There is a common kitchen tip that says to store peeled garlic cloves in oil, unfortunately, botulism can develop when garlic is stored in this manner, especially if it is stored at room temperature. The garlic and oil should be used immediately or stored in the refrigerator for no more than a week. It's a handy tip but not worth the health risk.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I grow garlic but it does not keep long enough to be all used up. Does anyone know how to preserve garlic so it will last for a long time?
Suzq from NE
I freeze mine and have no problem.
Just harvest the garlic cloves, brush off dirt, hang in a mesh bag (like onions come in) in a dry warm place w/ good air circulation. The cloves will dry & remain usable for over a year (at least mine are still good...)
My garlic lasts only 6 months, I pick it just after Xmas usually and now July8 it has mostly shot. I plant it as it shoots. I also use the green tops from early planted garlic in cooking. I have an abundance of the stuff as I just LOVE it. Fried rice with fried garlic plus handfuls of chopped garlic tops , and a bit of rocket just for variety,and chilli for breakfast is great! I would also like to find a way to encourage the garlic to keep for longer. I miss roasted garlic for the other 6 months of the year. I am going to try drying it next year. I have heard that this gives the closest flavour to fresh garlic. I will try this using the food dehydrator. I think I should have enough. I have about 2000 plants in, so this should just about keep me going.
Hi
i was recently on vacation in Majorca and purchased some garlic at a local street market It seem to have been preserved in brine ( salt water)
Thansk
Mel
Here's a link with a .pdf about preserving garlic. They include a recipe for pickling of garlic which might be what you had in Majorca, Mel.
extension.oregonstate.edu/
My parents have always advocated peeling garlic and putting it into a jar of olive oil. Your garlic won't be 100% fresh, but you will have an infused oil.
READ warnings about preserving garlic in oil.
Just google Botulism garlic oil fda.
Or here's an article.
www.fda.gov/
Looking for a recipe, to can garlic cloves in olive oil.
Or the best way, to keep garlic cloves for cooking all year round.
I planted garlic for the first time last Fall. Wow, what a difference from store-bought. I pulled mine up last Spring, brushed the loose dirt off and hung it by the long shoots in my basement. They are still quite good. I'm going to try "kidsNclutter's" idea next year and see if it will work better.
"Just harvest the garlic cloves, brush off dirt, hang in a mesh bag (like onions come in) in a dry warm place w/ good air circulation. The cloves will dry & remain usable for over a year (at least mine are still good...)"
Thanks for the hints. :-)
What kind of oil do I put in my garlic cloves to keep in the refrigerator? I grew some garlic and I am going to freeze some and put some in oil in the refrigerator, but I don't know what kind to use.
I would use extra virgin olive oil, or grapeseed oil. I would stay way from cheap vegetable oils like cottonseed or canola.
Also, I dont' believe they need to be refrigerated if they are put in oil.
Any oil will do. I've used corn, vegetable, and olive.
Garlic preserved in oil should definitely be stored in the refrigerator. Home cooks do not have the proper equipment to sterilize the garlic and botulism can result. Here is a link to the CDC page about it.
www.cdc.gov/
How do you prepare the garlic for the dehydrator? Are the skins left on? Do you slice the cloves? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
By Elayne
Hi, Elayne. You have to take the skins off since they will hold the moisture in. You can dehydrate whole cloves, but it will take longer. You don't want to slice it too thin since it shrinks when dehydrated.
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Storing and Using Garlic. I recently read where it is dangerous to cut up garlic and keep in oil because it can cause Botulism.
