Garlic is a type of herb that can be stored for many months. It is a good alternative to more expensive herbs when cooking, and you can also get many health benefits from it.
There are different ways on how to store garlic, and if it’s directly from your garden or farm, I’m sure you want to keep it properly.
So, if you’re still searching for answers, stick with this post as I discuss the different ways you can preserve your garlic!
Why should you store your garlic right away?
Storing garlic properly will definitely extend its life, and it’s something you don’t want to miss. This is particularly a big deal if you grew and harvested your own garlic. You don’t want to put your efforts to waste just by mistakenly storing them.
How to store garlic?
There are different techniques on how to store garlic and extend its life. It includes the following.
1. Store it at room temperature.
The first thing you need to remember when storing garlic is that they hate high humidity. High humidity can cause them to rot or drain their natural taste quickly.
If you have a pantry that’s set to room temperature, then you can just store your garlic bulbs right as it is. Remove any dirt on them, such as dry soil, before leaving them in your pantry.
Likewise, don’t try to separate garlic cloves. Just let the whole garlic bulb intact. This way, you can store them properly.
You could use mesh bags to store them, and don’t forget that it would be better if they were in a dry and dark place. The temperature should range from 15 to 18 degrees Celcius.
2. Put it in the refrigerator.
Although it’s a bit ironic, you can also use the crisper drawer of your refrigerator to store garlic. But remember that cold garlic that came from the fridge will immediately sprout in just a few days. So if you’ll remove your garlic from the crisper drawer, make sure to use it as soon as possible.
Many people ask this question. “Can we still eat sprouted garlic?”
The answer is yes, you can. However, we do not recommend eating it because of its bitter taste. There is only one way to prevent this from happening. Leave your garlic in your fridge and get it if you’re ready to use it. That simple!
You can also store the following on your refrigerator.
- Leftover garlic
- Peeled garlic
- Chopped garlic
- Minced garlic
But make sure that you’ll use peeled, chopped, and minced garlic within a week.
3. Freeze it.
Aside from the crisper drawer on your refrigerator, you can also use the freezer to store garlic. But you need to prepare your garlic first because you can’t just put it there as it is.
Here are some things you need to do.
- Peel the garlic you want to freeze.
- Separate the cloves.
- Mince it.
- Add some water, or you can also use broth.
- Get your ice cube trays.
- Fill it with the garlic and water mixture, and then freeze it.
- Once frozen, put the garlic ice cubes in a sealed and airtight container.
- You can consume garlic ice cubes for only a month. If it goes beyond, its taste will deteriorate.
Note: Most people who did this technique admit that the taste of frozen garlic is totally different from that of fresh garlic. Fresh garlic is always ideal to consume since it can retain its taste without temperature alteration.
The more advanced way on how to store garlic
Aside from the basic tips for storing garlic, let’s level up a little more!
By level up, we mean we can store garlic while maintaining its rich flavor and extending its lifespan. These methods will satisfy you, especially if you don’t want to use a refrigerator to store garlic!
a. Roast
Roasting your garlic is an effective way to retain its natural taste and make it even tastier! You can just use your roasted garlic the way you use fresh garlic. So how do you do it?
- Grab a baking dish and spread it with olive oil.
- Put your garlic bulbs in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and let them sit there for 45 minutes.
- Once done, you need to remove the bulb tips. Just cut the end.
- Then put your roasted garlic in an airtight container.
- You might need to put it in a freezer.
Let your roasted garlic in your fridge for one week or until you need it. Don’t worry! Your garlic will not freeze and won’t lose its taste. Thanks to the oil in it.
b. Dehydrate
Dehydrating garlic might be new to you, but it’s so easy to do!
Here’s how to store garlic by dehydrating it.
- Peel your garlic cloves and cut them into thin slices.
- If you have a dehydrator, that will do, but if not, you just use an oven.
- Put the thin slices on a baking sheet and place them in the oven at 115 degrees Fahrenheit for 3o minutes.
- You’ll witness that the garlic gets crisp. At this time, you need to store it using an airtight container and place it at room temperature.
- You can store it for months!
You can use your dehydrated garlic on your salad as a dressing and a lot more dishes!
Some tips on how to store garlic
Although storing garlic might seem pretty easy, there are still some things you need to remember.
- Garlic loves cool, dry, and dark places, so if you can find that place, then skip the use of a fridge.
- Don’t wash your garlic before storing it. You’ll only ruin your garlic, and it will rot quickly.
- Garlic needs excellent air circulation, so if you’re storing it as a whole garlic head, then you need to put it in a mesh bag.
- Don’t mix raw garlic with oil. It isn’t ideal, and it will only put your garlic to waste. If you want to put it in oil, you need to cook or roast it first.
Takeaway
There are lots of ways how to store garlic. If it’s your first time harvesting garlic and looking for ways to preserve your harvest, then you can follow the ones we mentioned above.
But we always recommend leaving your garlic as it is. Just ensure that you’ll place it somewhere cool, dry, and dark. It might sound like a fridge, but it’s not. Room temperature will do since garlic hates humidity.
So there you have it! We hope you found this article helpful. Start storing garlic now!