How to Store Garlic Long Term

Proper storage helps cured garlic keep its flavour, firmness and quality for as long as possible. Music garlic is a hardneck variety, so it generally does not store quite as long as many softneck varieties, but the right conditions can still keep healthy, well-cured bulbs in good condition for several months.

Before storing garlic

Store only fully cured bulbs. The outer wrappers and neck should feel dry, and the cloves should be firm. Set aside any bulbs that are bruised, soft, damaged or showing mould, and use them first. Do not wash garlic before storage.

The best conditions for whole bulbs

• Keep it dry: excess moisture encourages mould and root growth.
• Provide airflow: use mesh bags, baskets, paper bags with ventilation holes or open crates.
• Keep it dark: direct sunlight and bright light can warm the bulbs and shorten storage life.
• Choose a stable temperature: a cool, dry pantry or storage room is usually best. Avoid repeated changes between warm and cold conditions.
• Store bulbs whole: once a bulb is broken apart, the individual cloves dry out faster.

Aim for a cool room with good air movement, ideally around 10–16°C (50–60°F) and approximately 50–60% relative humidity. Under good household conditions, properly cured Music garlic commonly keeps for about 3–5 months. Actual storage time depends on harvest condition, curing, bulb health and the temperature and humidity in your storage area.

What to avoid

• Do not seal whole bulbs in plastic bags or airtight containers.
• Do not store garlic beside a stove, dishwasher or sunny window.
• Do not keep whole bulbs in a damp basement or humid refrigerator drawer.
• Do not store damaged bulbs with healthy bulbs.
• Do not store fresh garlic in oil at room temperature. Garlic-in-oil mixtures must be refrigerated and used promptly or frozen because improper storage can create a botulism risk.

Check your garlic regularly

Inspect stored garlic every week or two. Remove any bulbs that become soft, mouldy or badly shrivelled so they do not affect the rest. Green sprouts are not dangerous; simply remove the sprout if its flavour is too strong or bitter for your recipe.

For storage longer than several months

If your bulbs begin approaching the end of their storage life, preserve the cloves instead of letting them spoil:

• Freeze peeled cloves: place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Frozen cloves soften after thawing but work well in cooked dishes.
• Freeze chopped garlic: portion it in small amounts for convenient cooking.
• Dehydrate: dry sliced cloves completely and store them airtight, or grind them into garlic powder.
• Make black garlic: use controlled heat and humidity with a proven food-safe method.

Quick storage checklist

Dry bulbs + darkness + steady cool temperature + good airflow = the best storage life.

Shnab’s Inc grows Ontario Music garlic for eating and planting. For best results, order only what you can store under suitable conditions and use any imperfect bulbs first.