How Long Does Garlic Last? How To Store It?

I believe there are two kinds of people in this world: those who love garlic and those who don’t. 

I don’t know which side you are on, but this is the question you just asked:

How Long Does Garlic Last?

Types	Duration
Raw Whole Garlic	up to 6 months
Raw Unpeeled Garlic Cloves	from 2 weeks to a month
Peeled Garlic Cloves	up to a week inside the fridge
Chopped or Minced Garlic	Up to a day or 2 inside the fridge. If you add olive oil to it, it can last for 3 to 5 days.

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Unless you are a vampire or are allergic to garlic, chances are you love garlic. No other vegetable or spice can be compared to it. Its pungent aroma and flavor are truly unique. On the other hand, eating rotten and old garlic can make you sick and cause you potentially fatal diseases.

Other problems include:

• Food poisoning.
• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Nausea

Besides these, you may see disturbances in your vision, difficulty breathing, and even dryness. In the worst-case scenario, you may even need to be hospitalized.

What to Look for When Buying Garlic at the Store?

When grocery shopping, remember these points when selecting garlic:

• No external damage.
• No holes in the body.
• It should be tight and not squishy.
• No fungal growth
• No black spots
• It should be hydrated
• No sprouts
• No off smell.
• White cloves

The garlic should look clean, with no external damage like cracks or marks, and there should be no holes. Also, avoid buying garlic with fungal growth or black spots on them. When you hold the garlic, it should feel firm and tight and not hollow or soft. If you see sprouts or dehydration, garlic is old and shouldn’t be bought.

Now let’s see how to preserve garlic and store it properly.

How to Store Garlic and Preserve Them Properly?

There are a few methods of storing garlic:

Storing Garlic Without a Fridge or Freezer:

If you want to store garlic, usually in the pantry or kitchen, follow these steps:

1. Firstly discard and throw away any rotting or old garlic.

2. Place the garlic in a mesh bag or basket with good airflow.

3. Next, simply stash it in a cool, dark, and dry spot in your kitchen or pantry.

Tip 1 : You can keep garlic and onions together to save space.

Tip 2 : If your garlic has sprouted, cut off the sprouts with a sharp knife.

Dehydrating the Garlic:

• Simply slice the garlic and dehydrate them using a dehydrator and store them as garlic chips.
• You can further grind and pulverize the dehydrated garlic to make garlic powder, which will be way better than store-bought ones.

Storing Garlic Inside the Fridge:

If you wish to store them inside the fridge, then follow these steps:

1. Chop the garlic up and keep them in airtight containers or zip lock bags.
2. Puree the garlic and keep them in an airtight container.
3. The chopped garlic will last up to a week, while the pureed garlic will last a month if you are careful.

Tip : You shouldn’t keep whole heads of garlic in the fridge as it can stimulate sprouting.

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Storing Garlic Inside the Freezer:

If you want to preserve your garlic for a long time, you can freeze garlic. Just follow these steps:

1. Cut off the heads of the garlic
2. Place them on a tray with a sprinkle of olive oil and salt and pepper.
3. Bake them in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for up to an hour till they are tender and roasted to a brown color.
4. Cool them and portion them into small portions and freeze them.
5. They will easily last an entire year.

Tip 1 : You can use plastic or silicone trays to freeze garlic. So you can use them as per recipe requirements.

Tip 2 : You can chop or puree the garlic and freeze them in ice cube trays or even airtight containers and ziplock bags.

Tip 3 : You can directly cook them without needing to defrost them.

Now you might be wondering how long garlic lasts? Let’s answer that.

What Can You Make With Garlic?

You can make many things with garlic that can be stored and consumed easily.
1. Garlic Infused Oil: Simmer the oil or butter with minced garlic for up to an hour on low heat, strain out the garlic, and store the oil or butter.
2. Garlic Mayonnaise: Minced garlic can be added to mayonnaise to make garlic mayonnaise.
3. Garlic Bread: Garlic bread can be easily made at your home, and it can last for a week easily.
4. Garlic Toast: Same as garlic bread.

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To Conclude

Garlic is truly one of the most delicious and unique ingredients. Now that you know how to buy,  store, preserve and identify good and bad garlic, I hope you never face any garlic-related problems.