Garlic is a typical food in our life. When we grow some garlic ourselves in our garden or buy it from the supermarket, how do we properly store the leftover garlic? We store garlic differently for peeled and unpeeled garlic. Likewise, storing a small amount of garlic is different from a large amount. We store garlic incorrectly can lead to rotting, bland flavor, etc. This is why it is crucial to learn about proper garlic storage. First, we need to know how long to store garlic under normal conditions.
How long does storing garlic last?
How to store fresh garlic
At room temperature
If you are storing whole, unpeeled heads of garlic, our preferred location is a ventilated, dry environment. For example, hang it on the wall of your pantry or place it indoors where the sun does not shine. Try to keep the garlic looking as intact as possible, as damaged bulbs can lead to a shorter life span of garlic. If you have a quantity of garlic to store, make up garlic discs and hang them in your storage. If you need to use packaging, try to choose woven bags or packaging that breathes well.
Refrigerate
You can also store garlic in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator, which is another way to store garlic. You can choose not to peel it if you put it in the fresh layer of the fridge. Please wait until the next time you consume it to peel it. However, it is important to note that garlic taken out of the refrigerator needs to be eaten as soon as possible. Because garlic will be dormant in the cold environment of the fridge, and if you take it outside, it will sprout quickly. So hard garlic is not suitable for storing in a room-temperature environment for too long. However, growing garlic does not mean that it is spoiled. On the contrary, I like to eat grown garlic, and I think the flavor of grown garlic is milder.
Refrigerator freezing
We can also peel the garlic, put it in a container and store garlic in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. This is because if you put it directly into the freezer without peeling it, it will be difficult to peel it for the next use. It is also important to note that although freezing will allow the garlic to be stored for a longer period of time. However, storing it for too long can lead to a loss of nutrients and a loss of flavor. So if you only want to store garlic for a few weeks or for a shorter period of time, it is advisable to store it at room temperature.
Olive Oil
Have you ever chopped way more garlic than you needed for a recipe? You can seal it in an airtight container after dipping it in a little olive oil. Finally, store it in the refrigerator for up to two days. It’s best not to keep it for too long because the fresh garlic in the oil may develop botulism.
Other best way to store garlic
Storing fresh garlic properly is essential to preserve its flavor and prolong its life. However, do you have other best way to store garlic besides using the refrigerator or olive oil?
Roasting
Garlic roasted in the oven is not simply a tasty method to eat garlic. It’s also a way to keep store garlic fresh in the fridge for a long time. Fresh garlic and roasted garlic are used in the same way. Simply brush a baking sheet with olive oil and roast the garlic bulb for around 45 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
Cut the tops off the bulbs and cloves once they’ve been cooked, and squeeze the soft garlic into an airtight freezer container. Roasted garlic can be kept refrigerated for up to a week or frozen permanently. Store garlic that has been roasted in oil will not freeze entirely, making it very easy to use as needed.
Pickling
To pickle garlic and keep it in the fridge, follow the same steps for any other vegetable. A jar, salt, vinegar, and the vegetables you want to pickle are all needed.
Pickling store garlic takes more effort, but it can extend its life by several months.
Please keep in mind that pickling garlic reduces its flavor. It is, however, a fantastic addition to salads, stir-fries, and hummus, among other foods.
Of course you can also make it into a Chinese delicacy, La Ba Garlic, by simply placing the peeled garlic in a container and pouring vinegar over it. The vinegar submerges the garlic and seals with a lid. In a month you will have the traditional Chinese delicacy, La Ba Garlic.
Dehydrating
Dehydrating is another simple way to store garlic.
Simply peel the garlic cloves and thinly slice them to dehydrate them.
The best method is to use a food dehydrator. Place the store garlic slices on a baking sheet if you don’t have one. After that, bake for 30-40 minutes at 115°F (45°C).
Store the garlic in an airtight container at room temperature for several months once it has become crisp.
You may also add the dehydrated garlic pieces to the oil to make a garlic-flavored oil that can be used to flavor salads and a variety of other foods.
If you manufacture garlic-flavored oil, make sure to keep it refrigerated for up to 3-5 weeks.