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Can You Freeze Garlic? How to Freeze Garlic Easily:

by Emily
Frozen Garlic Header

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for details at the bottom of this page. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on this article questioning ‘can you freeze garlic?’ Learn about how to freeze garlic: methods for freezing peeled, minced, and pureed garlic. 

Published 09/30/2021 Updated 02/14/2022

As an avid garlic lover, I constantly search for ways to make peeling, prepping, and cooking with garlic easier. Previously, I wrote about how to peel garlic quickly and easily. Recently, as I work toward preparing dishes in a more conscientious and less wasteful way, I learned how to freeze garlic to use at a later time! 

When researching about how to freeze garlic, I realized many people are also looking to make cooking at home easier and less wasteful. Queries and questions such as ‘can you freeze garlic’ and ‘how to freeze garlic’ continuously pop up on different social media platforms.

Here, I will teach you how to freeze whole, peeled cloves as well as minced and pureed garlic. I hope this helps you in your future meal prepping, zero waste lifestyle, and cooking endeavors! I know it helped me cut down the time it takes to cook our family Korean and Southern recipes–both cuisines use a lot of garlic!

Can You Freeze Garlic?

Yes, you can easily freeze garlic! You can freeze entire raw unpeeled bulbs, individual peeled and unpeeled cloves, chopped garlic, and homemade garlic pastes. 

While frozen garlic loses some of the crunchy texture of fresh garlic, its strong pungent flavor remains strong. For dishes that do not rely heavily on the texture of garlic, prepped and frozen garlic can save you a lot of time and energy in your day-to-day life! 

A bowl filled with peeled garlic cloves
Peeled Garlic Before Being Prepped–You Need to Remove the Brown Stems and Bruised Parts

How to Freeze Garlic:

Like I stated above, you can freeze garlic in many different ways. Below, we will learn how to freeze: 

  • Peeled Garlic Cloves
  • Minced and Chopped Garlic; And
  • Garlic Paste

All these methods are excellent options based on your cooking needs. In my household, we typically use minced garlic as well as garlic paste for our Korean and Southern recipes. We would love to hear what method you use the most for your household’s cooking culture! Let us know in the comments below. 

Freezing Garlic Tips and Tricks:

Before teaching you how to freeze garlic using the three different methods. I first want to give a few tips and tricks that will help you get started. 

  • First, when starting with fresh garlic, peel it. Then, with a paring knife, remove any green sprouts, brown and bruised parts, and brown stems. (Usually, I prepare three bowls and sit in front of the tv when doing this part. The first bowl holds all the unpeeled garlic cloves. The second bowl holds all the scraps and peels removed from the cloves. Finally, the third bowl holds all the prepped garlic cloves.)
  • Prepare your freezer container first: Before getting started, make sure you have appropriate freezer containers for your garlic. You can use freezer-safe Ziploc bags, freezer-safe Tupperware, or ice trays. Whatever container you use, make sure it is air-tight and is moisture resistant–You do not want freezer burn on your garlic! 
  • Label your freezer containers with the date: While freezing garlic prolongs its shelf life for months, it does not keep the garlic indefinitely. You should try to use your frozen garlic within four months. Adding a date helps you keep track. I use masking tape and a sharpie so I can reuse the containers–I’m trying to reduce waste! 

Below, I listed some items available on Amazon you may need for this project. I hope you enjoy prepping and freezing garlic to make day-to-day cooking easier!

A closeup shot of garlic cloves in a bowl.
A Closeup Shot of Garlic Cloves Before Being Prepped.

How to Freeze Garlic in Olive Oil Safely:

Many people desire to freeze garlic in olive oil. This way they can just put the frozen olive oil and garlic in a pan to cook. I use this method often as well. 

Actually, this is the only truly foolproof and safe way to preserve garlic in oil. Garlic is a low acid food. Meaning, when placed in oil, the resulting combination lacks oxygen. Thus, it provides the perfect conditions for growing Clostridium botulinum, which produces the well-known but rare botulism toxin. If combined garlic and oil are stored at room temperature or in a fridge held at a higher temperature than 40°F, you are putting yourself at risk.

To safely freeze garlic in olive oil, directly move the combined olive oil and garlic to the freezer once you combine them. Then, always directly use the frozen garlic in oil after removing it from the freezer. Never let it sit at room temperature or defrost before use. 

An ice tray filled with minced cloves and olive oil.
Minced Garlic in Olive Oil–Always Freeze Right Away.

How to Freeze Garlic Cloves: 

  1. First, peel the garlic cloves. Then, remove any brown spots, green sprouts, and brown stems. 
  2. Place the garlic cloves into your storage container. Examples include Ziploc bags, Tupperware, and ice trays with lids. 
  3. At this point, if you are using olive oil, add it to your storage container as well. 
  4. Then, seal the container, label it with the date, and directly place it into the freezer. 

Note: I usually use a Ziploc bag when freezing whole garlic cloves without oil. If I use olive oil, I use an ice tray container with a lid. This way, I can place a few cloves in the tray before topping it off with the oil. 

How To Freeze Chopped Garlic: 

  1. First, peel the garlic cloves. Then, remove any brown spots, green sprouts, and brown stems. 
  2. Next using a knife and chopping block or a food processor, chop the garlic until it is evenly minced. If you are using a food processor, make sure to scrape down the sides as needed. 
  3. Transfer the chopped garlic to your freezer-safe containers. Once again, if you desire to store it with olive oil, mix it into your minced garlic at this point. 
  4. Then, seal the container, label it with the date, and directly place it into the freezer. 

Note: I use an ice tray container with a lid for minced garlic whether I am freezing it with or without olive oil. Usually, I use a teaspoon or tablespoon to evenly measure the amounts before adding them into each freezer tray slot. I do the same for the olive oil if I am adding it to the minced garlic in the tray. 

An overhead shot of garlic cloves in a good processor.
After Removing the Bad Parts of the Garlic, Place in a Food Processor or Mince Using a Knife.

How To Freeze Garlic Paste:

  1. First, peel the garlic cloves. Then, remove any brown spots, green sprouts, and brown stems. 
  2. Next using a knife and chopping block or a food processor, chop the garlic until it becomes a paste–This is much easier if you use a food processor. Make sure to scrape down the sides of your blender or food processor if you are using one. 
  3. Transfer the garlic paste into freezer-safe storage containers. Then, seal the container, label it with the date, and directly place it into the freezer.

Note: Unlike the other garlic freezing methods, I do not add olive oil to garlic paste. Adding olive oil to the paste dilutes it and you can not accurately measure the amount of garlic to olive oil ratio when pulling some out of the freezer to use when cooking. 

An overhead shot of minced garlic in a good processor.
Continue to Blend Until You Mince the Garlic or Make Garlic Paste.

Freezing Garlic Frequently Asked Questions: 

Below, we answer some questions you may have about freezing garlic. If we did not answer your question, feel free to leave your question in the comment section below or email us at [email protected].

Do I Need to Thaw the Garlic Before Use?

No! You do not need to thaw the garlic before use. You can directly transfer the frozen garlic into whatever dish you are cooking. 

Remember, if you use olive oil when freezing your garlic, you should never let it defrost. Read all about garlic and olive oil above! 

An overhead shot of minced garlic in an ice tray.
Minced Garlic in an Ice Tray

How Long Does Frozen Garlic Last in the Freezer? 

You should use your frozen garlic within 3-4 months. Like I mentioned above, always label your container with the date. That way, you know when you froze all your garlic. 

How Do I Peel the Garlic?

Have no fear, we wrote about 5 quick and easy methods for freezing garlic on our blog. Check out our blog post for all sorts of tips for peeling garlic

A side shot of minced garlic and garlic paste in ice trays.
Garlic Paste and Minced Garlic in Ice Trays.

We Hope You Enjoyed Learning About How to Freeze Garlic!

In the end, we hope you enjoyed learning about how to freeze garlic. If so, let us know in the comment section below. Also, how do you use garlic in your household?

If you would like to read more about cooking, you can find further recipes on our blog. We listed some of our favorite Carving A Journey recipes below! For reference, many recipes are influenced by our blended Korean and Southern heritage.

Further Carving A Journey Recipes:

If you have any questions or comments, you can also email us at [email protected].

And, finally, we would love to hear from you through our social media as well! You can follow us at @carvingajourney on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. Or, if you would like more articles like these, you can subscribe to our blog by joining our mailing list. We hope you enjoyed learning about how to freeze garlic! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Can You Freeze Garlic? How to Freeze Garlic Easily:

5.0 from 1 vote
Recipe by Emily Course: Korean Recipes, Recipes, Southern RecipesCuisine: Food PrepDifficulty: Easy
Prep time

10

minutes
Total time

10

minutes

Ingredients

  • 10 Bulbs of Garlic, You can use as many or as little garlic bulbs as you like

  • Optional: Olive Oil

Directions

  • Whole Garlic Cloves
  • First, peel the garlic cloves. Then, brown spots, green sprouts, and brown stems. Place the garlic cloves into your storage container. Examples include Ziploc bags, Tupperware, and ice trays with lids. 
  • At this point, if you are using olive oil, add it to your storage container as well. Then, seal the container, label it with the date, and directly place it into the freezer. 
  • Chopped Garlic
  • First, peel the garlic cloves. Then, remove any brown spots, green sprouts, and brown stems. 
  • Next using a knife and chopping block or a food processor, chop the garlic until it is evenly minced. If you are using a food processor, make sure to scrape down the sides as needed.
  • Transfer the chopped garlic to your freezer-safe containers. Once again, if you desire to store it with olive oil, mix it into your minced garlic at this point. 
  • Then, seal the container, label it with the date, and directly place it into the freezer. 
  • Garlic Paste
  • First, peel the garlic cloves. Then, remove any brown spots, green sprouts, and brown stems. 
  • Next using a knife and chopping block or a food processor, chop the garlic until it becomes a paste–This is much easier if you use a food processor. Make sure to scrape down the sides of your blender or food processor if you are using one.
  •  Transfer the garlic paste into freezer-safe storage containers. Then, seal the container, label it with the date, and directly place it into the freezer.

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2 comments

Elaine Canafax schroeder February 10, 2022 - 6:07 pm

Thank you. I’m going to use those small jewelry plastic bags to freeze with. Like a 1″ x 2″. Ill chop the garlic and put it into those little bags, maybe 2 cloves at a time. That way they will already be measured as to how many cloves I want to use.

Reply
Emily February 14, 2022 - 4:57 pm

Such a good idea! I should try that as well. If you do, just make sure to buy little bags that are food safe! You don’t want toxic chemicals leaching in!

Reply

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