How to Store Fresh Garlic

With proper storing conditions, fresh garlic can last up to six months. When purchasing garlic at a grocery store or farmers’ market, choose unpeeled garlic bulbs that are dry and firm. Avoid any whole head of garlic with sprouting or discoloration. Whole garlic bulbs can last for several months, while unpeeled, broken garlic cloves can last for a few weeks in the right conditions. By contrast, peeled garlic cloves only last for about one week.

Follow these tips to make your garlic last longer.

1. 1. Store fresh garlic heads in a dry, dark place. To avoid sprouting, place your whole bulb of garlic in a dry place away from moisture and humidity. To extend its shelf life, store dry garlic in a dark place like a pantry or cupboard, preferably closer to the ground to keep cool.
2. 2. Store fresh garlic in a place with good air circulation. The best way to store garlic is in a mesh bag or wire basket to promote proper airflow. Avoid plastic bags that suffocate your garlic.
3. 3. Store fresh garlic at room temperature. Store garlic between sixty and sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit. Fresh garlic sprouts faster in cold temperatures, so avoid placing whole heads of garlic in the refrigerator.
4. 4. Use unpeeled individual cloves sooner. After breaking a whole bulb of garlic apart, use each unpeeled clove within a few weeks. For longer shelf life, keep your garlic bulbs intact while storing them.

Peeled garlic cloves have a much shorter shelf life than whole, unpeeled bulbs. Consider a few tips for how to best store peeled garlic.

1. 1. Store peeled garlic in the refrigerator. Store fresh whole garlic, roasted garlic, and chopped garlic in an airtight container and place it within the crisper drawer in your fridge. Use garlic stored in the fridge within one week.
2. 2. Pickle peeled garlic. Make pickled garlic by removing the papery skins around whole cloves and placing the peeled cloves in a glass jar with salt and vinegar. Avoid storing garlic in olive oil as it can develop a bacteria called clostridium botulinum, also known as botulism.
3. 3. Store minced garlic in the freezer. Freeze garlic by placing peeled garlic cloves into a food processor or blender with a small amount of water. Run the machine until you have a garlic paste or puree. Place this mixture into ice cube trays and store it in the freezer, where the frozen garlic will keep for up to six months. Remove a cube to add garlic flavor to soups, stir-fries, and stews when necessary.
4. 4. Dehydrate garlic cloves. Make dehydrated garlic by cutting thin slices off peeled garlic cloves and placing them into a food dehydrator. Store dehydrated garlic cloves in an airtight container and place them in a cool, dry place like a cupboard or pantry. Garlic stored this way can last for up to one year.]