Garlic keeps 1 month in the pantry and 3 to 14 days in the fridge
Quick answer
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Room temperature
Keeps for 1 month
Keep unbroken bulbs in the pantry, in an open paper bag or a mesh basket, out of direct sunlight.
Watch out FoodKeeper's pantry tip is for unbroken bulbs, so move loose cloves to the fridge.
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Fridge
Keeps for 3-14 days
Store individual cloves in the fridge, wrapped in plastic wrap or in a sealed container.
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Freezer
Keeps for 1 month
Peel the cloves, chop the garlic finely, and put it in a plastic freezer bag.
Unbroken garlic bulbs keep 1 month in the pantry, and individual cloves keep 3 to 14 days in the fridge. Garlic keeps 1 month in the freezer. Chopped garlic in a commercial jar keeps 8 to 12 months in the pantry, according to USDA FoodKeeper.
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Unbroken garlic bulbs keep 1 month in the pantry, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Individual cloves keep 3 to 14 days in the fridge, and garlic keeps 1 month in the freezer.
Chopped garlic in a commercial jar keeps 8 to 12 months in the pantry. Below you’ll find how to store garlic in each place and when to throw it away.
How to store garlic
Store unbroken bulbs in the pantry for 1 month and individual cloves in the fridge for 3 to 14 days. The best way to store garlic depends on its form, and USDA FoodKeeper has a tip for each.
How to store garlic bulbs
Keep unbroken bulbs in the pantry, where garlic keeps 1 month. Use an open paper bag or a mesh basket, and keep it out of direct sunlight.
Once you break a bulb apart, FoodKeeper says to store the individual cloves in the fridge instead.
How to store garlic cloves and peeled garlic
Keep individual cloves in the fridge, where garlic keeps 3 to 14 days. Wrap peeled cloves in plastic wrap or put them in a sealed container.
The fridge time is shorter than the pantry time for a whole bulb, so use refrigerated cloves sooner.
Can you freeze garlic?
Yes. USDA FoodKeeper gives garlic 1 month in the freezer, counted from the date of purchase. It gives one freezer time for garlic and doesn’t split it by peeled, whole, or chopped.
How to freeze garlic cloves
Peel the cloves, chop the garlic finely, and put it in a plastic freezer bag. You can also freeze unpeeled cloves wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
How long does garlic last?
Unbroken garlic bulbs last 1 month in the pantry. Individual cloves last 3 to 14 days in the fridge, and garlic lasts 1 month in the freezer. Chopped garlic in a commercial jar lasts 8 to 12 months in the pantry.
FoodKeeper counts all of these times from the date of purchase.
| Place | Form | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Pantry | Unbroken bulbs | 1 month |
| Fridge | Individual cloves | 3 to 14 days |
| Freezer | Garlic | 1 month |
| Pantry | Chopped garlic in commercial jars | 8 to 12 months |
How long does garlic last in the fridge?
Individual cloves last 3 to 14 days in the fridge, according to USDA FoodKeeper. That’s shorter than the 1 month an unbroken bulb lasts in the pantry.
Does minced garlic go bad?
Yes. Chopped garlic from a commercial jar lasts 8 to 12 months in the pantry, counted from the date of purchase. That time is for jarred garlic only, and FoodKeeper gives no separate time for garlic you chop yourself.
Does garlic powder go bad?
Garlic powder has a storage time of 3 to 4 years in the pantry from the date of purchase, according to USDA FoodKeeper. That’s far longer than the 1 month an unbroken garlic bulb keeps in the pantry. The time covers dried garlic powder, commercially bottled or bought in bulk.
Does garlic go bad?
Yes. Garlic lasts 1 month in the pantry and in the freezer, and individual cloves last 3 to 14 days in the fridge. Check garlic before you use it once it’s past those times.
How to tell if garlic is bad
The FDA’s rule for produce applies to garlic. Throw away garlic that looks rotten, and cut away damaged or bruised areas before you use the rest.
Good vs bad garlic
Good garlic isn’t bruised or damaged, and bad garlic looks rotten. When you buy garlic, choose bulbs without bruises or damage, as the FDA advises for all produce.
At home, cut away damaged or bruised areas and use the rest, but throw away garlic that looks rotten.
How to wash garlic
Rinse garlic under plain running water before you peel or cut it, even though you won’t eat the skin. That keeps dirt and bacteria on the surface from being carried in when you peel or cut, according to the FDA.
You don’t need soap or a produce wash. Gently rub the garlic under the water, then dry it with a clean cloth or paper towel, as the FDA’s cleaning tips advise.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to refrigerate garlic?
Not unbroken bulbs. USDA FoodKeeper says to store unbroken bulbs in the pantry and individual cloves in the fridge.
Can you keep garlic in the fridge for a month?
Not by FoodKeeper's times. Individual cloves keep 3 to 14 days in the fridge, while an unbroken bulb keeps 1 month in the pantry.
How long does frozen garlic last?
USDA FoodKeeper gives garlic 1 month in the freezer, counted from the date of purchase.
When do the garlic storage times start counting?
FoodKeeper counts garlic's pantry, fridge, and freezer times, and the time for chopped garlic in jars, from the date of purchase.
Should you wash garlic with soap?
No. The FDA says soap, detergent, and produce wash aren't recommended, because produce is porous and can absorb them. Rinse garlic under plain running water instead.
