How do I keep guacamole from turning brown?

Press plastic wrap right onto the surface and refrigerate; the lime juice also helps.

Up to 2 hours ahead, covered tightly.

Guacamole

Chunky, fresh guacamole of ripe avocados mashed with lime juice, onion, jalapeño, cilantro and salt, with a little tomato. Ready in 10 minutes; serves 6.

Naturally gluten-free Vegan Vegetarian Dairy-free Keto Low-carb PaleoNo added sugar

Allergens: none of the major food allergens in the ingredients as written. Check package labels, which can change.

Prep 10 min
Total 10 min
Yield About 2 1/2 cups
Heat 🌶🌶 Medium
Level Easy

Updated November 4, 2026

Chunky guacamole in a stone bowl with tortilla chips, halved avocados and lime

Good guacamole needs only ripe avocados and a few bright ingredients. Mash the avocados with a fork so the guacamole stays chunky, and season it boldly with lime and salt.

Serve it with chips, or alongside fajitas, carne asada and tacos.

Instructions

Mash. Halve the avocados, remove the pits and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Add the lime juice and salt and mash with a fork, leaving it chunky.
Mix. Fold in the onion, jalapeño, cilantro and tomato.
Season and serve. Taste and add more lime or salt. Serve right away with tortilla chips.

Nutrition per 1/4 cup (estimated)

80Calories

6 gCarbohydrates

4 gFiber

2 gNet carbs

1 gProtein

7 gFat

Estimated per 1/4 cup (the recipe makes about 2 1/2 cups), using USDA FoodData Central values for each ingredient. Net carbs are carbohydrates minus fiber. Optional ingredients, garnishes and anything served on the side are not included, and marinades are counted at about a third because most is discarded. Brands and portion sizes change the numbers.

Keto Low-carb Gluten-free Vegetarian Vegan Dairy-free Paleo-friendlyNo added sugar

Tips

A ripe avocado yields to gentle pressure but is not mushy.
To store, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to keep it from browning.

Storage and leftovers

Best made just before serving. To store, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface and refrigerate up to 1 day; scrape off any brown top layer and stir.

Questions about this recipe

How do I keep guacamole from turning brown?: Press plastic wrap right onto the surface and refrigerate; the lime juice also helps.
Can I make it ahead?: Up to 2 hours ahead, covered tightly.

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