Storing Garlic
The ideal conditions for storing garlic are a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. After picking, garlic is often stored and dried hanging from a ceiling.
Unfortunately most kitchens are warm, frequently humid and often sunny. This reduces the
time that garlic will last before sprouting or going soft. Putting garlic in the
fridge is worse than useless and can cause it to go soft and moldy quickly.
For this reason, I like to use a special garlic keeper in which to store the my garlic.
What Is A Garlic Keeper?
The garlic keepers I make have a wooden base and a wooden cover with small vents. My most recent creations have a maple base and a mesquite cover. I added a small knob of acacia on top make it easy to remove the top.
Using a good garlic keeper will maximize the storage life of your garlic, especially if
you
start by buying good garlic in the first place. It should be firm with
plenty of dry papery covering and no sprouting.
Of course, if your cooking's anything like mine your garlic won't need to last very long!
