How Long Does Garlic Last?
Updated: Mar. 14, 2024
Learning how to store garlic means you'll always have these essential cloves on hand for your next recipe.
To many, and namely those who aren’t vampires, garlic is the difference between a ho-hum dish and one that bursts with flavor. It’s no wonder that even when a recipe calls for a single clove of garlic, many home cooks will double or triple that amount. The only problem? Garlic doesn’t age well, says bestselling cookbook author Art Smith, former chef to Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama.
Knowing how to store garlic will ensure maximum shelf life and peak freshness every time you reach for it.
How long does garlic last?
Unpeeled, a head of garlic can keep up to six months when stored properly, while a single, unpeeled clove will last about three weeks. When you’re trying to tell if food is spoiled, keep an eye out for certain things: look, smell and feel. Look for brown spots on your garlic cloves—garlic is mostly an off-white color, so any spots means your bulb has probably gone bad. If your garlic has sprouted, you can still eat it, but make sure you cut the sprouts off; they can be bitter.
If garlic loses its signature spicy, pungent smell or begins to smell sour, that’s another sure sign it’s gone bad. Make sure it feels similar to what you’re looking for at the store—firm, with no overly dry or soft cloves. If it’s gone bad, make sure you don’t eat it—it can cause a rare but serious illness known as botulism, due to bacterial overgrowth.
When shopping for garlic, be sure the bulb is firm and none of the cloves are too soft or too dry. If it has green sprouts, skip it—it’s been on the shelf too long.
Editor’s Tip: You might be surprised to know that storing these veggies together is bad news. Please find out how to store potatoes and onions correctly so they last longer!
How to Store Garlic
How to store whole heads of garlic
Smith advises only buying as much as you are going to use, or to confit the rest and keep it in a sterilized jar in the fridge. “Garlic is best stored outside in a dry, dark, well-ventilated storage culvert,” says Smith. “Do not store in the refrigerator, because it promotes shoots from bulbs.”
How to store peeled garlic
Peeled garlic should be stored in an airtight container (such as a jar or silicone bag) and kept in the refrigerator. It’ll last two to three days, because it no longer has its protective skin to coat it.
How to store minced garlic
Fresh minced garlic can go bad quickly, so try to use it up as soon as possible. You can keep minced garlic in the fridge for up to a day, as garlic starts to break down quite fast when it’s cut. One trick for extending its shelf life? “In my restaurants, minced garlic is stored in olive oil,” says Smith. This will get you an extra day or two, but not much more.
Jars of store-bought minced garlic typically contain a preservative, like citric acid. Refrigerate the jar after opening and your minced garlic will last for several months.
Can you freeze garlic?
You can, but the texture will change a bit. When freezing peeled cloves, first spread them out on a baking sheet until they are solid so they don’t stick together. Then store them in an airtight container.
Freezing grated garlic is a great kitchen timesaver because you can add them right to your pan without taking extra time to thaw them—just freeze the gratings in individual portions on a baking sheet first.
Originally Published: July 29, 2022
