Preserving garlic, also called pickling garlic, is one of the easiest ways to save your garlic harvest. There’s nothing better than having fresh garlic ready to use all year long.
About ten years ago, I found myself with a huge harvest of hard neck garlic and no possible way to use it all before it began sprouting. I love garlic and cooking with garlic but even so, I knew I needed to figure out how to preserve garlic.
While I’ve canned fruits and vegetables before, I’d never thought to try preserving garlic. My brother Miles visited us last week and was kind enough to spend a couple of hours showing me how to can it.
As it turns out, it is almost ridiculously simple. It’s so simple and so effective that I wish I had learned to do it a long time ago.
We all love having garlic ready to use now in the refrigerator and I’m excited to share my findings with you!
This garlic tastes FRESH. If you’ve ever bought a jar of minced garlic or peeled cloves in oil or vinegar, this doesn’t resemble any of those things. I have used the preserved cloves in a couple of recipes already and the taste is exactly the same as fresh.
How to Preserve Garlic
Raw, dried garlic can be kept for months in a cool and dark environment. However, here in the very warm southwest, it rarely lasts over a month in my home before it sprouts. Preserving it with this easy pickling method helps keep it fresh for months.
Wondering if this method yields garlic with a pickled, vinegary taste? It doesn’t. The natural oils of the garlic prevent the vinegar from being absorbed into the cloves! Handy, right?
To use your preserved garlic, just take out the number of cloves you need, rinse quickly with water, and use as desired. If you want a slight vinegar bite to the garlic, or if you are using it in a recipe that also calls for vinegar, simply use the garlic without rinsing.
Also called pickling garlic, this method is one of the most common ways to save your garlic harvest. At any given time, you’re likely to find a row of jarred garlic tucked in the back of my refrigerator.
Why Does Garlic Turn Blue
Updated 9/19/12 to answer multiple questions regarding, Why Did My Garlic Turn Blue? If your garlic does turn blue, it is still safe to eat.
This can happen when enzymes and amino acids present in garlic react with the sulfur compounds responsible for garlic’s pungent smell. I’ve seen this happen a few times over the years and apparently, it is fairly common.
Selecting Garlic
If you don’t grow and harvest your own garlic in a home garden, follow these tips for selecting the best and freshest heads of garlic from your farmer’s market or grocery store to use in your preserved garlic recipe:
First, look for heads of garlic without sprouting. Sprouting is an immediate indicator that the garlic is no longer fresh and not worth your money.
Next, give the garlic a quick “sniff and squeeze.” If it smells mildewy or moldy, give it a pass. That’s an almost sure indicator that the garlic has gone rotten.
Fresh garlic cloves should never be soft or squishy. A fresh head of garlic will be firm to the touch and not yield with a light squeeze.
How to Peel Garlic
Arguably the most time-consuming part of the process of preserving garlic is peeling it. Of course, you can just use your fingers and peel away but if you’re looking for a faster process, or run into a stubborn clove whose skin just won’t peel, here are a few popular tricks.
I’ve tried all of these methods and it really just depends on how much garlic you need to peel, how you plan to use it, or if you’re preserving it.
The method below requires just Two Metal Mixing Bowls and it is my favorite.
- Take your whole head of garlic and place it in a large metal bowl.
- Place another bowl the same size on top of the first bowl so that you have an orb shape.
- Shake the two bowls very hard for about 30 seconds.
Keep in mind that this method works best with older garlic where the skin is already a little loose. Vigorously shaking the garlic in the bowls allows the skins to just break and fall away from the cloves. This method works best when using large quantities of garlic to smash into each other and help the process along.
Likely the most well-known method of peeling garlic cloves in a flash is by hitting the clove with the flat side of the knife. This is handy when cooking, but for this recipe, we want to preserve whole cloves intact so be careful not to smash your garlic if you try this method.
Similar to the bowl method above, you can also place the garlic cloves in a glass jar with a closed lid and then vigorously shake to loosen the garlic skin. This is definitely effective but, the amount of garlic you’re able to process this way is limited.
You can also use the microwave or warm water to heat the garlic slightly, making it easier to peel with your fingers.
Preparing Garlic
Depending on when your garlic was harvested you might notice some brown spots on the cloves. This is perfectly normal and doesn’t mean your garlic is rotten.
After rinsing once, I used a small paring knife to trim off brown spots on my garlic cloves. After all the brown spots are removed, rinse the garlic bulbs a second time and proceed with the recipe as directed.
Storing Garlic
If you use the method outlined in the recipe, you’ll need to store your jars of preserved garlic in the refrigerator to make them last. Designate one side of a shelf or a shelf on the inside of a drawer for your garlic jars. They should stay fresh for several months and even up to a year.
Sticking with this basic refrigerator canning method is by far the easiest and more reliable way to preserve garlic.
While there are multiple sources online that claim pressure canning works, I’ve removed this information, based on a reader review that doing this destroyed her garlic. I stick with my recommendation of preserving garlic in vinegar in the refrigerator. According to the USDA, “Canning of garlic is not recommended. Garlic is a low-acid vegetable that requires a pressure canner to be properly processed. Garlic loses most of its flavor when heated in this way. For this reason, adequate processing times have not been determined for canning garlic.”
How to Use Preserved Garlic
Now that you know how to preserve garlic, you can use that garlic anywhere you’d use the fresh stuff. And believe me when I tell you it maintains all the same aromatic, flavorful goodness of a freshly harvested garlic bulb.
Sauteed garlic is a must-have for countless savory recipes. We use it in everything from Garlicky Ginger Stir-Fry for a quick and easy weeknight meal to Sauteed Zucchini Ribbons.
Preserved garlic (rinsed and patted dry) is also amazing roasted! Use it in Roasted Garlic Quinoa with Mushrooms, Roasted Garlic and Bacon Guacamole and Roasted Garlic White Bean Dip and be everyone’s new best friend.
I also love garlic as an ingredient in salad dressing, sauces, marinades and savory spreads. It’s just divine in Beer and Garlic Marinade, Mojo Marinade, and in Homemade Ranch Dressing. This Chipotle Garlic Sauce served with roasted fingerling potatoes are a garlic lovers’ dream.
True garlic fanatics NEED to try the Garlic Lover’s Potato Salad. That recipe alone is worth “putting up” a big batch of garlic so you have it on hand anytime a craving strikes.
Give preserving your own garlic a try. I guarantee you won’t be sorry! It’s an easy and money-saving way to ensure you always have garlic on-hand anytime you need it.
I encourage everyone to learn about preserving and pickling vegetables. One of our favorites is pickled daikon radishes.
Kitchen Tip: I use this pot and these jars when preserving garlic.
Kitchen Tip: How To Preserve Garlic
Ingredients
- Garlic heads broken apart and cloves peeled
- Distilled vinegar
- Large pot for boiling the vinegar
- Jars for storing the garlic
Instructions
- Break apart your heads of garlic and peel the cloves. Place the peeled cloves of garlic in a large mixing bowl and fill with water. Use your fingertips to scrub any dirt off of the cloves. Once the cloves are cleaned, transfer them to a large strainer and rinse well.
- Depending on when your garlic was harvested, you might have very few brown spots on the cloves. My garlic was harvested late this year, so the ends were quite brown with some spots on the cloves as well. Use a small paring knife to trim the spots and then transfer the cleaned and trimmed cloves back to the strainer. Rinse again.
- Bring the vinegar to a boil in a large pot. For several hundred cloves of garlic, I used about 8 cups of vinegar. Place the clean garlic cloves into small jars. (I prefer to use small vs large jars to avoid contaminating a huge amount if the jar is open for too long in the refrigerator.) I filled 10 half pint jars with garlic. Once the vinegar has boiled, pour it over the garlic and screw the lids on tight.
- Let the jars come to room temperature on the counter overnight and then store in the refrigerator. This will keep in the refrigerator for up to a year. Enjoy!
Nutrition
{originally posted 9/14/12 – recipe notes and photos updated 5/10/22}
Sophie Shoults says
Will this work with dried garlic heads? I have quite a few from a badly planned christmas shop and unsure how to keep them from going mouldy.
Mary Younkin says
As long as the garlic is still good, yes, you can peel it and drop it into the vinegar to make it last longer.
Jessica says
Do I pour the vinegar over the garlic immediately after boiling or after its cooled?
Mary Younkin says
Either way will work fine, Jessica.
Katherine says
why boil the vinegar?
Mary Younkin says
Hi Katherine! I’ve boiled the vinegar for years simply because I was told to do that. I recently tried it without boiling and it worked fine. This isn’t going in the cupboard, it’s going in the refrigerator, so it shouldn’t be an issue as long as everything is covered. I honestly couldn’t find a good reason to boil it if you aren’t brining in a flavored solution. (Boiling would help blend the flavors in that case.) I hope that helps!
JoAnn says
I followed your instructions exactly as you posted and after just a few days, several garlic cloves in each jar have green on them. What went wrong?
Mary Younkin says
As mentioned in the post, if your garlic does turn blue or green, it is still safe to eat.
This can happen when enzymes and amino acids present in garlic react with the sulfur compounds responsible for garlic’s pungent smell. I’ve seen this happen a few times now and apparently, it is fairly common.
Linda Rodriguez says
If you want to water bath the garlic after putting the boiling vinegar over the garlic buds, would it seal the jars so they can be set on shelves and not have to keep in the refrigerator? My refrigerator is small….about how long should I water bath it? Thanks for your help!
Mary Younkin says
Unfortunately, the garlic is not safe to store that way. It does need to be in the fridge.
Becky says
I have a question about your canning method.
Can you Store them on the shelf or do they have to go in the fridge? I am looking for long term shelf life in case we loose power.
Thank you for your response.
Mary Younkin says
I keep them in the fridge, Becky.
Amanda says
Hello thanks for the information did you have to sterilise the jars before putting the garlic in?
Mary Younkin says
I typically run them through the dishwasher with the heat cycle drying to finish them.
Rob Brown says
Where do i get distilled vinegar
Mary Younkin says
Distilled vinegar is plain white regular vinegar.
Anita says
I did not sterilize the jars, but saw in a comment that you said they need to be. I didn’t see that in the directions, so not sure what I should do now. The jars were brand new, might they be okay?
Mary Younkin says
The jars will be fine, Anita. I typically just run them through the dishwasher.
Shannon says
I have a question – are these hung to dry right out of the ground and then you do this jarred method? Can’t wait to try it.
Mary Younkin says
I do this with both new and old garlic. Either way it will work fine.
Lee Thurston says
Great tip on preserving garlic.I do disagree with reader who said pressure canning destroyed garlic.I get 25 lbs.of garlic from a friend who grows it commercially and pressure canned most of it. Absolutely delicious in garlic butter,soups,stews,casseroles,etc.My stepson claims best garlic butter he ever had.Thank you for new way to preserve garlic for a little variety.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you love the garlic, Lee.
Glenda says
How long did you pressure can the garlic?
Mary Reichertz says
Very easy. Very fast – except for peeling my garlic harvest :). Used some yesterday and it was great. We’ll see how it is as time goes on.
Roula says
Hello
Will my garlic taste like vinegar when I need to use it for recipes?
Mary Younkin says
The garlic does not taste like vinegar at all, Roula. I’ve been using this method to store garlic for almost 10 years now.
Shelby says
Can this recipe be followed with minced garlic instead of the clovers?
Mary Younkin says
I’ve never tried that, Shelby. I’m guessing that minced garlic may absorb some of the vinegar flavor or fragrance.
Ann says
I tried this with two beautiful, purple heads of garlic. I found that I could definitely taste the vinegar and the oil did not prevent it from seeping through. It was evident just by looking at them that the vinegar had seeped through and no amount of rinsing took it away; especially any cloves that had a spot removed allowing the vinegar to easily get in.
Also, I found the blue color they turned very off putting. I was browning garlic cloves for a meal, I had some that were in the vinegar and some that were frozen and stored in a Food Saver air tight bag. The frozen ones turned a beautiful golden brown, while the other was a very unappetizing blue.
In my opinion this is not the best way to preserve extra garlic, giving the taste, color, time to make and use, and the space needed in the refrigerator.
Freezing whole cloves is by far easier, less space and time, and no unslightly blue color.
Mary Younkin says
Sorry it didn’t work well for you. I’ve never tasted the vinegar and I don’t use oil.
Shawn Olz says
Did this method with 5 pounds of garlic. You can rinse it for 5 days and it still has a strong vinegar taste.
I even tried replacing the vinegar with water and let it sit for a couple days in the fridge. No help, still has a strong vinegar flavour.
Wish I tried it on a single jar instead of 5.
On the bright side, the cloves turned a funky blue color and it didn’t go mushy.
Mary Younkin says
I’ve been doing this for years and have never tasted the vinegar. Are you cooking the garlic? Using it raw? Admittedly, most of the time when I’m using raw garlic (i.e. in dressings or salads), I’m adding vinegar as well, but still. Sorry it didn’t work for you.
George Suroviec says
Since I raise about 300 plants a year, I have tried all different ways of pickling garlic… and pouring hot liquid on some garlic will turn it blue or green. It won’t hurt it, but it doesn’t look nice. If you insist on boiling the vinegar, let it cool down to room temperature before pouring on the garlic. Otherwise, why bother boiling it. It is a preserve as is. If you are concerned, add a tablespoon of canning or kosher salt (no iodine or table salt) per 8 oz. of liquid. But, again, not necessary. I can store my garlic for more than 8 months by keeping it dry, cold and in total darkness. My storage area can get down below freezing. That won’t hurt garlic. The key is that it must be cured or completely dry before putting in storage. Don’t store in airtight containers either. Onion bags work well. So do paper lunch bags. They block out all light.
Mary Younkin says
It’s interesting to have your perspective on it, George. I typically just cover the garlic in vinegar now (vs boiling it) and I can assure you that it may or may not still turn blue. In all my years of doing this, it has only turned color twice. Yes, if you have space and the storage area for it, garlic can be kept in dry storage. In my own experience, it almost always has begun to grow within a month when kept that way. I simply can’t keep it cold enough (or potentially dry enough?) for it to cure completely. For me, and for many others, storing the garlic in vinegar in the fridge is the easiest option. I’m glad you’ve found what works best for you with so many plants growing each year!
Maria walsh says
My garlic was cooling on the counter after I added the boiled vinegar..a half hour later I noticed the garlic was turning blue..it certainly doesn’t look appetizing..
Mary Younkin says
As mentioned in the post, if your garlic does turn blue or green, it is still safe to eat.
This can happen when enzymes and amino acids present in garlic react with the sulfur compounds responsible for garlic’s pungent smell. I’ve seen this happen a few times now and apparently, it is fairly common.
Judy says
Great tip! I actually smile when the recipe calls for garlic. No more spending time peeling and trying to get those paper thin skins to let go of you and then cleaning them up. Just reach into the jar remove the correct number of cloves and smash, chop or press. Thank you Mary.
Mary Younkin says
Judy – YES! Such a time and frustration saver.
Magdalena says
hello, my garlic float in the jar and the top part of the garlic is not cover with vinegar, is that alright or will this affect the part of the garlic in the air? any recommendation for this?
Mary Younkin says
The garlic will often float initially. Just give the jar a shake when you think of it or see it in the fridge. It shouldn’t be a problem.