Can You Freeze Garlic

Freezing garlic is a great way to preserve it and is also great for meal prepping. The quick answer is, yes, you can freeze garlic and there are many different ways you can do it.

Garlic can be frozen as whole cloves, chopped, or minced. It all depends on what you are going to do with it in the future.

When you freeze garlic you might lose some of the crunchy texture that you would get with fresh garlic but the taste will stay the same.

You will still get that amazing garlic flavor in your dish as if you used a freshly chopped clove.

How to freeze garlic

Whether you have a ton of garlic on hand that you don’t want to go to waste or you are trying to be prepared and have already chopped or minced garlic on hand, freezing garlic is a great way to keep the flavor alive without wasting it.

I don’t know about you but I put garlic in just about every savory dish that I cook. Having it chopped up ahead of time is a lifesaver some nights!

Let’s go over the best ways to store garlic so that it never goes to waste again and you can be prepped and ready to cook without having to chop it fresh every night.

Whole cloves of garlic

If you are anything like me, you grab garlic just about every time you go to the store just to make sure that you don’t ever run out.

Only to realize when you get home that you already have a handful of bulbs in the pantry.

Freezing whole garlic cloves is an easy way to preserve your garlic and have it on hand whenever you need it. Separate the cloves and then throw them into a jar with a lid.

Tightly close the lid and put it in the freezer.

Whole garlic cloves will last you up to 6 months in the freezer. That is if you don’t run out of them before then.

It is important to know that when you do take your garlic out to use it it will be a little softer than fresh garlic but the flavor will remain the same.

If you are wondering if your garlic has gone bad you can find ways how to tell if garlic is bad here.

Simply peel the garlic, chop it up and throw it into your pan. Frozen garlic will cook up a little faster than fresh garlic so be sure to keep a close eye on it.

If you would like tips on how to peel garlic, I have easy-to-follow directions right here for you.

Chopped garlic

Freezing chopped garlic is a great way to have garlic ready to throw into a dish right at your fingertips without your hands getting that garlic stench on them from chopping it.

Learn how to cut garlic to help you chop it up efficiently and effectively.

Depending how much garlic you want to store in your freezer will have an impact on how to prepare your garlic.

If you want to store enough to have it for months you can chop a handful or two of garlic cloves in the food processer to make it easier.

If you don’t have a food processor then you can certainly chop it with a knife.

If you are using a food processor you can decide if you want to mince it or go even further and make a garlic paste.

Either way, they freeze beautifully. Chopped garlic will last you up to 6 months in the freezer.

You want to add olive oil to your chopped garlic so that oxygen can not get it too. Garlic that is chopped and sits out too long exposed to oxygen can become toxic.

Clostridium botulinum is a bacteria that creates a toxin on garlic and can put you at risk of serious illness.

Add 1/8 teaspoon for every tablespoon of chopped garlic. Mix it well before you portion it out. Chopped garlic can be stored in a baggie or an ice cube tray.

I prefer the ice cube tray because I can measure it out ad know just how much I am using in each dish.

Scoop one tablespoon of garlic into each ice cube slot in the trays. Make sure that your tray can seal closed with a lid and then freeze them.

Minced garlic

Another way you can freeze your minced garlic is by filling a baggie with your minced garlic, sealing the bag, and making sure to get out all of the air.

Lay the bag flat on a baking sheet and smooth out the bag so that it is flat.

Then make lines using a wooded spoon or plastic spatula so that there are square indentations in the garlic. This will help to break off frozen pieces as you need them.