Roasted garlic is an exquisite condiment to intensify the flavor of numerous dishes. While it is fairly easy to prepare, the procedure takes time. This is why many people decide to roast it in abundance, and then keep it for future use. Roasted garlic can be kept in the fridge for a few days, while in the freezer you can leave it for about a year.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Short Term Retention
Step 1. If you need to store it for a few days, put the garlic in the fridge using an airtight bag
Roast the garlic heads, place them in an airtight bag or other plastic container and put them in the fridge. Make sure you leave the wedges inside the peel, which has the function of protecting them. A good quantity of garlic heads can be stored in a single plastic bag.
- You can keep them in the fridge for up to three days, after which they will spoil.
- When roasted garlic spoils, it turns brown, becomes mushy, or starts to smell rotten.
Step 2. Coat the garlic with oil and store it in the fridge using an airtight container to make it last longer
Place the roasted garlic in an airtight container and pour in enough oil to completely cover the heads. Close it tightly with the lid provided and put it in the refrigerator.
With this storage method, roasted garlic should keep fresh for about a week in the fridge
Step 3. Avoid storing oil-coated garlic at room temperature
When you coat garlic in oil, make sure you never leave it at room temperature, as this creates an environment conducive to the spread of the bacteria responsible for botulism. The low levels of acidity, the absence of oxygen and the heat can create favorable conditions for bacterial proliferation.
Make sure you put the garlic dipped in olive oil in the fridge or freezer right after making it
Part 2 of 2: Freezing Roasted Garlic
Step 1. Take out the roasted wedges
Grab the underside of the garlic head, which is the side that hasn't been cut. Squeeze it upwards with your fingers to make the roasted wedges begin to come out.
Try to perform the procedure on a plate or other clean surface
Step 2. Crush the wedges and place them in an ice tray
This is a very practical method of making roasted garlic cubes, as you can simply mash them off the tray when you need them. Simply mash the roasted garlic with a fork, then pour it into the ice tray with the help of a spoon.
Once the cubes have frozen (this will take about an hour), you can remove them from the tray and place them in an airtight bag
Step 3. Alternatively, freeze each clove of garlic individually on a baking sheet
Spread them on a baking sheet separating them well and put them in the freezer for at least an hour. Once frozen, you can move them all into an airtight bag for easy freezer storage.
This method takes less time initially (i.e. taking the wedges out of their wrappers). However, consider that when you want to use garlic in the kitchen you will first have to defrost it completely and remove the peel
Step 4. Place the roasted garlic in the freezer
These methods should allow you to freeze garlic for up to 10-12 months. Frozen cooked garlic lasts much longer than raw garlic that has undergone the same storage process.
