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Garlic is considered to be an herb, but it is actually a strongly flavored bulb closely related to an onion. It is used in a variety of ways in cooking and sometimes for medicinal purposes. Fresh garlic bulbs can be found in your local grocery store or in your garden. Whether you buy it from the store or grow it yourself, you can make your garlic last longer by storing it correctly. The following guide will help you store your fresh garlic.
Things You Should Know
- Store garlic at room temperature in a dark area with good air circulation.
- Store garlic in the freezer whole and unpeeled or freeze the peeled cloves.
- Preserve the garlic by storing it in oil, wine, or vinegar.
Steps
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Store garlic at room temperature. Many people make the mistake of storing garlic in the refrigerator, but garlic actually does best at a cool room temperature of around 60 °F (16 °C).- Does garlic go in the fridge? Homegrown, new-season garlic will need to be refrigerated directly upon harvesting. Also called "young wet" garlic, these garlic bulbs are harvested in early summer and have a mild flavor. They do not need to be dried and can be refrigerated for up to a week. Typically, though, refrigerating garlic is a bad idea as it causes the bulb to deteriorate.
- If you have chopped or minced fresh garlic, you can store it in the refrigerator in a sealed container for a short period, but use it as soon as possible.
- Freezing is not recommended, because it changes the consistency and flavor of the garlic.
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Keep garlic in a location with good air circulation. Storing your garlic bulbs in a well-ventilated spot allows the garlic to "breathe" and will extend its shelf-life.
- Garlic bulbs can be kept in a mesh or wire basket, a small bowl with ventilation holes or even a paper bag.
- Do not store fresh garlic bulbs in plastic bags or sealed containers. This can cause mold and sprouting.
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Store fresh garlic bulbs in a dark, dry spot. Your kitchen cupboard or a shady corner of your kitchen countertop is perfect for this.
- Keep your garlic away from sunlight and moisture to avoid sprouting.
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Dry homegrown garlic bulbs before storing. Drying your homegrown garlic before storing allows the flavor to develop and become more concentrated. [1] X Research source
- Wash your recently harvested garlic bulb and allow it to dry in a dark, but moisture-free, place for about a week. You can hang garlic from its stalks to dry. Avoid shriveled garlic bulbs or those that are stored in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. [2] X Research source
- Pro tip: Purchase or harvest garlic that is fresh and firm. The garlic bulb should be firm with papery dry skin and have no sprouting. Soft bulbs indicate over-ripe garlic that will not store for very long.
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Freeze garlic. Although some people are opposed to freezing garlic, as it is said to change the texture and flavor, freezing can be a good option for those who use garlic infrequently or for people with leftover cloves that they don't want to go to waste. You can freeze garlic in one of two ways:
- You can freeze whole, unpeeled garlic cloves by wrapping them in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or popping them in a freezer bag, and placing in the freezer. You can then remove individual cloves as needed. [3] X Research source
- Alternatively, you can peel the garlic cloves , crush or chop them finely and place the garlic in a plastic freezer bag or wrap it in some plastic freezer wrap. If the garlic becomes stuck together when frozen, you can grate off as much of the frozen garlic as needed. [3] X Research source
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Store garlic in oil . There has been some controversy about storing garlic in oil, as keeping garlic-infused oil at room temperature has been associated with the growth of the bacteria clostridium botulinum which can cause a fatal illness known as botulism. However, if the garlic oil is stored in the freezer, the risk of it developing this bacteria are removed. [4] X Research source To safely store garlic in oil:
- You can peel individual garlic cloves and completely submerge them in oil in a glass jar or plastic container. Tightly seal the jar or container with a lid and place directly into the freezer. Use a spoon to scoop out the garlic as needed. [4] X Research source
- Alternatively, you can make a puree of garlic and olive oil by mixing one part peeled garlic cloves with two parts olive oil in a blender or food processor. Transfer the puree to a freezer-safe container with a tight-fitting lid and place in the freezer. This method is very convenient for cooks, as the oil prevents the puree from freezing so it can be scooped out and placed directly on a pan. [4] X Research source
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Store garlic in wine or vinegar. Peeled garlic cloves can be pickled in wine or vinegar and stored in the refrigerator for up to four months. You can use a dry red or white wine, or a white or white wine vinegar. To store garlic in this way, fill a glass jar with peeled garlic cloves, then pour in your chosen wine or vinegar to fill up the available space. Seal the jar tightly and place in the refrigerator. [4] X Research source
- To add extra flavor to your pickled garlic, you may add a tablespoon of salt (per cup of liquid) along with any dried herbs, such as red pepper flakes, oregano, rosemary or bay leaves. Shake the jar well to mix the contents. [4] X Research source
- Although the pickled garlic should last in the refrigerator for up to four months, you should discard the contents of the jar if you see any signs of mold forming on the surface of the liquid. Never store the pickled garlic at room temperature, as mold will form very quickly.
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Dry garlic. Another easy way to preserve your garlic is to dry it out. Dried garlic will condense, so a even a large amount of garlic will take up very little space in your pantry. When used in cooking, the dried garlic will absorb water and give great flavor to your dish. There are two ways to dry garlic, depending on whether you have a food dehydrator or not.
- You can dry garlic in a food dehydrator by peeling the cloves and cutting them in half lengthwise. You should only use plump, unbruised cloves for dehydrating. Place them on the tray of your dehydrator and follow the manufacturers instructions for best heat settings. The garlic is completely dried when it becomes crisp and brittle. [4] X Research source
- If you don not have a food dehydrator, you can use the same process, using the oven instead. Place the halved garlic cloves on a baking dish and bake at 140 °F (60 °C) for two hours. Then turn the heat down to 130 and continue to bake until the garlic is fully dried.
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Make garlic salt. You can use your dried garlic to make garlic salt, which is adds a great, subtle garlic flavor to dishes when cooking. To make the garlic salt, simply blend the dried garlic in a food processor until it forms a fine powder . Add in four parts of sea salt for every one part of garlic and process for minute or two to combine.
- Don't process the sea salt and garlic powder for any longer than two minutes or it will clump together.
- Store the garlic salt in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and keep in a cool, dark kitchen cupboard.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan you store garlic cloves in the fridge?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerGarlic cloves are best kept either in a cool, dry and dark place or preserved in oil or frozen. If they are stored in the refrigerator, they will deteriorate quickly and grow mold. If you have leftover garlic, mince the garlic, then store refrigerated in an airtight container.
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QuestionDo you need to refrigerate garlic cloves?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerOnly "new season" garlic should be refrigerated. Mature garlic cloves and bulbs need to be kept in a cool, dry and dark place. If they are refrigerated, they will grow mold quite quickly. More tips for correct storage can be found in the article above.
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QuestionDo you store garlic in the refrigerator?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerNo, don't store garlic in the refrigerator. Keep the garlic in a cool, dark and dry place, such as in a garlic keeper, or try one of the suggested preservation techniques explained in the steps above. If you store the bulbs in the refrigerator, they will deteriorate and go moldy.
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Tips
- Purchase or harvest garlic that is fresh and firm. This is important, as the fresher your garlic, the longer it will last. [5] X Research sourceThanks
- Ceramic bowls that have holes for air circulation and are made especially for garlic bulb storage are available at many kitchen goods stores.Thanks
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Warnings
- If storing garlic in olive oil, never leave the jar at room temperature as this can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria known as clostridium botulinum.Thanks
- Use garlic quickly once you have broken the bulb. The shelf life of your garlic is shortened significantly when you break up the bulb to remove the cloves. Unbroken garlic bulbs can be kept up to 8 weeks if stored properly. Cloves broken from the garlic bulb will keep from 3-to-10 days.Thanks
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References
- ↑ http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/how-to-plant-and-store-garlic3.htm
- ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a20707233/how-to-store-garlic/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/17237
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 http://www.vegkitchen.com/tips/preserving-garlic/
- ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a20707233/how-to-store-garlic/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To store fresh garlic, put it in something that's well-ventilated, like a wire basket or a bowl with holes in it. Then, find a dark, dry spot to put the garlic, like a kitchen cupboard. If you're looking for long-term storage, wrap the garlic in plastic wrap, toss it in a freezer bag, and then place it in the freezer.
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- "This entire article was helpful. I was about to break up all 4 of the cloves, I have to store them in a glass jar. I wasn't sure if I should, though, so I decided to check wikiHow I should really be storing my garlic. I'm very happy I did! Thanks, wikiHow!" ..." more
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"This entire article was helpful. I was about to break up all 4 of the cloves, I have to store them in a glass jar. I wasn't sure if I should, though, so I decided to check wikiHow I should really be storing my garlic. I'm very happy I did! Thanks, wikiHow!"
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"We grow quite a lot of garlic, several kinds! These tips were very helpful for what to do with last year's leftover crop. Soon it will be time to harvest again. I made pure in olive oil, and packed some with vinegar; what a handy way to store it, as we cook with lots of garlic every day. Thanks so much!"
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"It is time for Farmer's Markets throughout the city and fresh harvested garlic is everywhere. I would like to savor the summer flavors. Doing the preserving properly allows for favorite flavors to be enjoyed long past the season. Safety also prevents food borne illnesses."
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"For my fresh garlic, I got an old pair of panty hose, dropped one into it, tied a knot, then continued this until I had a full stocking. I then hung it in a cool place. For the rest of my garlic, I preserved it following this website's instructions."
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"I'm really trying to get into eating raw garlic each day for the health benefits, and I needed some information on storing my garlic. This article was very helpful in many ways. Thanks!"
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