Today we explore the many signs of how to tell if garlic is bad. This will help you properly store the whole bulbs and cloves to use the freshest aromatic you possibly can!
If you enjoy informative articles like this, you have to check out the MANY others on my site! Some that I find very handy include How To Tell If Ground Beef Is Bad and How To Tell If An Onion Is Bad.
And I also have some handy kitchen guides like How To Melt White Chocolate Chips.
Go take a look and if you have any questions, feel free to let me know in the comments below!
How Long Does Garlic Last? Can Garlic Go Bad?
The shelf life of garlic isn’t very certain. Despite popular belief, while it is pretty hardy, garlic can spoil VERY easily. So, sometimes it will only last a week, and other times it can last up to a year!
Garlic has the ability to last for months! But, if the garlic you’ve bought is already 7 months old, then it might only last a week in your pantry. And unfortunately, there is no way to really know the age of store-bought garlic.
Next, how you store garlic will (obviously) also affect the shelf life of this ingredient.
Whole garlic bulbs will last longer than garlic cloves. Furthermore, peeled cloves won’t last as long as cloves with their skins still on. And, of course, chopped garlic (even if it is kept in oil) has an even shorter shelf life.
So, before we dive deep into how to tell if garlic is bad, how long does garlic actually last?
If you properly store whole (unpeeled) garlic houses, they can easily last between 3-5 months in the pantry.
Garlic cloves will generally last about a month (at the most). They don’t have the protective layers of the whole house and dry out pretty quickly.
And peeled cloves will only last a week (if even). They will start to shrivel within a day and eventually dry out completely.
Now the next question is whether or not garlic can go bad. While it takes some time, garlic can spoil and eventually rot. So you do have to monitor its deterioration before simply tossing it into your food.
How To Tell If Garlic Is Bad
So, how do you know when garlic is bad? There are a couple of signs, but many of them aren’t super obvious. In most cases, the garlic just won’t be optimal for food usage and is better tossed instead.
It’s important to understand that “bad” doesn’t just mean rotten. It also means that something has gone past its prime and isn’t longer functional.
So, even if the cloves aren’t black with mold and rot, they can still be spoiled.
Color
The first tell-tale sign of old and spoiled garlic will come from its color. The color of the thin garlic skin won’t change a lot. It will pretty much stay a type of whitish-gray. But, if it does turn moldy or black in any way, you should inspect the peeled cloves.
If your peeled garlic cloves become brown or black, they are starting to go off. Usually, they form discolored spots first before taking over the entire clove.
Is Purple Garlic OK?
Purple garlic is actually just a type (species) of garlic. It doesn’t show spoilage or under-ripeness of the cloves.
It can be used exactly like white garlic and has a slightly milder flavor. And generally, people say the flavor lingers longer than that of white garlic, making it ideal for salad dressings or spreads.
What Is Yellow Garlic?
Yellow garlic is just old white garlic. So, it’s another way how to tell if garlic is bad.
It indicates that the cloves are less than fresh. While you can still use these cloves (if they don’t show other signs of spoilage), it isn’t ideal.
Texture
Fresh garlic is pretty firm. But, as it ages and spoils, it becomes softer and softer. After some time, it can even become mushy, at which point you should immediately discard the garlic.
If the garlic has a slimy texture or is extremely dry, it is a dead giveaway for how to tell if garlic is bad.
Aroma (Smell)
Garlic has a very unique odor. It’s slightly pungent but still neutral in a way. Some even describe it as having spicy smells.
As it ages, the smell becomes less noticeable. Once it is completely gone, the garlic clove is useless (even if it hasn’t “deteriorated” yet).
Unlike many other ingredients that spoil, garlic doesn’t produce an off-smelling gas that indicates spoilage. So, as I’ve said, all you can go off of is that the cloves lose their smell completely.
Mold
This isn’t an ingredient that grows mold easily. That’s because it has a low moisture percentage, which makes it an unappealing target for bacteria.
However, that doesn’t mean mold will never grow on garlic. You will often see it on the skins of unpeeled garlic.
In that case, you can peel the cloves to see what they look like inside. If the cloves look perfectly fresh, they should still be fine to use.
How To Store Garlic
Now that you know how to tell if garlic is bad, let’s take a look at different storage methods for this ingredient to help extend its shelf life.
Garlic should be stored in dry, cool, and dark places. Anything that can cause moisture will ruin the bulbs and cloves.
You can refrigerate your garlic, but it causes the cloves to sprout very quickly, so it isn’t ideal for long-term storage.
The best place to store garlic is inside your pantry. I like to place mine inside a mesh basket or paper bag. You can even store garlic inside a container with holes.
How To Store Peeled Garlic
Once the cloves have been peeled, it is best to store them inside the fridge. Use them within a week to prevent them from drying out or sprouting.
You can place them inside an airtight container or re-sealable ziplock bag.
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