Useful tips on how to preserve peeled garlic at home for the winter

Garlic is a vegetable crop that is used in the preparation of a large number of dishes. Using even one or two cloves can enrich the taste and add aroma.

There is no need to specifically clean a large number of heads. But if there are any leftovers that have already been cleaned and not used, they can be saved for future use.

We'll tell you in this article how to preserve peeled garlic at home.

Preparing to store cloves

In order for peeled garlic to last for a long time, it needs to be prepared for storage. It is important to dry and sort the harvested crop. The only vegetable left for future use is one that is undamaged.

Already cleaned cloves must meet the following requirements:

• absence of rot;
• no unpleasant odor;
• no diaper rash.

Methods

Fresh garlic cloves can be preserved in various ways. Depending on the volume of vegetables and available capabilities, this is possible even in a city apartment.

In a refrigerator

In cases where peeled garlic cloves are planned to be used within several days, you can simply store them in the refrigerator.

If it is assumed that garlic will not be needed in the coming days, it is advisable not only not to peel it, but not even to divide it into slices.

If the heads have already been cleaned, they need to be placed in a paper bag. It should not be tightly closed to prevent condensation from forming.

In this form, the bag is placed in the vegetable compartment. If properly organized, garlic can retain its quality in the refrigerator for up to a month.

In the freezer

In a situation where peeled garlic needs to be stored for a long time, freezing may be the solution. In this form, the slices can last until spring, and even until the next harvest.

Procedure:

1. Select dense, undamaged heads.
2. Remove dry husks from them.
3. For ease of further use, you can divide the cleaned heads into separate slices.
4. Place the slices in portions into bags.
5. Transfer the bags to the freezer.

At room temperature

In a city apartment, garlic cloves can be kept not only in the refrigerator or freezer. An alternative way is to put the slices in a jar and fill them with vegetable oil.

With this storage method, it is possible not only to preserve garlic, but also to obtain a flavored dressing for snacks. In addition to oil, you can add dried herbs to jars.

You can also preserve garlic by sprinkling the cloves with salt to the very top of the container. A glass jar is suitable as a container. This method will prevent the garlic from spoiling and drying out. Without additional processing, simply keeping the slices warm will not work - they will begin to wither.

Other options

If the harvest was large, then the garlic can not only be kept fresh, but also dried or preserved.This option is suitable for large vegetable harvests.

Drying

There are several ways to dry slices, choosing the best option for yourself. After complete drying, the workpiece can be ground.

Naturally

Drying in the open air is the simplest, but also the longest drying method.

Thinly sliced ​​​​slices are laid out on a horizontal surface. The place should be chosen to be warm, well ventilated and protected from direct sunlight.

If the weather is dry and warm, good drying is achieved in a couple of weeks.

To ensure uniform drying, it is advisable to stir the chopped pieces from time to time.

In the oven

Drying in the oven allows you to get results in a few hours. This is faster than outdoors and more practical, since there is no dependence on weather conditions.

Procedure:

1. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Cut the garlic cloves into thin slices.
3. Arrange the plates on a baking sheet in a single layer.
4. Set the oven heating temperature to 60°C.
5. Place the baking sheet in the oven.
6. Leave the door ajar.
7. Stir the garlic every 30-40 minutes.

The average drying time in the oven is 5-6 hours.

An option for drying garlic - in the video:

In an electric dryer

Drying garlic in an electric dryer is very simple and does not take much time. It is advisable to cut the peeled slices into slices. They are laid out on the tiers of the apparatus and dried at a temperature of 50-60°C. Uncrushed slices can also be dried, but it will take more time.

Conservation

Garlic cloves can be canned successfully. There are many simple ways to make preparations with this vegetable for the winter.

Pickling recipe - on video:

How long does a vegetable last?

The shelf life of garlic cloves depends on their condition and the method of preparation.

Adviсe

When organizing the storage of peeled garlic the following factors must be taken into account:

1. Garlic can be winter or spring. The second one is stored better.
2. The rich composition containing natural preservatives allows the vegetable to be stored for a long time even without complex processing.
3. Storage in unsuitable conditions causes the vegetable to wilt.
4. Properly harvested and well-dried vegetables are suitable for long-term storage. High humidity can provoke the development of rot.
5. Garlic can spoil for several reasons. These include infection of the plant, non-compliance with collection or storage rules, as well as the wrong choice of garlic variety for long-term storage (winter vegetables are stored for up to 4 months, spring vegetables – longer).
6. When choosing between storing vegetables in a plastic bag or in a paper one, it is better to give preference to the latter.

Conclusion

There are several ways to preserve peeled garlic. Even freshly peeled slices can be saved for a while. But it is more practical to use canning, drying and freezing. Such options are especially preferable in cases where the harvest was large.