When is garlic bad

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 26, times. Learn more Ah, garlic, that pungent aromatic used in culinary traditions around the globe! If you're like many cooks, you like to keep a head or two on hand to add a bit of that spicy, zesty flavor to your cooking. The good news is, whole garlic tends to last quite a while at room temperature, and you can feel, smell, and examine the garlic to see if it's gone bad.

If you have some that sprouts, don't worry; you can still use it most of the time, as long as it doesn't have other signs of going bad. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers.

Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy.

Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Related Articles. Method 1. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.

Look for rotten spots on the outside of the head or unpeeled cloves. If your garlic has gone very bad, it will start to show through the skin. You may see brown or black spots, for instance, or just discoloration in general. Feel for mushiness through the peel. Garlic should be firm to the touch if it's still good, much like an onion. If it feels soft or gives way as you try to peel off a clove, it's gone bad. Similarly, if you notice any liquid, that's a sign it's way past its expiration date.

Check for a yellow hue and bad spots once you peel the garlic. Even if it seems fresh from the outside, you may find it's not once you peel it. Fresh garlic should be white, and if it's starting to take on a yellow hue, it's definitely on it's way out.

Plus, you may see little brown spots on the clove, another indication it's going bad. Use your best judgment about whether it's time to toss it.

Is it still edible? Hi Mary, it sounds like your garlic has bacteria on it that has multiplied. It was most likely inoculated by the hands that peeled it. How about if you just harvested the garlic, and it is pink streaked, when you look at the cloves themselves?

Like I literally just harvested my garlic, and the garlic cloves are pink. I keep my cured garlic bulbs for almost a year in my pantry. Keep it dry and out of the light. Those jars of chopped garlic are disgusting. Just get a head as needed. I cooked a sauce with garlic that is obviously bad after reading this article when do symptoms start to occur if any.

I added pure raw honey Apple cider vinegar Garlic Store 24 hour dark cupboard. Garlic turned green. Is this ok to eat. Great and interesting article. Thank you. I just bought a very large plastic jar of minced California garlic.

Am wondering what would be the safest way to store it? Freeze in small ice cube trays? Then transfer to plastic bag to keep in freezer? I got really concerned when read botulism, pls advise safest procedure, container, type of storage. Hi Carol, thanks for your comment. Freezing them in small ice cube trays might not be a bad idea. You could also add a little balsamic vinegar in order to keep the garlic longer. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Pin Share Dried out garlic cloves, Will the grow if I plant them. I have been eating raw garlic for more than a year. Not a Prime Member? Try a day free trial today! Of course, all foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. Harvest time is June and July, so that's when it's freshest.

Although not a perfect test, looking at the cloves is the best way to tell if your garlic has gone bad. Some common traits of garlic going bad are brown spots on the cloves and the color of the cloves changing from white to a yellowish-tan. Product at this stage will taste hotter. Another thing you may notice with garlic about to go bad are green roots in the center of the clove, those are new sprouts.

The new sprouts will taste bitter and should be removed from the center of the cloves leaving a milder flavor behind. See below for how to plant garlic to save these cloves.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired! In deciding how to store garlic to extend its shelf life, the best option is to store the garlic whole in an open container at a cool room temperature. Store garlic in a dark and dry place with plenty of air circulation. The refrigerator is not recommended since that environment encourages the garlic to sprout.

Once you begin removing cloves from the garlic, its shelf life decreases quickly. Some good choices in determining how to store garlic is using a hanging wire mesh basket optimal choice , a mesh bag, a paper bag or a paper type egg carton. Avoid plastic bags, the refrigerator, or any closed containers that can't breathe allow air through when storing garlic.

Closed containers can produce a moisture build-up and cause the bulbs to deteriorate faster or even produce mold. Once garlic is removed from its skin and prepared, it's a different story - peeled cloves should be stored in a tightly closed container in the refrigerator.