How to preserve garlic – refrigerate, freeze, dry, pickle, or what? Garlic does not have to be preserved in any way. Garlic can simply be stored for a long time. Learn how to store garlic.
For storage choose healthy dry garlic, the bigger the cloves the better. If the garlic isn’t dry it can get mold or start to sprout. So make sure to dry garlic first.
I store mine in a closed cardboard box – it’s dark and dry in there with some air circulation. The box is stored in the basement (not cold room), where it is a bit cooler and darker than in the house.
The picture below, and the first one above, show side by side fresh garlic and one that has been stored this way for about 12 months. Not to bad, eh.
Well, this is a short post because there is basically nothing more to say about storing garlic. I bet you have a cardboard box and a basement, that’s all you need to have locally, organically grown garlic all winter long.
You might also want to read: Growing food – Garlic.
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Wow! I didn’t realize you can store garlic for that long… I have a “garlic preserver” – it’s basically a ceramic dish with holes in it. I keep it in the cupboard (I probably shouldn’t do that because it seems like it doesn’t keep very well in there. Thank you for the info 🙂 ~Renee
Wow, I had no idea it was possible to store garlic for that long! It looks fresh too. Thanks for that good information. I shall put it to good use.
Any advice for the smell of garlic while storing it?
Hmm, it has never bothered me. I store it in a place where it does not matter.
Glad to know this info about garlic. Thank you 🙂
Hi Anna,
Thanks for this post. I never knew you could store garlic for such a long period of time. This really will be helpful for me as I cook with garlic often. Thanks again.
Best,
Tennille
I’ve been storing garlic for quite a while. I’m glad to know that it is an “accepted procedure” and not just me getting lucky with my garlic. It’s these little things that I often wonder about. Thanks for answering this question for me.
Hi. I grow quite a bit of (Music) garlic and sell primarily at farmer’s markets, and whenever a customer asks how to keep garlic, I simply tell them in the paper bag I just gave them, on their kitchen counter. You are quite right about using the cardboard box; it provides a (relatively) consistent temperature and humidity microclimate, exactly what garlic needs not to dehydrate too quickly (assuming it was well cured) and not wanting to start growing. Great blog, btw.
Thank you so much for taking the time to reassure that this is a good way to store garlic. Your kind words mean a lot. We planted some Music garlic this fall, too.
We don’t have a basement. Any other option?
We have a heated workshop, we set the thermostat there to 8 degrees Celsius. Would that be ok?
Garlic needs a micro climate of relatively consistent temperature and humidity. If it’s not humid in your workshop, it should be just fine.
I enjoyed this tip on preserving garlic. Thankx!
I have been growing garlic in Alaska for several year s, the fresh garlic taste- wonderful. Thank you for hint on box storage, I have had success in using a hanging basket with a cover but now I can “keep” more.