, and it's the simplest one yet—just add a little water.

Topping your guac with about a half-inch of water before it goes in the fridge creates a perfect barrier that keeps out oxygen, which is the culprit for the color change. The water won't soak in, so when you're ready to eat your guacamole, just pour it off and give it a good stir. It'll look and taste just like it did when you made (or bought) it.

You can find more details in Faith's post, and be sure to check out some of our other articles for more tips on browning prevention and keeping food fresh.

Cover image via Faith Durand/The Kitchn

Comments

No Comments Exist

Be the first, drop a comment!