Peeled, Packaged Garlic Cloves? (freeze, garden, glass, gourmet)

[burdell]

I just notice my local market is now carrying peeled, packaged garlic cloves packed in plastic bags in the refrigerated section. Since I'll often find a whole head kept in a dark cabinet will also wind up with cloves sprouting I'm curious if there's any downside to the to the packaged, peeled, refrigerated cloves?

[OutdoorLover]

I normally just use the chopped garlic in olive oil in a jar because there's no stinky hands and it only takes a minute to dip in with a small spoon and portion out what I need... but this sounds like it will be fresher.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

I normally just use the chopped garlic in olive oil in a jar because there's no stinky hands and it only takes a minute to dip in with a small spoon and portion out what I need... but this sounds like it will be fresher.

Thanks for the reply. I do kinda like the idea of whole cloves as sometimes I want to thinly slice them rather than mince them or take the whole clove to the microplane, just not sure if they keep well. Then again, I've never kept whole heads of garlic in the fridge, maybe that would reduce the chance of the cloves sprouting?

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by burdell

Thanks for the reply. I do kinda like the idea of whole cloves as sometimes I want to thinly slice them rather than mince them or take the whole clove to the microplane, just not sure if they keep well. Then again, I've never kept whole heads of garlic in the fridge, maybe that would reduce the chance of the cloves sprouting?

So water and oil don't mix -> coating them in oil will block the flow of moisture and keep them from drying out. If you brush them generously with olive oil and keep them in a small glass jar, I will bet they will keep a lot better. Try keeping half in the bag and half in the jar coated with oil, and see how they compare a month later.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

So water and oil don't mix -> coating them in oil will block the flow of moisture and keep them from drying out. If you brush them generously with olive oil and keep them in a small glass jar, I will bet they will keep a lot better.

One of the things of the packaged cloves that caught my eye was they were all large, plump gloves as opposed to the variety of sizes you often find in whole heads, and the package price seemed quite reasonable.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by burdell

One of the things of the packaged cloves that caught my eye was they were all large, plump gloves as opposed to the variety of sizes you often find in whole heads, and the package price seemed quite reasonable.

Well, whatever you do, if you try them, let us know what you find!

[burdell]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

Well, whatever you do, if you try them, let us know what you find!

Yeah, next time I'm in that particular store I'll pick up a bag. I'd seen jars of peeled cloves in a local Asian market but I think the bags caught my eye as I'd never seen them in the refrigerated section before.

[OutdoorLover]

This company is also interesting - they make a bunch of herb pastes in a squeeze tube - ginger, cilantro, basil, etc; . They need to be kept in the fridge but keep about 3 mos after opening so long as they are kept cold. Saves time and money.

https://www.gourmetgarden.com/en-us/products#Paste

[evening sun]

I have been getting the large bags of peeled garlic from Costco. I have to freeze about 3/4 of them, because as much as I love garlic, I can't use them fast enough. I love the convenience.

[steiconi]

I used to get those at some warehouse type store like costco. The were great, but the bags were so big, I never used them all.