7 Ways To Preserve Your Garlic Harvest And Ways To Use It Up

Garlic Is one of the most flavorful and resilient herbs you can plant in your garden. It even prospers in cooler weather, making it a great late-season plant to grow. When you harvest this plant from the ground, you are likely to be overwhelmed with the amount of garlic you have. The good news is that garlic has many uses, and it is also easy to preserve for later consumption.

To preserve your garlic for later use, consider freezing the bulbs whole or peeling them before freezing them. You can also roast some of your freshly harvested garlic and then freeze it in an ice cube tray. Ferment or pickle your garlic to add flavor and preserve the cloves for many months. You can dry your garlic by braiding it, which creates lovely decoration while you save it for later use.

Garlic boosts your immune system, helps your heart, and can even clear up your skin. These are just a few reasons why it’s a good idea to consume garlic regularly. But if you have more garlic than you know what to do with, you should consider preserving it in a few different ways. This ensures you will have tasty homegrown garlic for months to come. Below is a list of the best ways to preserve your garlic for long periods, as well as great ways to use it when it’s fresh.

Seven Ways To Preserve Garlic For Later Use

1. Freeze The Bulbs Raw

One of the easiest ways to preserve garlic for later use is to freeze the entire bulb, raw. To make this method most effective, use a vacuum-sealed bag or an airtight container. Add your cleaned whole garlic bulbs, seal them, and simply store them in your deep freezer.

Frozen garlic bulbs can last upwards of six months in the freezer. When you freeze any food items, however, it will begin to lose flavor after a few months, so it’s still best to use it up in four months or less.

You can also peel your garlic and then freeze it. This makes for easy access to garlic when needed, without having to wait for it to thaw to peel it. Keep in mind, however, that peeled garlic is more likely to be exposed to the frozen elements, and may lose flavor quicker.

2. Roast And Freeze It

If you are a fan of roasted garlic, then you’ll be happy to know there’s a way to preserve garlic so you have easy-to-access delicious roasted garlic in a matter of moments. To achieve this, you simply need to roast a bunch of garlic.

You can take whole cloves of garlic and roast them by cutting a small part of the top off and tossing the whole bulb in a tiny bit of oil. Roast until the cloves achieve a golden color. 

Allow the cloves to cool, and then empty the roasted cloves into a bowl, carefully removing the skins. 

Place the delicious cloves in an ice cube tray, and then freeze them. By placing them in trays, you will have perfectly portioned roasted garlic flavor that you can pop into to any recipe. This frozen garlic can last upwards of six months.

3. Dried Braided Garlic 

Braided garlic is not only a great way to keep vampires away, but it’s also an effective method that has been used for centuries to preserve garlic. To braid garlic, the key is to keep it whole, and to store it in a cool dark place. 

When you expose garlic to heat, sunlight, or humidity, the garlic can shrivel up, or grow mold. Instead, opt for a dark space, like a basement or kitchen pantry. Ensure it gets enough air circulation. This is a decorative and effective way to preserve your garlic for later use. Braided garlic is a great way to dry this herb, and can last upwards of six months if you store it in the right environment.

Pro Tip: This method only works on soft-neck garlic varieties. If you grow hard neck varieties, opt for a different preserving method.

4. Baked Garlic Chips

If you are a fan of flavorful garnishes, then it might be worth your time to bake some garlic chips to use atop your favorite recipes. To make garlic chips, you must peel your garlic, and then slice each clove to its desired thickness.

You can bake them with a little olive oil and salt, or if you prefer a quicker and more savory method, you can fry them in oil. These chips can be added to salads and soups for flavor, or used as garnish on top of rice, or even atop main courses like meat and sauteed vegetables. Each batch of chips can last one month if stored in an airtight container.

5. Pickled Garlic

One of the best ways to preserve just about any vegetable or herb is to pickle it, and garlic is no exception. Pickled garlic has a lovely texture and flavor, and it is popular in many types of Asian cuisine. 

Depending on your taste buds and desires, you can make classic pickled garlic or a spicy version. Once you pickle your garlic, it can last upwards of four months in your fridge. If, however, you notice any mold, make sure you dispose of the container right away, as this is a sign that the garlic or the liquid has spoiled.

6. Ferment Your Garlic

One of the healthiest and most flavorful ways to preserve your garlic is to ferment it. Fermented garlic can also last long — upwards of several years if you use certain fermenting methods. Fermented garlic, often referred to as “black garlic,” originated in Asia, and has a lovely texture, and funky-to-spicy flavor. 

There are several ways to ferment your garlic, and as long as you follow the process correctly, fermented garlic is one of the safest ways to preserve your garlic. It is great when added to rice dishes, as a small side dish, and in various types of Asian cuisine.

7. Preserved Garlic In Oil

It is also possible to preserve garlic in oil, but you must use extreme caution when doing so. If you do not use the proper storage methods, it can pose the risk of Clostridium botulinum, or botulism. To do this, you need a sterilized container, like a glass mason jar. Peel your garlic, and then add it to the oil (olive oil is ideal).

Once you submerge the fresh garlic cloves in oil, you must seal the jar shut, and then freeze it. If you fail to freeze your garlic, and instead leave it out, it can be very dangerous. The garlic can grow the deadly botulinum toxin. Therefore, make sure you always freeze your garlic in oil, to ensure it’s safe and delicious later on.

Garlic in oil retains much of its character and flavor. It is great when later added to sauces, and soups, and of course, it’s perfect on garlic bread.

Four Ways To Use Up Your Fresh Garlic

1. Make Fresh Minced Garlic

One way to use up your garlic is to have plenty of it ready to use. Consider mincing at least one cup of garlic at a time. This will allow you to add it to any dish in a matter of seconds. You’ll be shocked at how much garlic you use when all the work is already done for you. 

2. Make Fresh Salad Dressing

Garlic is a great way to give your salads more zing. Instead of spending a small fortune on a bottle of artisanal salad dressing, make your own. Combine fresh or roasted garlic with oil, fresh herbs from y our vegetable garden, citrus of your choice, and spices. 

3. Use It In Meat Marinades

If you like to grill or bake meat, then you are no stranger to a marinade. Adding chunks of garlic to chicken, beef, and pork marinades is a great flavor booster. A few cloves of garlic can add significant flavor to your meat.

4. Follow A Mediterranean Diet

One great way to use more garlic is to consume a diet that relies heavily on this herb. Few places love garlic more than in the Mediterranean. Italian, Greek, and other Mediterranean foods are high in garlic content and also delicious. There is also some evidence that shows following a Mediterranean diet can be very healthy.

Summing Up Ways To Preserve Your Garlic For Later Use

If you have a ton of garlic after harvesting your fall crop, then you should consider preserving some of it, so it doesn't go bad. You can freeze the bulbs whole, or freeze cubes of roasted garlic. Alternatively, you can pickle or ferment your garlic to preserve it for longer and add flavor to foods. You can even braid your garlic into a wreath to use it as decoration while preserving it for later use.

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