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HELP - some of my stored garlic is beginning to sprout Can't see it lasting until next Spring.

Has anyone ever bought "Cheats Garlic" - chopped garlic in olive oil? I wondered if anyone had any great tips for storing garlic like this? Or any other ideas .......

Thanks

I might be wrong, but I've got it in mind that garlic is not great kept in oil or vinegar - I think it has some kind of bacteria in it that turns the oil/vinegar to poison ( may be a little melodramatic!) or just sends it off.
I'm sure someone else will be able to clarify this or indeed tell me I'm talking rubbish as usual!

Not you are right Waffler. Garlic and veggies stored in oil can be deadly.

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Jennie I have just had a look in my books and AWT has instructions for making garlic powder. Slice garlic thinly and cook in a low oven 150c/300F/Gas 2 until dry and brittle. Blend to a powder in a coffee grinder and pass through a fine sieve into an airtight container. That sounds good.

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Ooh that sounds good. Will have to remember for next bumper crop. That wasn't this year. Fingers crossed next year will be better.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

That sounds great LJ!

OK, I admit it! I use jars of the stuff! much easier than peeling and chopping your own! Mind you, when my own garlic grows next spring I'll of course, be using that! DDL

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

Once you've used your own DDL you won't want to go back. The flavour is much more intense.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

why not mince it up & store it as freezer cube Jennie? then substitue 1 cube for a clove.

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

What about the smell. surely it will taint the other food in the freezer.

Put the ice cube tray inside 2 layers of ziplock plastic bags, with a little parsley mint and lemon zest sealed in the outer one, it usually works to neutralise most of the smell!

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Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 10th August 2008 - updates!

Never had any trouble myself Bramble

That sounds like a good Idea Mrs D

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Thanks alot everyone - great ideas. Might try both the drying and freezing. Will let you know how I get on.

Had a great idea of planting some, so put two heads in the polytunnel this afternoon. But I have another ten heads that are sprouting. It was a good year for garlic! (Got about another 40 hanging in the shed).

Did I mention the garlic flavoured choc ices I gave some friends? I'd just thrown some garlic cloves in the freezer (no plastic bag or anything!) and they'd landed near some choc ices. It wasnt until my friends faces turned a strange shade of green whey they were eating them that I realised what had happened!! DDL

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

Thanks Nick!

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Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 10th August 2008 - updates!

I've tried several kinds of shop bought prepared garlic (tubes and Jars) Jennie and I thought they were all disgusting. I've tried garlic in the freezer and found the smell quite overpowering. I find it keeps well out in the back kitchen where it's cool.

Garlic in oil is lovely but you need to get the right advice on prep because there is a botulism risk. Try googling and you should find some reference to it.

Apparently if you soak the garlic in vinegar for 24 hours before you preserve in oil it reduces the chance of botulism. Or you could just pickle it instead!