How to Freeze Fresh Garlic Cloves

Kick-up the flavor factor of your recipe a notch with fresh garlic.

Garlic cloves grow in bunches referred to as bulbs. Once the green onion-like parts of the garlic plants become dried and withered, the garlic bulbs are ready to harvest for eating and storage. Fresh garlic, like any other type of produce, is perishable. Bulbs of garlic are often dried to preserve them for a longer length of time. One alternative to drying garlic is to freeze fresh garlic cloves. Once you choose how you wish to use the fresh garlic in the future, you can decide which method of freezing suits you best.

Things You'll Need

• Cutting board
• Paring knife
• Plastic wrap
• Plastic zip bags
• Food processor
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• Spoon

Instructions

Diced

1. 

   Separate cloves from the bulb and remove the skin.

   Separate the individual cloves of garlic from the bulb. Trim the ends off of each garlic clove. Peel the paper-like skin from around the individual cloves and discard.

2. Chop the individual cloves of garlic into the smallest pieces possible.

3. Scrape the finely chopped garlic off the cutting board, into a large square of plastic wrap. Place the chopped garlic in one mound or pile in the center of the plastic wrap, about three inches away from one of the ends.

4. Fold in both sides of the plastic wrap to cover the garlic. Lift the end of the plastic wrap that's closest to the garlic up and lay it over the chopped garlic cloves. Roll the garlic in the plastic wrap until you reach the far end. Place the wrapped garlic in a plastic zip bag, seal it tightly, then place it in the freezer.

Whole

1. Separate the garlic cloves from the bulb of garlic, leaving the skin intact on the cloves.

2. Tear off a large square of plastic wrap and lay it on a flat work surface.

3. Position the whole, unpeeled garlic cloves in the center of the plastic wrap, a few inches away from one end. Fold the sides of the plastic wrap over the garlic cloves, followed by the end closest to them. Roll the garlic in the plastic, similar to the way you would roll up a tortilla, until you've reached the end of the plastic wrap.

4. Place the plastic-wrapped garlic cloves in a plastic zip bag and freeze.

Pureed

1. Separate the cloves of garlic from one bulb. Trim off the ends so you can easily peel off the skin from each clove of garlic.

2. 

   A food processor quickly purees garlic.

   Place the whole, peeled cloves of garlic in a food processor. Add 1/2 cup of olive oil. Process the garlic and olive oil until they form a smooth puree.

3. Spoon the pureed garlic into a plastic zip bag. As you zip the bag closed, remove excess air so the bag can be rolled tightly around the pureed garlic. Place the rolled bag of garlic in another plastic zip bag to prevent garlic smell from permeating throughout the freezer.

Tips & Warnings

• When you need garlic, break or spoon out the portion needed, then return the package to the freezer.

• Store frozen garlic up to six months. Always re-wrap the garlic tightly and seal in a plastic zip bag after removing a portion to keep the strong garlic odor from stinking up the freezer.

• Substitute a blender for the food processor to puree garlic.

References

• Oregan State University Extension; Preserving Foods: Garlic; May 2009
• North Dakota State University; From Garden to Table: GARLIC!; Ron Smith, Julie Garden-Robinson; July 2009
• University of Illinois Extension; Fall is the Time to Plant Garlic; October 2008