The Supersmart Garlic Trick We Wish We’d Known About Sooner

Garlic is one of those ingredients that makes food taste absolutely delicious. Garlic and pasta ? Yes! Garlic bread ? Oh yeah. Shrimp with tons of garlic ? Say less. If you love cooking with garlic, then you know that the vegetable tends to have a long shelf life, but just how long varies depending on how it’s stored .

For example, whole bulbs that are stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place can last 3 to 6 months. Once separated from the bulb, though, unpeeled cloves typically last about two to three weeks and peeled garlic, whether whole or chopped, should be refrigerated and used within 1 week.

You can buy minced garlic that has been jarred , but that doesn't always give the strong taste that people love so much about this amazing plant. If you like the flavor of whole, fresh garlic, you need to know about this hack shared by content creator @dzunglewis . It's so simple and gives you fresh garlic anytime you need it.

Related: This Easy, Cheesy, Homemade Garlic Bread Offers Instant Comfort with Every Bite

What's the Best Way to Freeze Chopped Garlic?

In her TikTok, she says that you can buy a bag of peeled garlic and grind it in your food processor. Then, you place it in a freezer bag, press the chopped garlic into a thin, flat layer and score it into individual servings by using the back of a knife. Place the bag flat in the freezer and freeze until solid. When you need some garlic, you take out the bag and break off a serving or two. It's a quick and easy way to have fresh garlic at your fingertips at all times.

Keep in mind that freezing the garlic can dull its flavor, so you may need to use more than normal for whatever recipe you're cooking. Speaking of cooking the garlic, you don't need to thaw it before using it in recipes. Just toss in the frozen cube and cook away!

You can also freeze whole garlic cloves, but the texture is often impacted by freezing, so minced garlic typically holds up better in the freezer. Whether you freeze whole or minced garlic, keep in mind that frozen garlic can last up to 12 months in the freezer, though for the best flavor and texture, it's best to use it within four months.

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Related: Overstocked on Celery Stalks? Here's Everything You Need to Know About Freezing Celery.