Do you find it funny to hear warm guacamole? Don’t be surprised because you’re not alone. We all enjoy our guacamole cold, and most of us might never contemplate having it warm in a million years.
However, most people nowadays prefer having their guacamole warm. And shockingly, their reaction has always been a positive one.
Even so, sometimes warming guacamole can be obligatory. You have some leftover guacamoles from your last meal, and you’re wondering whether they can be microwaved.
So, can you microwave guacamole?
Yes, you can warm guacamole in the microwave, even when you’ve already mixed it with your meal. The avocado won’t turn brown upon heating in the microwave, only that its texture might become tenderer, watery, or its taste might slightly change. But you’ll hardly notice this if the guacamole comprises other ingredients.
In this article, we’ll enlighten you to have a clear understanding of what guacamole really is and whether it’s okay to microwave it. We’ll also guide you on how to microwave guacamole and even guide you on selecting the best avocado for your meals. In the end, you’ll be able to decide whether you like your guacamole warm or cold and what you should do to ensure it retains its taste.
Let’s first look at what exactly is guacamole?
Guacamoles can be found widely and hugely, and the reasons are worthwhile.
Guacamoles are tasty and pretty effortless to make, even for people who don’t fancy cooking, and it goes well with almost everything.
And funny enough, you’ll find some individuals who might not know what guacamole comprises.
Most guacamoles only contain four ingredients which are: a ripe and soft avocado, onion, salt, and fresh lemon juice. You can decide to add garlic, cilantro, jalapeno, and tomatoes though they are all voluntary like any other ingredients.
Can You Heat Up Avocado In The Microwave?
It takes time and patience for an avocado to ripen fully. Most people have tried to use the microwave to ripen avocados or quicken the ripening process.
It’s not advisable to microwave an avocado to ripen it. Microwaving an avocado won’t ripen it but will only soften the flesh, making it appear ripe. Undoubtedly, after microwaving the avocado, it won’t be ripe; neither will it have the natural buttery, creamy and nutty taste.
Meanwhile, if you intend to make guacamole, cut the avocados into two before microwaving so their texture can soften faster. Start by wrapping the avocado halves using a wax paper or a paper towel and microwave for 30-second breaks until the avocado becomes soft.
However, if you’re considering eating avocado with bread toast or mixed with salad, it is best to let it ripen naturally in a paper bag.
How To Microwave Guacamole
Though there are different heating methods, microwaving beats them all when it entails reheating guacamole.
One outstanding feature about reheating guacamole in the microwave is that it is much faster.
If you’re using the microwave to reheat guacamole, it generally takes approximately 30 seconds for the guacamole to be hot and suitable for consumption.
It’s factual that heating guacamole using the stovetop or oven takes time. And the more time it takes to heat guacamole, the more its taste and quality will be affected.
Moreover, microwaving avocado helps eliminate any bacteria present, ensuring it’s safe for consumption. Here are the steps you should follow when heating guacamole in the microwave:
Step 1: Place Guacamole in a Microwave-safe Container
Gently place your guacamole on a microwave-safe plate. Note that you should always use a microwave-safe container when heating food in the microwave. The best materials for microwaving are those made from ceramic and glass.
Step 2: Microwave for 30 Seconds
Nuke your avocado mixture for 30 seconds on low to medium heat. If you’re heating unaccompanied guacamole, use low power. If you’re heating guacamole accompanied with other nourishments, use medium heat.
If you’re using frozen guacamole, start by defrosting it fast in the microwave, or toss it in the refrigerator to thaw before heating it.
Step 3: Continue Microwaving until the Guacamole is Heated
If your guacamole is not perfectly heated, keep heating it for 15-second pauses until it reaches the right temperature. After it’s carefully heated, carefully remove it from the microwave.
Selecting the Best Avocado
Perhaps you’re poor in picking good avocados in the food store and can’t tell which ones are brown on the inside or which ones are ripe.
Just jerk out the stem and glimpse at the inner flesh. If it appears brown, don’t buy it, but if the flesh is light green, that avocado is suitable for making guacamole.
Pick Out Two
If you want to ensure that you’ll have enough avocados to make guacamole, buy one extra piece. It’s common to find some sections of avocado are spoiled, hence why you should have extra avocado to compensate for the bad parts.
Ripening Avocado
There are several ways to ripen avocados. And as seen above, microwaving is among the ways you can use to ripen avocados.
You can put a banana and the avocado together in a brown paper bag if you have enough time. It’s a good way of making the avocados ripen fast, and you can use it whenever you want.
Too Ripe
Alternatively, if your avocados are extra ripe before you’re ready to use them in preparing guacamole, it’s best to put them in the refrigerator.
Refrigeration slows down the ripening process and will retain your avocado’s ripeness for much longer.
Is It Safe to Eat Reheated Guacamole?
Basically, reheating guacamole cannot cause health problems.
However, to ensure that the guacamole is safe for consumption, there are three factors that you shouldn’t ignore: how long was it left in the open, where was it stored, and which ingredients were used in preparing the guacamole?
First, before heating guacamole, check to ensure it’s fresh and not spoilt. If you notice any discoloration, mold, or sliminess in your guacamole, it’s best to throw it away and start fresh.
Typically, guacamole shouldn’t raise any alarm, provided it has been in the fridge for less than three to four days. The only thing that might happen is that the guacamole might start turning brown due to oxidation.
Consuming brown avocado is not dangerous, only that it won’t be as mouthwatering as the green one. And possibly, it might start having a bitter taste, though still safe to consume.
Another factor to ruminate is the duration the guacamole has been out of the fridge. Note that the longer it stays out in the open, the more likely it will form dangerous bacteria. It is good to eat your guacamole immediately after preparing it to stop bacterial formation. If you want to keep it for leftovers, it’s recommendable to refrigerate it not more than two hours after preparation.
Finally, note that, like most foods, only reheat guacamole once. The reason is that warming leftovers repeatedly makes food more susceptible to bacteria and food poisoning.
Things to Know Before Microwaving Guacamole
It is safe to microwave foods that have guacamole. You can set the correct power and time it will take for your food to thoroughly reheat without overheating it, subject to the ingredients the dish contains.
Empirically, heating guacamole will make it softer and creamier and destroy all the dangerous bacteria that might cause a stomachache or food poisoning.
Here are some additional tips worth knowing before heating guacamole:
- Only reheat guacamole once and throw any that has been heated more than twice.
- Always check if your guacamole is spoilt before warming it. If your guacamole happens to be slimy, appears moldy, or is emitting a stingy smell, discard it and don’t microwave it.
- It’s advisable to always warm your guacamole using a microwavable dish or plate. Using a container that is not microwave-friendly can be dangerous.
- If you’re using the microwave to reheat guacamole, microwave for 10-second pauses and mix to ensure the heat is evenly distributed.
- Use low power setting when microwaving guacamole only and medium power when heating other foods mixed with guacamole.
- Pour some lime or lemon extract on the flesh of the guacamole to minimize black marks resulting from oxidation.
- Keep guacamole in a closed container in the refrigerator for a maximum of three days. You can decide to tightly wrap the container with a plastic wrapper to prevent it from contacting the air directly, which might cause oxidation.
Conclusion
A bite of guacamole can make your food taste differently, particularly if it has been slightly microwaved. However, check the temperature and time mode since if you overcook your guacamole, it will discharge moisture and make your food moist and saturated.
Guacamole preserves moisture and flavor even after heating in the microwave. So that’s why it is best to warm it in the microwave. However, it is advisable to reheat it in short intervals, then mix and continue heating it again to guarantee it is evenly heated.
Also, remember that you should only reheat left guacamole once to be safe for consumption. Moreover, note that reheating food beyond two times will make it a good place where dangerous microorganisms can recreate and cause health issues.
Ultimately, you shouldn’t fear reheating your leftover meals comprising guacamole. Try and reheat it in the microwave, and you’ll be amused at how tasty it will turn.
