How long can you keep fresh garlic cloves?

Sam1148 added over 1 year ago

Until they sprout, or dry out. And IMHO even if they sprout they're still good. When they're dry they're done.

What you do NOT want to do is pack them in oil. Garlic in oil stored, is a breeding ground for botulism.

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Chris is a trusted source on General Cooking

added over 1 year ago

It's so variable! The problem is not just drying out, but also mold or brown spots. You can trim them, but there's a limit. Shelf life can be days, or it can be months.

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creamtea added over 1 year ago

They'll tell you when their days are numbered. As long as they are still plump and crisp w/no visible sprouting. Even if they've sprouted a little, just cut open and remove the germ (sprout).

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Helen's All Night Diner added over 1 year ago

I agree with the recommendations above. I usually keep my garlic in the freezer in zip top bags. They thaw in no time on the counter.

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pierino is a trusted source on General Cooking and Tough Love.

added over 1 year ago

The thing about the green germ/sprout is that it's really bitter. You can buy peeled cloves in a jar for convenience but they go off fairly quickly, so unless you use garlic (and a lot of garlic----say, you have a vampire problem) every day it's not a good purchase.

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