Can You Freeze Garlic Cloves? Here’s What You’re Going to Have to Do
Updated on March 2, 2023
Garlic is a key ingredient to about a gazillion recipes and with good reason because it’s absolutely delicious. However, some types of garlic go bad faster than others, so could we maybe possibly freeze garlic cloves?
This ingredient is present in almost all homes around the world and it’s something you can have with a ton of dishes, so making sure that it lasts for as long as possible is essential.
Can You Freeze Garlic?
One of our readers has sent us a message with one important question – whether or not freezing garlic works. Here’s their message:
My neighbour dropped off a whole bunch of garlic that he grew in his garden, and I’m not sure what to do with it all. I like using garlic in recipes, but I can’t possibly use all the garlic he gave me!
I don’t have a pantry or cold room to put the garlic in either. Can you freeze garlic cloves?
You’re in luck, because garlic freezes extremely well! There are many ways to freeze garlic, depending on how you plan to use it, so choose the method that suits your needs best. You can freeze the whole garlic or divide it and freeze batches of it using different methods.
Garlic that has been frozen and then thawed may lose some of its firm texture, but should not lose any of its flavour or nutritional properties. To avoid the garlic smell from transferring to other items in your freezer, make sure to package it well.
How To Freeze Garlic?
The simplest way to freeze garlic is just to freeze raw, whole garlic cloves.
- To do this, separate the garlic cloves from the bulb by pulling them apart with your fingers.
- Next, peel each clove by pressing down on the clove with the flat edge of a knife until the papery coating cracks and can be peeled off with your fingers.
- Then, place the garlic cloves in freezer bags.
- Remove as much of the air from the bags as possible, then seal and label them.
For more convenient use, you can chop garlic cloves into slices before freezing.
- To freeze slices, place the slices on a baking sheet in a single layer and place the sheet in the freezer until slices are frozen.
- The slices can then be placed in freezer bags without sticking or clumping together.
- Remove the air from the freezer bag and seal tightly.
If you typically use garlic in recipes that call for minced garlic, there’s more you can do:
- You can freeze minced or pureed garlic in olive oil.
- Simply chop or puree garlic, and pour enough olive oil to coat.
- Stir the mixture well, and then store in a freezer-safe container or a freezer bag.
- The oil may turn white while frozen, but will return to normal upon thawing.
How Long Can You Freeze Garlic?
If you’re unsure for how long you can keep your garlic in the freezer, you should know that you can keep it for up to a year.
How to Keep Garlic for Longer?
If you’re going to keep your garlic for a longer time, you’re going to have to use a vacuum sealer. These appliances can save food for longer by taking out all the air from the bag or container and offer a perfect seal.
We have a list of vacuum sealers you can check out, but our favorite is the FoodSaver V4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine. The appliance works with freezer bags and containers of various sizes, so you can save smaller portions or larger dishes.
How to Thaw Garlic?
If you’re going to thaw your garlic to use it, you can take things a few directions, depending on how you froze it.
- To thaw whole garlic, remove the desired number of cloves from the bag and let them thaw in the fridge. The bulbs may be a bit softer, but they are still perfect for use in recipes.
- To use chopped garlic, simply remove the desired amount and add directly to recipes where the garlic will be cooked through. No need to thaw first.
- To use minced garlic, simply scoop our desired amount and add to the recipe.