It is possible to freeze garlic, though there is some debate about whether or not it still tastes good after thawing. If you find yourself with an excess of garlic, freezing it can be quite helpful. You may want to test it out with a tiny amount first and decide for yourself whether it works or not.
While there are several benefits to freezing garlic, this method does require more work up-front. Peeling the cloves and soaking them in olive oil will reduce the prep time. Then, freeze them in cubes. Thaw the garlic by transferring them to a mason jar. You can then use them whenever you need them.
Three Ways to Freeze Garlic
Whole Garlic
Choose top-notch garlic bulbs. Simply wiping gently will get rid of any visible dirt.
Put it in a freezer bag that can be sealed. Label and date (the latter is more crucial as it is likely already obvious that it is a garlic bulb).
Use. Simply remove the clove’s outer layer, peel it, and use it as usual. It won’t take long for it to thaw, but if you’re careful, you may slice or grate it while it’s still frozen (with a sharp knife).
Whole Cloves or Minced Garlic
Garlic cloves should be taken off of the bulb. Peel everyone.
Leave the clove whole or cut it into little bits.
Wrap the chopped garlic cloves in foil or plastic wrap. Put the wrapped garlic inside a freezer bag that can be sealed.
Freeze. Use by slicing off the necessary amount of the chopped bulk, or just take a clove (if the clove has become mushy, cooking will only serve to further the clove’s decomposition). Both the frozen bulk and the clove, assuming it hasn’t broken, can be grated.
Use within a year.
Greasy Garlic
For this procedure to work, you must immediately freeze the product to prevent potential food poisoning.
Pick an appropriate garlic bulb. Peel the cloves after separating them from them.
Put the cloves in a blender or food processor. Garlic should be added in a 2:1 oil to garlic ratio.
Olive oil or another vegetable oil with a milder flavor of your choice is an excellent option.
To combine the two items, puree or blend them. To avoid odor transfer, move to a freezer-safe container with a lid.
Use. Take off as much greasy garlic using a teaspoon or butter knife as is required for creating pasta sauce, flavoring meats, stews, and other foods, adding garlic to stir-fries, or sautéing.
This mixture should not be left sitting at room temperature; instead, it should be either frozen or heated right away.
What are the Health Benefits of Garlic?
Garlic has been a common ingredient in kitchens for ages. Due to its antibacterial and antiseptic properties, this herb has medicinal and curative uses. Garlic has a compound called allicin, which is what gives it its health advantages. There are plenty of minerals, including phosphorus, zinc, potassium, and magnesium. The vitamins C, K, folate, niacin, and thiamine are all abundant in garlic.
Protects Against Cold and Cough
Raw garlic can prevent cold and flu infections, and consuming two crushed cloves on an empty stomach provides the greatest benefit. Children and babies who have garlic cloves draped around their necks supposedly have fewer symptoms of congestion.
Positive for Cardiac Health
Garlic has a substance called allicin that stops LDL from oxidizing (lousy cholesterol). This supports heart health and lowers cholesterol. Consuming garlic lowers the risk of blood clots, which helps to prevent thromboembolism. Additionally, garlic lowers blood pressure, making it advantageous for those who have hypertension. Here is more information about controlling high blood pressure.
Improves Cognitive Performance
Garlic’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties support healthy brain function and aid in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. You can go here to find out more about the best foods for your diet to include.
Boosts Digestion
Raw garlic is suitable for the intestines and reduces inflammation, thus including it in one’s diet can aid with digestive problems. Eating raw garlic helps to get rid of intestinal worms. The good news is that it protects helpful bacteria in the stomach while eliminating dangerous germs.
Stabilization of Blood Sugar
When consuming raw garlic, diabetics should keep an eye on their blood sugar levels. Also, have a look at these seven negative impacts of sugar.
Booster of Immunity
Garlic defends the body against free radicals and stops DNA deterioration. Zinc, which helps to strengthen immunity, is found in garlic. Because of its antibacterial properties, vitamin C is excellent for healing eye and ear infections as well as contributing to the battle against the disease.
Increased Skin Health
Acne scars can be made lighter and prevented by using garlic. Among other things, garlic juice can treat blisters, rashes, psoriasis, and cold sores. Additionally, it protects against UV rays, which slows the aging process.
Prevents Cancer and Peptic Ulcers
The body is shielded from tumors of the lungs, prostate, bladder, stomach, liver, and colon because of the antioxidant solid content of garlic. By clearing the infection from the gut, garlic’s antibacterial activity aids in the prevention of peptic ulcers.
Loss of weight
Garlic blocks the expression of genes necessary for the development of adipose cells, which store fat. Additionally, it increases thermogenesis in the body, increasing fat burning and lowering LDL cholesterol (lousy cholesterol).
Garlic not only helps you lose weight, but it is also highly nutritious. Vitamin B6 and manganese are both found in one raw garlic clove, which weighs around 3 grams. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant. Selenium Fiber contains minerals such as calcium, copper, potassium, iron, and others.
Could Improve Your Sports Performance
One of the best foods for “performance enhancing” is considered to be garlic. The item was originally employed to help workers who were feeling fatigued and to improve their productivity. Consuming garlic has been found to enhance rodents’ ability to exercise. Six weeks of garlic consumption resulted in a 12% decrease in heart rate and better exercise tolerance in people with heart disease.
Reference: Potential health benefits of garlic (Allium sativum): a narrative review
What Kind of Garlic Is Healthiest to Eat?
However, investigations have revealed that cooking garlic in these ways significantly lowers its allicin content ( 2, 3 ). Choosing raw garlic may help you get the most nutritional content out of it, even though consuming cooked garlic can be beneficial. Avoiding consuming too much garlic in a short period of time would be beneficial. “Anyone should limit their daily intake to one to two cloves.
Says University of Georgia food and nutrition specialist Tracey Brigman. If you eat more than that, you can have an upset stomach, diarrhea, bloating, or bad breath. Bring an inch and a half of water to a boil in a big pot with a steamer attachment.
Once the steamer has reached a rolling boil, add all of the garlic cloves. 45 minutes spent steaming all there is to it is that!
What are the Techniques for Treating Garlic Taste in Mouth?
Garlic and onions don’t have to be permanently avoided. You aren’t required to be concerned about having bad breath while eating or drinking. Here are some tips for avoiding meals that can cause foul breath.
Drink Plenty of Water
It increases salivation, which helps to wash away bacteria that could leave the mouth smelling bad.
Brush and Floss
Oftentimes, plaque on the teeth and below the gum line contains bacteria that cause bad breath. After every meal, carefully brush and floss your teeth to minimize oral bacteria and eliminate other causes of bad breath, such as plaque and food particles.
Use a Tongue Scraper to Clean Your Tongue.
Many people neglect or forget to wash their tongues or mouths roofs. The back of your tongue, however, is an ideal environment for germ growth. You might notice a yellowish coating growing on your tongue.
To get rid of bacteria, dead skin cells, and food residue from your tongue, use a tongue scraper. Make sure there isn’t any leftover trash. Get one from a pharmacy.
Use Mouthwash to Rinse Your Mouth.
Rinsing your mouth with an odor-intensive mouthwash can help you get rid of garlic breath. Pick one with a powerful flavor, like peppermint. Chlorine dioxide mouthwashes may aid in removing bacteria, plaque, and food particles.
Employ Essential Oils Where Appropriate.
Mouthwashes with alcohol may contain essential oils, and these oils’ antibacterial properties may help you breathe easier and provide additional benefits. To make mouthwash, combine some essential oils with carrier oil. Some essential oils, such as peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, and myrrh, may be able to help you get rid of foul breath.
Include a Variety of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables in Your Diet
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables after meals may lessen the smell of garlic and onion. Eating a raw apple or lettuce may significantly lessen garlic breath, according to a study.
Eat Herbal Leaves
Chewing a few parsley leaves after a meal will help get rid of garlic breath. This is a great way to freshen the palate and get rid of odors, and mint may also help with bad breath.
Consume Water and Lemon.
Lemon juice can be used to get rid of garlic or onion breath. Squeeze some lemon juice into a glass of water after a meal that contains a lot of onion or garlic (room temperature or cold, as desired).
Make Apple Cider Vinegar Available
A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar should be added to a glass of water. Drink it before or after meals to get rid of the bad taste in your mouth. It’s best to consult with your doctor or dentist before attempting this practice because it lacks scientific support.
Gum Chewing
A bad breath odor may be covered up by chewing gum with a mint flavor. Additionally, it stimulates salivary glands, which help wash away bacteria and food particles.
The American Dental Association suggests chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following a meal to lower the risk of cavities.
Brew a Cup of Green Tea for Yourself
Drinking a cup of green tea after eating is a great way to freshen your breath. Chewing parsley leaves, gum, or mints is not as efficient as this technique.
There are numerous additional health benefits of green tea. According to studies, an antibacterial mouthwash that contains catechins—vital substances found in green tea—reduces plaque as effectively as any other mouthwash.
Drink Milk.
Drink a glass of milk after a meal that is high in garlic to clear the mouth of the sulfur compounds that cause bad breath. For this treatment, full-fat milk is far preferable to fat-free milk.
Halve the Garlic Bulb and Scoop Out the Core.
One approach to stop developing garlic breath is to alter how you use garlic in your meals. Remove the bulb’s core by cutting each garlic clove from the middle and adding it to the food.
Conclusion
If you’d like to store garlic for longer, there are several options. One of them is to place peeled cloves in olive oil and freeze them. This will keep the garlic soft and fresh for up to 6 months. The downside is that you’ll be at risk of botulism if you do this method. However, it is an easy process, and you’ll save a lot of money!
Alternatively, you can place peeled garlic cloves in an old sauce jar and freeze them. A mason jar works great for this. You can then add the garlic to a recipe without defrosting it. Once frozen, the garlic will be softer and easier to mince.
