How to preserve peeled garlic

If you like to cook aromatic dishes that are bursting with flavor, garlic is probably one of your favorite ingredients. Knowing different methods to preserve peeled garlic will ensure that you always have it on hand.

But how to preserve peeled garlic? You can keep peeled garlic in the fridge in different liquids. The easiest method is to keep it in a vinegar or wine bottle. Garlic will last up to 4 months in the fridge using this method. You can also keep small amounts of garlic in oil for up to 4 days. 

Read on for step-by-step instructions on the best ways to preserve peeled garlic in vinegar, wine, and oil. Hopefully, you never have to worry about your peeled garlic going bad again.

Peeled garlic preservation methods

Peeled garlic doesn’t last as long in the fridge as it does in the freezer. But freezing peeled garlic affects the texture of the cloves, making them softer.

It certainly can be challenging trying to figure out how to keep your fresh garlic from going to waste. Luckily, we are here to help you.

So if you want to extend the shelf life of fresh peeled garlic, but keep it crunchy, here are two easy ways to preserve peeled garlic for the long term.

1. Preserve peeled garlic in vinegar

Preserving garlic in vinegar is very easy. It’s also a great method for anyone looking for a way to preserve peeled garlic so it doesn’t change its flavor . Due to its natural oils, garlic does not absorb vinegar.

However, vinegar keeps garlic and other foods fresh longer due to its high acidity, which kills harmful bacteria and acts as a natural preservative. That is why it is also used for pickling.

Here’s how to preserve peeled garlic in vinegar:

1. Prepare the garlic cloves and put them in a sterilized jar.
2. Fill the jar with vinegar so that there is a centimeter between the liquid and the lid. The vinegar should cover the garlic.
3. Add salt, herbs and spices (optional).
4. Swirl the mixture to remove any bubbles and close the jar.
5. Label the jar with the date and store it in the fridge.
6. Consume it within 4 months.

When using pickled garlic, scoop out as many cloves as needed, give them a quick rinse, and use as you normally would for your favorite recipes.

You can use garlic-infused vinegar to make an amazing salad dressing or add it to anything you would normally add vinegar to for a subtle hint of garlic as well.

2. Preserve peeled garlic in wine

Preserving garlic in wine is for the daring. If you want more intensely flavored garlic cloves, you should definitely try preserving peeled garlic in red wine . You can also use white wine or a mixture of wine and vinegar. 

Being a fermented product, wine is full of antimicrobial acids that kill off bad bacteria, just like vinegar.

You may want to experiment with different brands, blends, and types of wine to create your perfect mix of savory and umami flavors. When it comes to your kitchen, it all depends on your personal tastes and preferences!

Here ‘s how to preserve peeled garlic in wine:

1. Put the peeled garlic cloves (whole or minced) in a sterilized jar of the size you want.
2. (Optional) Add spices to taste. You can even flavor it with bay leaves, tarragon or truffles, or spice it up with red chili.
3. Fill the jar with red (or white) wine so that the cloves are covered.
4. Remove it and close the lid.
5. Label the jar with the date and store it in the fridge.
6. Consume it within 4 months. 

As always, keep in mind that if you ever notice an unpleasant smell or taste or even see mold growing on your garlic, you should never eat it and throw it away immediately.

How to preserve peeled garlic in oil

Storing garlic in oil should be done with extreme caution. If you do not provide the necessary conditions for garlic preserved in oil, there is a high risk of unwanted bacteria growing that can cause botulism.

The reason preserving garlic in oil is risky is because, unlike wine and vinegar, garlic is low in acidity, and once submerged in the oil, the ideal conditions for bacterial growth exist.

Garlic preserved in oil should never be stored at room temperature. Although it is stored in the refrigerator, the sooner it is eaten, the better.

This preservation method is intended more as a way to prepare the garlic for use in the next few days rather than the long term.

Here ‘s how to safely preserve garlic in oil:

1. Put the peeled garlic cloves in a jar. You may or may not cook the peeled garlic with this method. You can fry, roast, or poach the garlic cloves to not only give them a nice color, but also prolong their shelf life.
2. Pour olive oil on top so that the garlic cloves are submerged.
3. Customize the flavor with the spices of your choice.
4. Stir to remove bubbles.
5. Label with the date. This step is crucial, as eating garlic preserved in oil that has been in the fridge for even a day longer than intended can lead to serious health problems.

Raw garlic preserved in oil should not be kept for more than 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

If you want your garlic to last longer, put the cloves preserved in oil in the freezer, where they will keep for several months. For a more convenient use, mix the minced garlic cloves with the oil and pour the mixture into an ice cube tray.

Cooked garlic cloves can be preserved in oil and kept in the fridge for up to 14 days.