guacamole sit out

How Long Can Guacamole Sit Out? – Complete Guide

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Guacamole is a favorite in just about every household, and there really is little that beats it as a dip!

Made from avocados and other fresh ingredients, guacamole is perishable, so you do need to be wary of how long it is left out.

How long can guacamole sit out?

Guacamole is a fresh food item, and this means that it should not be left out for longer than two hours. After two hours, the chance of bacteria growth increases, and there is a greater risk that the guacamole will no longer be safe to eat.

You would definitely not want any guacamole to go to waste, so keep reading to find out how long guacamole can sit out for, as well as some other storage tips!

Is It Okay to Leave Guacamole at Room Temperature?

Nobody wants to be running to the fridge to dip a tortilla chip into guacamole, which means that the guacamole you are enjoying will have to be left out at room temperature.

Leaving guacamole out at room temperature is absolutely fine, as long as you are aware of how long the guacamole has been sitting out for.

Make sure that you only keep the guacamole out for as long as you need it, and place it back in the fridge as soon as you are done.

Ideally, guacamole should not be left out at room temperature for longer than two hours. This is the general rule for most food items, as after two hours at room temperature, the risk of bacteria growth increases.

The food danger zone, which is room temperature, is between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. In this range, bacteria grow rapidly, and after two hours at this temperature, most food is considered unsafe to eat.

So while it is fine to leave guacamole out for a little while, as you enjoy the delicious dip, you need to make sure that it is not out for longer than two hours.

How Long Can Guacamole Stay in the Fridge?

The ideal place to store guacamole is in the fridge, and whenever you are not tucking into the guacamole, it should be chilling near the back of the fridge.

Stored properly in an airtight container, guacamole can be kept in the fridge for up to three days.

You can possibly keep it in the fridge for up to four days, but if there have been bacteria introduced to the guacamole, such as through dipping chips, then it most likely won’t last that long.

Guacamole keeps well in the fridge, but you do need to make sure that it is in an airtight container, so that it is not exposed to moisture, or that it does not absorb odors from other food items in the fridge. 

If the guacamole is left in an open container, then the top of the guacamole will dry out, and it won’t be all that delicious to eat anymore!

Can Sealed Guacamole Stay Out Overnight?

If you have bought a tub of guacamole from the store, and have forgotten to pack it away, then you might be concerned whether it is still safe to eat.

One would think that because the guacamole is sealed, it would be fine to be left out overnight without spoiling, but this isn’t necessarily the case.

Even sealed, the guacamole needs to be kept in the fridge to be kept fresh. Sealed guacamole that has been left out overnight has been exposed to the food danger zone for an extended period of time, and might not be safe to eat.

The guacamole might look and smell fine, but after being left out overnight, or even for a few hours, there is a greater risk that it has gone through increased bacteria growth, and it will no longer be safe to eat.

Is Brown Guacamole Okay to Eat?

You’ve opened your tub of guacamole to notice that it has a brown color to it, where it was once pale green. This probably does not look appealing at all, but it doesn’t always mean that the guacamole has gone bad.

Guacamole turns brown because avocado goes through a reaction when exposed to air, turning the flesh from a pale green to a brown color. This in no way means that the avocado is bad or spoiled, and usually, it is still fine to eat.

If the guacamole has been kept in the fridge, isn’t past its expiry date, and shows no other signs of spoiling, you can simply mix the brown parts back in with the rest of the guacamole (it will probably be the top layer), or scoop it away and eat the rest.

You can actually prevent avocado, and guacamole, from going bad, by storing it in an airtight container, covered with plastic wrap, or by adding some lemon juice to the mix.

How to Tell if Guacamole Has Gone Bad

It is definitely helpful to know the different signs to look for that guacamole has gone bad, so you know whether it is still safe to eat, or if you need to bin it.

These are the various signs that indicate that guacamole has gone bad:

Smell

Guacamole should have a fresh, slightly acidic smell to it, and there should be no sour or off odors to it at all.

If you open the tub of guacamole and are hit with a rotten, bad, or sour smell, then it is very likely that the guacamole has started to go off, and you should throw it away.

Color

Guacamole should be a pale green color, dotted with whatever other ingredients you have added in, such as onions or peppers. Sometimes, guacamole can go brown if it is exposed to air, but this shouldn’t be too drastic.

If you notice that the guacamole has started to turn gray, or if there are spots of mold on the surface, then it is no longer safe to eat, and it should be thrown away.

Texture

Guacamole can be smooth or chunky, depending on how you prefer it, but if the guacamole has a slimy layer, or dries out, then it has probably spoiled and is definitely not edible any longer.

Taste

Hopefully, you would have noticed other signs of spoiling before tasting bad guacamole, but if not, you would notice that the guacamole has a sour, rancid taste to it if it is off. Do not attempt to eat anymore, and discard the guacamole.

Even if the flavor is slightly off, it is best to play it safe.

Can You Freeze Guacamole?

Guacamole should not be left out at room temperature for longer than two hours, and it can be kept in the fridge for up to three days. If you do not think that you will use the guacamole within this time, then you can freeze it.

Guacamole is definitely better fresh than frozen, but it is a good way to preserve the guacamole for longer and prevent any from going to waste.

freeze guacamole

To freeze guacamole, you simply need to pop it into a resealable freezer bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. Label it with the date of freezing, and make sure to use it within three months.

Something to note is that creamier guacamole freezes better than chunky guacamole.  To defrost the guacamole, you should place it in the fridge overnight.

How Long Does Homemade Guacamole Last?

Homemade guacamole is delicious, and you would want to make the most of the guacamole you have made at home.

guacamole sit out

Homemade guacamole can be stored in the fridge, and it needs to be kept in an airtight container. To keep it fresher for longer, you can add a layer of lime juice to the top of the guacamole to prevent it from browning.

Stored this way, homemade guacamole can be kept in the fridge for up to three days.

How Long Can Guacamole Sit Out?

The perfect dip, you would want to have some guacamole out on the snack table when entertaining, or next to you at dinner time. However, the guacamole cannot sit out for too long.

Guacamole should not be left out at room temperature for longer than two hours. After two hours, there is an increased risk of bacteria growth and the risk of the guacamole spoiling increases.

Make sure to place guacamole in the fridge as soon as you are done with it, and in the fridge, sealed in an airtight container, it will stay fresh for up to three days.

Related Questions

Can You Eat Day-Old Guacamole?

Day-old guacamole will be fine to eat as long as it has been kept in the fridge, and it is not more than three days old. 

Is Avocado Okay to Eat if It Turns Brown?

If the avocado is still fresh, then it is fine to eat it if it turns brown, as this is just a reaction that the avocado flesh has when exposed to air.

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