Can You Freeze Garlic?
Yes, you can freeze garlic for up to 6 months. Whole unpeeled cloves, peeled cloves, minced garlic, and garlic paste all freeze successfully. The texture softens slightly but flavor remains strong. Frozen garlic is convenient for cooking without daily prep.
Key Takeaways
- Freezing garlic preserves its pungent flavor and saves prep time during cooking.
- Frozen garlic has a slightly milder flavor than fresh; you may want to use a bit more.
- The texture becomes softer, making frozen garlic unsuitable for raw applications or when whole roasted cloves are desired.
Explanation
Freezing garlic preserves its pungent flavor and saves prep time during cooking. You can freeze it in various forms depending on how you typically use garlic. All methods work well, so choose based on convenience.
For whole cloves, you can freeze an entire head or separate peeled cloves. Flash freeze peeled cloves on a tray before bagging to keep them separate. Minced garlic can be frozen in ice cube trays with a little olive oil for easy portioning.
Garlic paste (pureed garlic with oil) freezes excellently. Spread it flat in a freezer bag for easy breaking off of portions. Frozen garlic can go directly into hot pans; no thawing needed for cooking.
Things to Know
- Frozen garlic has a slightly milder flavor than fresh; you may want to use a bit more.
- The texture becomes softer, making frozen garlic unsuitable for raw applications or when whole roasted cloves are desired.
- Garlic stored in oil must be frozen, not refrigerated, due to botulism risk at refrigerator temperatures.