Comments on: When to harvest garlic (and garlic scapes!) and how to store it for the winter

By: Peggi

Peggi — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:45:46 +0000

I do as Lori does but I then spread it on sheets in my dehydrator and then store it as dry minced garlic. Also I have stored it in egg cartons before, but I think it dried it out a bit as it stored. They were the cardboard egg cartons, so maybe the styrofoam ones would be better. Now I keep the mess bags you get some veggies in and hang them.

By: Cathy Murray

Cathy Murray — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:59:57 +0000

I froze my garlic after separating the bulbs and peeling the skin. Just put them in a freezer baggie and take out the amount you want. They will look transparent and you may think they are ruined, but don’t be fooled! I think they are even more delicious and full of flavour.

By: Tara Nolan

Tara Nolan — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:59:15 +0000

In reply to Susan. Hi Susan, I love this idea!

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 14:43:40 +0000

I will finely chop my garlic then place it in a glass container and add enough olive oil to completely cover the garlic. I store in my refrigerator. This is great used in marinades, when sauteed with vegetables, added to salsa, or pasta. It’s best when used within a month.

By: Lori Hunter

Lori Hunter — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 22:53:29 +0000

I store half of my garlic bulbs in my basement in a mesh bag after curing. The other half, I peel and put into a food processor just until the consistency of hand mincing. I then freeze the garlic flat on a tray with perforations the size of a portion. Then transfer to baggies for long freezer storage.

By: Tara Nolan

Tara Nolan — Mon, 26 May 2025 14:24:15 +0000

In reply to Sophia Mendros. Hi Sophia, You can use them straight from the ground, but I find them harder to peel when they're fresh. But it is fun to try something freshly harvested. Generally they take about 3 to 6 weeks to cure.

By: Sophia Mendros

Sophia Mendros — Mon, 19 May 2025 00:32:18 +0000

Great article! How long do they need to cure for? Would I be able to go ahead and use them straight out of the ground? My mom is anxious to eat some. She’s trying to make me pull some early, but they have only just scaped, and im telling her we need to wait at least until June!

By: Tara Nolan

Tara Nolan — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:08:47 +0000

In reply to Michael Lacelle. Hi Michael, To be honest, I haven't frozen my garlic before, but I'm going to try this year and I'm curing it first. I find it harder to peel when it's fresh. And curing is said to deepen the flavor.

By: Michael Lacelle

Michael Lacelle — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 13:36:08 +0000

Hi Tara
Great article, especially the comment from Kirsten about freezing. We have always had a difficult time finding a cool dry place to cure the garlic. The basement is always a little damp even though we use a dehumidifier. My question is, do we still have to cure the garlic before freezing or can we go straight to freezing?
Thanks

By: Tara Nolan

Tara Nolan — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 14:36:05 +0000

In reply to Ann. Hi Ann, I would wait about 2-4 weeks after cutting everything back and then maybe gently try to pull one up to see if it's ready. I'm sure the bulbs themselves will be fine.