Garlic is a useful ingredient that may be used in various recipes, including soups, stews, pasta dishes, and various other foods. Even though garlic is recognized for its long-term preservation ability, it can rot fast in certain circumstances.
Although the concept of garlic going bad may seem strange, it is possible if the garlic is not stored correctly. For best results, garlic should be allowed to cure for several weeks to eliminate extra moisture from the bulbs before being stored in a cold, dark, well-ventilated environment, such as a cellar or basement.
Despite the peak garlic season being from late summer to early fall, you may buy fresh garlic cloves at your local grocery store or producers’ market all year. If you purchase more garlic than you can use in a single sitting, you may store it in the freezer without affecting its flavor much.
Freezing fresh garlic is an excellent method of preserving it for use in all of your winter dishes. You’ll learn how to freeze garlic cloves and chopped garlic, puree garlic in oil, and roast garlic paste using these instructions.
Table of Contents
Is It Possible to Freeze Garlic?
Garlic may be frozen in a freezer-safe container, an airtight jar, or mason jars that have been specifically intended for freezing. This method works for garlic in all shapes, even whole garlic bulbs (also known as heads of garlic), unpeeled cloves of garlic, flaked cloves of garlic, minced garlic, chopped garlic, garlic puree, and garlic paste.
Before freezing, you may roast garlic or sautee it in a butter and oil combination to make it more flavorful. When you decide to defrost the garlic and utilize it, this will help to seal in the wonderful qualities while also speeding up meal prep.
How to Freeze Garlic?
There are various popular methods of freezing garlic, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. After reading the details of all of them, you should choose the greatest fit for your specific requirements.
Method 1: Freezing Whole Garlic or Garlic Clovers
This method is my favorite since it allows me to do anything with the garlic after thawed. That entails cutting, mincing and crushing using a pestle and mortar or a garlic press, among other things.
It is, in my opinion, the most effective method of freezing garlic cloves; but, you may also freeze complete heads of garlic in the same manner. Here’s how you go about it.
- Preparation: Remove all of the cloves from the head. The last option allows you to peel the garlic or keep them unpeeled. It is all up to you. I peel them ahead of time not to worry about it when I’m preparing the meal.
- Put them in Container: Put the cloves in a freezer jar or bag and tighten the lid to keep them fresh. You may add a label with your name and the date if you like.
- Freeze It: Place the garlic cloves that have been prepared in the freezer.
To utilize frozen garlic cloves, reach inside the bag and take out the amount of garlic you want. Garlic does not freeze solid, so you may grind, chop, or slice the cloves and prepare them for your recipe just as you would if you were using fresh garlic in the first place.
The structure of the frozen garlic cloves will alter and then become milder than fresh, but it will retain all of the flavors of the garlic cloves that were originally frozen. Garlic cloves that have been frozen retain their color and flavor better than garlic that has been cut or minced.
Method 2: Freezing Pureed Garlic with Oil
This approach necessitates the most preparation, and you must take certain measures to avoid botulism poisoning as a result. However, if you want to continue with it, you will finish up having garlic in oil that is ready to be used in sautéing, which is a wonderful bonus.
That being the case, this is what you must do to achieve your goal:
- Preparation: Remove the cloves from their skins and purée them in a food processor or blender with a little vegetable oil. Generally, two components oil to one part garlic is recommended, but you may experiment with the proportions to see what works best for you.
- Pack It: Place the mixture in a freezer-safe container and lock it tightly.
- Freeze It: Place the prepared mixture in the freezer.
Do not forget that it is essential to bag and freeze the pureed garlic and oil soon after being prepared. The puree mustn’t be allowed to cool to room temperature.
As with thawing, you should either defrost the puree in the refrigerator or transfer it to a sautéing pan while still frozen. Leaving it out on the counter to defrost is not a recommended method.
Method 3: Freezing Chopped Garlic
Garlic that has been cut or minced and frozen allows for incredibly convenient cooking. All you have to do is break off the quantity you require and toss it immediately into the meal you’re prepping.
The only drawback is that you have to cut up all of that garlic ahead of time. It will have to be chopped at some point, so you may as well do it now while the going is good.
Here’s how to do it step by step:
- Chop the Garlic: Remove all cloves, peel them, and slice them into little pieces. Keep in mind that you’ll be adding this garlic immediately to the meal, so make sure it’s prepared in the way you require it to be.
- Pack It: Place the minced garlic in a freezer bag and seal it. Make careful to distribute it thinly rather than leaving it in a large piece after you’re finished. If you do it this way, you will take as many breaks as you like. Remove all air from the bag and close it, adding a label if desired.
- Freeze It: Place the Chopped garlic prepared in the freezer.
That’s all there is to it. When you need some minced garlic, take the bag out of the freezer, tear off the quantity you want, and return the remainder to the freezer until you need it again.
Method 4: Roast the Garlic for Freezing
If you have a surplus of garlic that allows you to freeze whole cloves and create garlic paste blobs while still having many heads of garlic leftover, you may roast the heads and puree them before freezing the puree.
Make them one at a time, or line them up on a large foil sheet and wrap it up as an enlarged box as a group. Roasting numerous heads of garlic in the same sheet of aluminum foil will result in a longer cooking time for the garlic.
After 1 hour, carefully peel a corner of the foil apart to inspect the garlic, and continue to check every fifteen minutes until the garlic is nicely browned.
As soon as the garlic has been roasted and has cooled enough to manage, squeeze the puree from all of the heads into a large mixing bowl.
Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with waxed paper and sprinkling teaspoons of roasted garlic puree over it. Freeze until solid, then move to a container or bag with a tight-fitting top.
Method 5: Freeze Garlic Cubes Made From Garlic Paste
Garlic paste may be made in a food processor by mixing one tablespoon of olive oil for every full head of garlic in the processor until smooth. Once you’ve made your garlic paste, spoon it into ice cube trays and place them in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours.
Take the flash-frozen garlic cubes out of the freezer and place them in a freezer-proof bag, sealing the bag tightly to keep them safe. Garlic paste balls may also be made by freezing dollops of garlic paste on a wax paper baking sheet for 2 to 3 hours before moving the globs to a freezer bag for long-term preservation.
Tips for Freezing Garlic:
Frozen garlic may be used in place of fresh garlic in recipes, and it will impart the same flavor as fresh garlic.
- Choose Healthy Garlic Cloves: Begin with healthy bulbs with smooth and dry peels and firm cloves to produce the highest grade frozen garlic. Ensure no soft spots or moldy areas on them because this might signal degradation.
- Selecting the Best Freezing Container: The fragrance of garlic will permeate whatever plastic freezer container you choose to use. Regular zip freezer bags are my preferred method of freezing garlic. Still, you may also use freezer-safe glass mason jars or a compact plastic freezer glass jar with a sealable top specifically for this purpose.
When freezing the garlic, a little silicone ice cube tray comes in helpful for making the cubes and storing them. Once the cubes have been frozen, they may be preserved in freezer bags. Just use them for frozen garlic, tomato puree, pesto, onions, or other dishes when you don’t mind the slight garlic taste lingering on the trays because of the garlic fragrance.
What Is the Best Way to Use Frozen Garlic?
Once the thawing procedure is complete, frozen garlic may be used in virtually all the same ways fresh garlic can be utilized. Make one of these meals even more delicious by using thawed frozen garlic.
- Soups and Stews are Among the Most Popular Dishes: It is unnecessary to wait for frozen garlic to defrost before using it in a soup or stew that you are putting together. Allow the frozen garlic to cook up with the rest of the stew and savor the aromatic tastes it imparts to the dish.
- Garlic Bread is a Delicacy: Garlic that has been frozen has the flavor and aroma of fresh garlic, but it does not have the texture of fresh garlic. However, when you use pureed garlic in a garlic bread dish, you only need to worry about taste, not texture or appearance. As a result, frozen garlic is an excellent choice for making garlic bread.
- Stir-Fries: Frozen garlic may be used for your favorite stir-fries. Thaw the meat completely before putting it in the wok or frying pot. Because of this, it will cook at the same rate as the rest of your components.
How Long Can Garlic Be Stored in the Freezer?
Freezing garlic allows you to keep a crop for several months without having to worry about deterioration or botulism. Garlic that has been peeled or pureed will keep in the freezer for several weeks, while entire bulbs can keep for up to six months.
After the garlic has thawed, take a whiff and examine it. It is almost safe to consume if something appears normal in appearance and smell.
How to Thaw Garlic?
To utilize garlic, cut it into large pieces in a dish. It should thaw easily at room temp, or you may zap it in the microwave for 5-10 seconds for a faster thawing process.
Garlic that has been frozen can be sautéed, added to soups, or blended into sauces without thawing beforehand. It will thaw and break apart immediately due to the heat from the skillet.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long does it take for garlic to defrost?
The main drawback is that it takes almost an hour or two for the food to thaw. On the counter, to be precise. This method is most effective with frozen bulbs or entire cloves.
Is it possible to freeze garlic and have it not work?
Frozen garlic may not have the crisp texture of fresh garlic, but the flavor is just as strong—and it does not have the chemical taste that can accompany jarred garlic in some recipes.
Is it necessary to defrost the garlic before using it?
It is not necessary to defrost the garlic before using it. Remove what you need from the frozen bag and place it into the dish you’re preparing it in. Simple.
What is the most effective method of storing garlic?
Fresh garlic may be stored at room temp in mesh bags for the quickest and most convenient storage. Fresh garlic should be kept in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight.
Wrapping it Up:
When it comes to people who cook daily and require a large amount of garlic for their dishes, freezing garlic is a fantastic choice. Before you freeze garlic, you should learn how to do it properly so that you may store it without losing any of its nutritional value when you do so later.
A variety of techniques are available for preserving garlic, and freezing is only one of them. Frozen garlic may be used in a range of different meals and is versatile! We hope you found this article informative in describing how to freeze garlic properly.
