How Long Does Guacamole Last? Tips for Improving Its Shelf Life

You chose ripe avocados and made a delicious guacamole out of them, or maybe you found some beautiful guacamole in the supermarket. Now that you have this delicious dip, spread or topping, it’s time to wonder, “How long does guacamole last?” Whether you’re making it for your family to enjoy at home or it will be part of a party’s food offerings, it’s important for you to serve this snack fresh. Let’s talk about how long it lasts and steps you can take to make sure it’s fresh.

How Long Does Guacamole Last?

The answer depends on whether it’s homemade or store bought. Either way, you’ll want to keep it in the fridge to keep it fresh. How long can guacamole be refrigerated? If you’ve made homemade guacamole, you have one to three days to eat it. Store bought varieties last a bit longer than the homemade type. In the fridge, the guacamole lasts five to seven days. Does Wholly Guacamole need to be refrigerated? Yes, this and other store bought brands that come in a refrigerated supermarket section need to go back into the fridge at your home.

How Long Does Guacamole Last Unrefrigerated?

So you know how long you can keep your dip in the fridge. But what about when you take it out for your get-together? How long does guacamole last out of the fridge? You should only keep your guacamole out for two hours at maximum. At that point, put it in the fridge. The best bet might be to put out small portions and leave the rest in the fridge; refill the bowl as needed.

What if you have unopened store bought guacamole? If you left unopened guacamole out overnight, it’s not advisable to eat it. You buy the store bought type in a refrigerated section of the supermarket, and it is meant to stay refrigerated.

Is It OK to Eat Avocado That Has Turned Brown?

When you make guacamole, the avocado in it should be a nice green color. Is guacamole bad when it turns brown? Not necessarily. Guacamole turns dark green or brown due to oxidation from facing the air. You can simply take off this brown layer and eat the rest. Nonetheless, keep reading to learn how to properly store guacamole and potentially prevent this darkening for as long as possible.

How to Tell If Guacamole Is Bad

Does Wholly Guacamole go bad? Yes, any kind of store bought or homemade guacamole can go bad. You might think this has to do with the Wholly Guacamole use by date. Can you eat guacamole after expiration date? In actuality, the packaged types tend to include a date for how long they retain their top quality, so you can still eat them after this date. EatByDate says you can still enjoy unopened guacamole for one to two weeks past the printed date when it’s in the fridge. If it’s open, you could have it for one to two days.

Bad guacamole takes on a lot of the brown color or becomes gray. It could also have a layer of liquid or mold growth on top. Plus, you might notice a bad smell. What happens if you eat bad guacamole? You might wonder, “Can old guacamole make you sick?” Yes, you could have guacamole food poisoning symptoms from bacteria like salmonella on the guacamole. Effects of eating bad guacamole that leads to food poisoning could include an upset stomach all the way to organ failure and death, depending on the case.

How to Store Guacamole

If you’re wondering how to keep guacamole from turning brown in the fridge, the key is to keep it airtight. Put tight plastic wrap over the bowl or store it in a container with an airtight lid. Other tips for keeping guacamole green include adding lemon or lime juice to the top or pushing the avocado pit into the guacamole and then covering with the airtight plastic wrap.

Can you freeze store bought guacamole? If you won’t be eating the guacamole right away, you can freeze either the homemade or store bought varieties for six months. However, some brands might recommend a different time period. If you’re wondering how to freeze guacamole, put or keep it in an airtight container and then put that in the freezer. Now, let’s talk about how to unfreeze guacamole. Simply let the package sit in cold water to thaw.

Once you have found your favorite guacamole recipe, make sure you follow these tips to keep it fresh and healthy. You’ll never have to wonder “How long does guacamole last?” again!

About the Author

Sharon Chen

Sharon Chen is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and author of the Complete Sous Vide Cookbook. She believes food not only brings healing but also connection. As the creator of StreetSmart Kitchen, she aims to make meal prep easier than ever and help you find balance, ease, joy, and simplicity in the kitchen as you improve your well-being.