How to properly freeze garlic for the winter in the refrigerator

Not all housewives have tried freezing garlic, since not everyone knows whether it can be done or not. It turns out that there are quite a lot of ways to freeze this product; the most common of them are preparing the vegetable for future use by sending it to the freezer in heads, cloves, and in the form of a paste. The information below will give you an idea of ​​how to freeze a product correctly, and will also help you learn about all the advantages and disadvantages of this method of storing vegetables.

Garlic, if frozen according to the recommended technology, behaves perfectly

Is it possible to freeze garlic for the winter?

You can freeze garlic in the freezer; it is not at all difficult, the process does not require special skills or knowledge, you just need to follow the instructions corresponding to the chosen recipe. Since the product, when stored fresh for a long time, begins to dry out, rot and oxidize, freezing is a great way to avoid this. The process also allows you to preserve the substances contained in the vegetable that make it aromatic and tasty.You can also freeze garlic for the reason that after the procedure all its benefits are retained, the product continues to perform all its functions, namely: it helps kill germs, helps strengthen the immune system, speeds up metabolism, just like a fresh product, it fights parasites and prevents the formation of thrombosis. Of course, the smell and taste of garlic after freezing become slightly less pronounced, but these changes are almost invisible.

It is customary to freeze garlic because this method is the most effective preservation.

Advantages and disadvantages of freezing

The procedure for preparing garlic by freezing has great advantages, and not only housewives, but also professional chefs resort to it, but the technology also has disadvantages.

To preserve its properties, vegetables must not only be frozen correctly, but also defrosted.

Advantages:

• ease of preparation;
• preservation of useful qualities;
• unchanged taste and aroma;
• wide range of uses;
• increased shelf life.

Flaws:

• the importance of following defrosting technology;
• decreased intensity of aroma and taste;
• loss of structure after defrosting;
• difficult process of cleaning the cloves.

Preparing garlic for freezing

The best time to freeze young garlic is when it is at its juiciest and freshest. Typically, the time for the procedure begins in August and lasts until the first half of September.

Before you start freezing a product, it should be properly prepared. It is recommended to clean the dug-up vegetable from any remaining soil, allow it to dry for some time, and select only whole and healthy specimens. It is not advisable to wash root vegetables before putting them in the freezer, as this will absorb excess moisture. Simply remove the top contaminated scales from the heads and you can start freezing.

Ways to freeze garlic for the winter at home

There are quite a few ways to freeze garlic for the winter, but most often housewives prefer three main ones:

• whole onions;
• separate cloves;
• in the form of a paste.

They choose one method or another based on the further use of the product.

You can get acquainted with the technological processes of how to freeze culture in different ways below.

heads

Few housewives prefer to freeze garlic with unpeeled whole bulbs. Usually this method is used when there is absolutely no time for preparation. They do it as follows:

1. Cut off the stem as much as possible from the head.
2. The rough outer husk is removed, leaving only a thin film.
3. Wrap each onion in cling film.
4. Place the heads in the freezer so that they do not touch each other.
5. After a few hours, the product is removed, placed in a bag and quickly returned to the freezer.

Freezing vegetables with their heads is not entirely practical.

With cloves

You can freeze garlic cloves either together with the husk or in peeled form, but it will be more convenient to get rid of the scales while the product is fresh. When the slices are hard, they are easier to peel.

The step-by-step process on how to freeze garlic cloves is as follows:

1. Whole heads are divided into separate lobules.
2. Each one is thoroughly cleaned of scales.
3. Remove all damaged copies.
4. Lay out the cloves in 4-6 pieces. in plastic bags.
5. Place in a freezing chamber.
6. After 5-8 hours, all bags are placed in a common container or bag.

You can freeze the vegetable a little differently, the result will be similar: the peeled cloves should be placed on a board so that they do not touch each other, put in the freezer overnight, after which all the cloves should be placed in one container.

It is convenient to freeze the product in cloves, since the method allows you to get the required amount

In the form of a paste

Freezing garlic in the form of a paste is the most labor-intensive task, but its use is the most convenient, since after the product is defrosted, it is immediately ready for use. It is better to pack the mass in ice cube trays or small bags.

The technology for preparing the workpiece is as follows:

1. Divide the garlic heads into cloves and peel each one.
2. Grind the prepared cloves in a blender bowl.
3. Divide the mixture into bags or molds.
4. Place in the freezer.

To chop the garlic cloves, you can use a garlic press, meat grinder or fine grater.

Shelf life

If you freeze garlic using the above methods, you can store it until the next season. The maximum period is 12 months. Once thawed, the product is best used immediately or stored in the refrigerator for no more than 3-4 days.

How to defrost

You need to defrost garlic after freezing, following a certain technology.

But if you plan to add the product to a hot dish, then you can skip the defrosting process and use it frozen. Of course, this only applies to peeled cloves or paste. If the vegetable was frozen as a whole head, or if it is to be introduced into a cold dish, then defrosting cannot be avoided.

The process of defrosting a product looks like this:

1. Remove the garlic from the freezer and transfer it to the refrigerator.
2. After 2-3 hours, remove the product and leave it at room temperature until completely thawed.
3. Peel the heads or segments (if frozen whole).
4. Grind.
5. Fill the dish with the mixture.

Application

Garlic that has been frozen can be used in the same way as fresh product. It is added to any dishes: marinades, dressings, salads, soups, pilaf. If it was prepared whole, then before use it will need to be crushed so that it is evenly combined with all the ingredients.

You can put whole cloves in marinades and pilaf without first chopping them.

Useful tips

Housewives who have tried freezing garlic are happy to share their recommendations. Most often you can find the following tips for preparing a product:

1. The most convenient way to freeze garlic cloves is to use special zip-lock bags. Prepared cloves are placed in them, excess air is released and fastened.
2. To know how long to store frozen garlic, it is recommended to stick leaves with the date of freezing on the container.
3. It is important to seal containers or bags with vegetables so that the garlic aroma does not permeate neighboring products stored in the freezer.
4. It is better to pack frozen garlic in portions, for one dish. It is convenient to make separate preparations for pilaf, borscht, dressing, etc.
5. If desired, you can add chopped dill or parsley to the garlic paste, so the mass will become even healthier, more aromatic and tastier.

Conclusion

Freezing garlic is easy; it requires a minimum of equipment and a little free time. Since it is not easy to keep the product fresh until the next season, housewives decide to prepare it for the winter in different ways. The vegetable is very healthy and indispensable in home cooking as a seasoning; moreover, if you store it in the freezer correctly, it practically does not lose its properties and remains suitable for use for a long time.

Recommended Posts

Timing for harvesting garlic in the middle zone

When to dig up winter garlic

How to freeze zucchini for the winter at home

Garlic Bogatyr: description of the variety

How to freeze chokeberries for the winter

Is it possible to freeze blueberries for the winter?

Is it possible to freeze hot peppers for the winter: recipes and methods for freezing them in the freezer at home

Growing and caring for spring garlic in open ground in spring

Is it possible and how to freeze horseradish for the winter in the freezer?