ShelfLife
How long does garlic last?
A whole, unpeeled garlic bulb keeps about 1 month in a cool, dry, dark place. The fridge isn't better for whole bulbs: the USDA gives 3 to 14 days there. Peeled or chopped garlic keeps only a few days in the fridge, and garlic freezes for about 1 month.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garlic | 3–14 daysfrom purchase | 1 monthfrom purchase | 1 monthfrom purchase |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to tell if garlic has gone bad
- Soft, spongy or shriveled cloves instead of firm ones.
- Brown or yellow spots on the cloves, or mold on the bulb.
- A sour or musty smell instead of a sharp garlic smell.
- Green shoots in the middle aren't spoilage: they taste a little bitter, so pull them out if you like.
How to store garlic
- Keep whole bulbs at room temperature in a dry, dark, airy place: a basket, a mesh bag or a terracotta garlic keeper. Not in a sealed bag.
- Break off cloves as you need them; once the bulb is broken, the rest keeps for less time.
- Keep peeled or chopped garlic in a sealed container in the fridge and use it within a few days.
- Never keep homemade garlic in oil at room temperature. Garlic can carry spores of the bacteria that cause botulism, and oil shuts out the air they need to stay harmless. Refrigerate it and use it within a few days, or freeze it.
Can you freeze garlic?
Yes, for about 1 month for the best flavor. Freeze peeled cloves in a bag, or chop garlic and freeze it in small portions, or mixed with a little oil in ice cube trays. Frozen garlic goes soft, so use it straight from frozen in cooking.
Questions
Should garlic be kept in the fridge?
Whole bulbs, no: they keep longer in a cool, dry pantry and can sprout or turn rubbery in the fridge. Peeled or chopped garlic, yes.
Is sprouted garlic safe to eat?
Yes. The cloves are a bit softer and the green sprout tastes bitter, so remove it. The sprouts themselves are edible too.
How long does jarred minced garlic last?
Follow the label: store-bought jars are acidified to keep them safe, and once opened they go in the fridge, usually for a few months.
Add garlic and other pantry vegetables to ShelfLife, and know what's left before you shop.
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Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.