How to Preserve Garlic: Best Methods & Storage Techniques

About 10 years ago, I found myself with an abundance of hard-neck garlic harvest and no possible way to use it all before it started sprouting. I love cooking with garlic but even so, I knew I needed to figure out how to keep garlic safely.

Fresh garlic adds a bold, savoury kick to countless dishes. Once this Allium starts to go bad, it will begin to sprout and turn bitter. That’s why it is really important to know how to preserve garlic to maximize its flavour and keep it fresh longer.

Read more to discover all the garlic preservation techniques.

How to extend garlic’s shelf life?

Preserving garlic means storing garlic in a way to extend the shelf life of garlic while maintaining its flavour and quality. Conserving garlic, also known as pickling garlic, is one of the easiest ways to extend the life of your garlic harvest.

Also read: How to Store Onions after being Cut?

How to Keep Garlic Fresh: Best Methods in Detail

Garlic is most popular ingredient of every kitchen, but if it is not handled properly it can sprout, dry out, or rot. Proper conserving can help to maintain its flavour and shelf life. The most effective practical methods for preserving garlic, with step-by-step instructions, are discussed below.

1. Storing Whole Bulbs at Ambient Temperatures

After successfully curing process, place the garlic bulbs in a dry, dark, cool area, where you can keep them in good condition for  1 to 2 months at ambient temperatures of 68 to 86 °F under low relative humidity say about 75%. However, under these conditions, bulbs may become soft, spongy and shrivelled due to moisture loss.

I keep my garlic in the basement for storage purposes, where its temperature is controlled by a small fan circulating air at low speed. While it’s hard to maintain ideal temperatures in modern-day homes at all, so we do the best we can.

2. Keeping Garlic Fresh by Freezing

Conserving garlic by freezing is another method to keep your harvest fresh for later use. Just place peeled or unpeeled cloves in a freezer bag. Squeeze out as much air from the bag and seal it. Garlic has a strong aroma, if it is not wrapped up properly, it will affect everything available in your freezer.

Important Considerations:

• Frozen garlic may have a soft texture, but the flavour remains constant as fresh garlic.
• Use a double bag or airtight containers to prevent the garlic odor from permeating your freezer.
• Frozen garlic can be added directly to cooking without thawing.

3. Store Garlic in Oil

Here’s how to maintain your garlic flavourful using oil, with all the steps you need:

• Gather your garlic heads/bulbs and put them in a large bowl. Fill the bowl with water, if the water is dirty, you must change the water and wash it again.
• Allow the garlic bulbs to soak in the water for 10 minutes to soften the papery “skins”.
• After this, remove the skins from the individual cloves. Throw away any cloves if damaged. Do not cut off the ends.
• Choose a clean jar and fill the jar up with the peeled garlic cloves, leaving an inch of space at the top.
• Then pour pickling vinegar into the jar until all the garlic cloves are covered in vinegar.
• Place a lid on the jar and keep the “pickled garlic” in the fridge.
• The preserved garlic will stay good for a long time, at least one year.

4. Pickled Garlic, Slightly Sweet

Pickled garlic is just another tangy and flavorful way to keep garlic fresh at home. It adds a zesty lift to your dishes that ordinary garlic just can’t. Pickled garlic is perfect as a salad topper, sandwich enhancer, stir-fry star, or even a quick snack on its own.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup peeled garlic cloves
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns (optional)

Steps:

• Sterilize a jar for 10 minutes in boiling water or a 250°F (120°C) oven, then let it cool.
• Combine the vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and any optional seasonings in a small saucepan, and let it boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Keep the garlic cloves in the jar.
• Pour the hot vinegar mixture over the garlic cloves slowly and carefully; make sure they are fully immersed.
• Allow the jars to cool completely to room temperature.. Once cooled, seal them tightly and store for 3 weeks before using.

After opening, you can safely keep it in the refrigerator for several months. Furthermore, you can change the recipe’s taste according to your desired flavor. Feel free and try different seasonings to create your own pickled garlic.

5. Extends shelf life through dehydrating

You can also extend the shelf life of garlic by dehydrating it in a dehydrator or oven. This process provides you with an opportunity to make garlic powder. Homemade powder can be used as a seasoning, and it can enhance a wide variety of dishes. You will require following ingredients to dehydrate garlic in an oven: 

• Garlic cloves (fresh)
• Baking sheet or baking paper
• An oven, and 6-8 hours of uninterrupted time in your oven

Steps:

1. Remove the papery skins from the garlic cloves and slice them into thin pieces. 
2. Arrange these pieces on a baking sheet/layer of a dehydrator tray.
3. Place them in the oven at temperature 140°F / 60°C and bake for 6 to 8 hours, until the garlic is completely dry and crisp.
4. Once it’s cool, you can either grind it into a powder or store it as dried slices.

Pros and Cons: