When the weather's warm and the margaritas are flowing, there's nothing better than a plateful of chips and guac. This creamy avocado mashup is perfect for any occasion: , , and obviously, Cinco de Mayo.

First things first: You need perfectly ripe avocados. To test, give the a gentle squeeze — it should have some give but shouldn't feel mushy. If you're still unsure, peel back the small stem at the top of the avocado. If it peels off easily and is green underneath, then the avocado is ideal for guac. If it's brown below the stem, the fruit is past its prime, and if the stem doesn't peel away at all, then it isn't ripe enough to eat.

Storing can be tricky. Sure, you can buy fancy gadgets () but we actually recommend tightly pressing plastic wrap onto your dip to keep it fresh. Sealed guacamole lasts 1-2 days in the refrigerator.