Can You Freeze Black Garlic? – How to Store Black Garlic? – Can You Refreeze Black Garlic?

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Can You Freeze Black Garlic: Black garlic is a type of white garlic that has been aged by warming the garlic bulbs at about 140˚ to 190˚ F in high humidity for an extended period of time until the cloves become tender and black in color. It’s fresh garlic with a smooth, soft texture and a rich, sweet taste that can be used to enhance the flavor of many savory and sweet recipes.

Black garlic has so many health benefits and can be used in a variety of different dishes, it is a fantastic ingredient to have stored. It’s a good idea to keep black garlic handy. So can you freeze black garlic? Well, on the shelf, black garlic will only last a couple of months, but in the freezer, this can be increased to upwards of a year. We’ll see all the necessary details related to the freezing of black garlic later on in this article.

Can You Freeze Black Garlic

Can Black Garlic Be Frozen?

Yes, black garlic can definitely be frozen. Freezing is one of the best ways to preserve black garlic for a long period of time. Freezing will extend the shelf life of black garlic and also preserve its flavor and nutrients. For best results, you should store black garlic in a freezer-safe container.

Whole bulbs of unpeeled black garlic can be kept in their packaging at room temperature until opened. Once opened, the black garlic package should be stored in the refrigerator until the best-by or use-by date. Black garlic will normally last up to one month in the refrigerator. But for a longer shelf life you should freeze your black garlic. Stay tuned to find out the best way of freezing black garlic, including thawing, reheating, and much more.

How To Freeze Black Garlic?

So, how do you freeze black garlic? Just have patience and follow the steps given below to freeze your back garlic correctly:

  • Peel Each Clove: Peel each clove of black garlic and separate it out into portions. As we know, it’s best to freeze on an individual portion size to prevent waste. This also means you can use it directly from frozen.
  • Place In an Airtight Container: Airtight plastic containers, freezer-safe boxes, or ziplock bags work perfectly well for freezing black garlic. Pop your garlic cloves into the container and seal tightly.
  • Label and Place in the Freezer: Put a clear label on the container, including the contents and the date of freezing, then place the container into the freezer.
  • Shake Gently: Once your black garlic has been kept in the freezer for around 30 minutes, give the container a gentle shake to separate the cloves from one another. This will help prevent them from freezing into one large clump.
  • Store in the freezer: Finally, place the now-shaken container back in the freezer until you need to consume black garlic.

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How To Store Black Garlic?

Peeled, whole or diced black garlic cloves and purees should be stored in airtight containers or glass jars in the refrigerator and used by the date indicated on the packaging. You can use various garlic storage techniques to preserve your black garlic for future use. Here are some different methods that you can use to store your black garlic properly:

Store in a dry, dark place

You can store your whole bulb of black garlic in a dry place away from moisture and humidity to avoid sprouting. Just make sure that the place you store dry garlic is dark, like a pantry or cupboard, and preferably closer to the ground to keep it cool.

Store in the refrigerator 

It’s better to store peeled or cooked garlic in the refrigerator because whole garlic bulbs will sprout when exposed to cool conditions. Toss your peeled cloves in an airtight container and place them in the crisper drawer in your fridge. You should use the prepared garlic stored in the fridge within one month.

Dehydrate the garlic cloves

You can make dehydrated garlic by cutting thin slices off peeled garlic cloves and placing them in a food dehydrator. Then store the dehydrated garlic cloves in an airtight container and place them in a cool, dry place like a cupboard or pantry. Garlic stored this way can safely last for up to one year.

Freeze the cloves

You can freeze whole bulbs of black garlic, but it will be easier to prepare your dishes if you separate and peel the cloves before freezing. Wipe away any dirt inside the bulb, then peel as many cloves as you want to freeze. Put the cloves in an airtight container or freezer bag, mark the storage date, and then place them inside the freezer for up to a year.

How Long Can You Freeze Black Garlic?

Black garlic is a great food to stock up on and keep because you can freeze the cloves for up to a year. Black garlic already has a quite long shelf life outside of the freezer, but if it is not something you are going to be using regularly over the course of a few months, then storing it in the freezer is a good solution. Freezing individual cloves even prevents the need to defrost whole bulbs at once. In short, you can freeze black garlic for up to one year.

Black Garlic  Shelf Life 
In the freezer 1 year

How Do You Defrost Black Garlic?

Frozen black garlic does not need to be thawed before use. Whole black garlic cloves can be cut with a sharp knife or grated over the top of a dish whilst still frozen. If needed, leave the garlic for just a few minutes at room temperature; due to its small size, it should thaw fairly quickly. Once the frozen garlic has returned to its soft state, it can then be pureed into sauces, mixed into butter, or pulsed with oil to make a dressing.

To know better about the freezing process of another garlic type such as Wild Garlic go through our blog on Can You Freeze Wild Garlic and see what goes in the freezing process.

Can You Refreeze Black Garlic?

No, it is not recommended to freeze, thaw, and then refreeze any ingredient, but it can be tried as long as you are careful and do not do this too often. With a product like black garlic, you may run the risk of it losing flavor or texture if it is frozen, thawed, and then refrozen many times.

Does Black Garlic Freeze Well?

Yes, black garlic does freeze well and is a really good item to have in the freezer! Black garlic is pretty versatile when it comes to freezing, as you can freeze raw, whole, unpeeled bulbs, individual cloves, peeled or unpeeled, or chopped garlic.

Mind you, frozen garlic can lack the crunchy texture of fresh, but the flavor remains strong—and definitely lacks the chemical taste that sometimes accompanies jarred garlic, which makes freezing a great method of preservation.

How To Use Leftover Black Garlic In Recipes?

Looking for some recipes that use black garlic in the ingredient list? Just like fresh garlic, black garlic can be eaten raw, cooked, or used in multiple dishes. This unique ingredient has a rich, slightly sweet taste that can elevate any dish. Here’s a list of some recipes that feature black garlic as a key ingredient:

  • Black garlic soup: This soup is full of delicious flavor thanks to the addition of black garlic. Just simmer chicken broth with chopped vegetables and black garlic, then puree the soup until smooth. Don’t forget to serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top.
  • Black garlic pasta: A dish that is simple yet flavorful. For this, just sauté some garlic in olive oil, then add it to cooked pasta with a bit of grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Roasted chicken with black garlic: For a unique twist on roasted chicken, rub the meat with a mixture of black garlic, olive oil, and herbs before roasting. This will give result that is an incredibly fragrant and moist chicken.
  • Alternatively, blend black garlic into condiments (like mayonnaise!) and dress potato salad, top a burger, Stir it into salsas, pasta sauces, soups, and stews, or use it to top pizzas and flatbreads.
  • It can also be used to add umami flavor to salads, sautéed vegetables, marinades, and sauces.

Black garlic can be used in any recipe where normal garlic is an ingredient. So next time you’re in the mood for something new, follow the above-mentioned recipes, and don’t be afraid to give black garlic a try!

FAQs On Freezing Black Garlic

1. How Can You Tell If Black Garlic Has Gone Bad?

We know it is hard to tell when black garlic goes bad as it is already quite squishy to touch. However, if the black garlic becomes easy to squash and has an unpleasant odor then it’s worth throwing it out.

2. Can You Eat Black Garlic Raw?

Yes, you can eat raw black garlic. Black garlic is a type of fermented garlic, so it is soft and has a chewy, deep flavor that is slightly sweet. So you can eat it on its own or incorporate it into other dishes.

3. Does Black Garlic Oil Need To Be Refrigerated?

Yes, black garlic oil should be refrigerated in order to increase its shelf life. This is because the oil contains garlic, which is composed of natural oils and is prone to spoilage, so it is important to keep it in the refrigerator.

4. What is the Best Way to Store Black Garlic Box?

If you have a tub of unopened black garlic, it can be simply kept in the cupboard for weeks on end. But once opened, it can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 month or in the freezer for up to 1 year.

Conclusion

Hope you found this article useful. Freezing garlic is easy if you follow the above-mentioned steps properly. So, if you’re looking for something new to add to your cooking repertoire, why not try black garlic? Follow our storage tips and keep some black garlic handy. If you have any more queries related to freezing black garlic, drop your question in the comments section. For more interesting wellness content and the best tips on Can you Freeze Garlic, keep following our website.

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