Editing Guacamole (section)

== Ingredients and preparation ==
Guacamole is traditionally made by mashing peeled, ripe [[avocado]]s and [[salt]] with a ''[[molcajete|molcajete y tejolote]]'' (mortar and pestle).<ref>{{cite web |title=The best guacamole recipe |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/best-guacamole-recipe-2017-5 |website=Business Insider |access-date=21 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Eats |first1=Serious |title=The Best Guacamole (and the Science of Avocados) {{!}} The Food Lab |url=https://www.seriouseats.com/2012/01/the-food-lab-the-best-guacamole-avocados-science-browning-ripening.html |website=www.seriouseats.com |access-date=21 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Recipes often call for [[lime juice]], [[cilantro]], [[Onion|onions]], and [[jalapeño]]s. Some non-traditional recipes may call for [[sour cream]], [[tomatoes]], [[basil]], or [[peas]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015047-green-pea-guacamole?smid=tw-nytimes |title=Green Pea Guacamole |website=The New York Times |access-date=October 16, 2016}}</ref>

Due to the presence of [[polyphenol oxidase]] in the cells of avocado, exposure to oxygen in the air causes an [[enzymatic reaction]] and develops [[melanoidin]] pigment, turning the sauce brown.<ref name=hartel1>Hartel, 2009, p. 43</ref> This result is generally considered unappetizing, and there are several methods (some anecdotal) that are used to counter this effect, such as storing the guacamole in an air-tight container or wrapping tightly in plastic to limit the surface area exposed to the air.<ref name="avocadocentral.com">{{Cite web |url=https://www.avocadocentral.com/avocado-recipes/avocado-party-tips-decor/national-guacamole-day-recipes-entertaining |title=National Guacamole Day :: Fresh Avocado |website=avocadocentral.com |access-date=September 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517130417/https://www.avocadocentral.com/avocado-recipes/avocado-party-tips-decor/national-guacamole-day-recipes-entertaining |archive-date=May 17, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>