How To Tell If Garlic Is Bad? 6 Tips For Keeping Garlic Always Fresh

Caroline Blueon April 5, 2022

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How To Tell If Garlic Is Bad? Garlic plays an important part in the culinary world. Its aroma and flavor seep into food and make our meals tastier. However, all these benefits come with a major drawback, garlic can spoil. There are ways to know if garlic has gone bad. Here we will look at how to tell if garlic is bad through its physical characteristics, potential problems in your meal, and how to prevent it from going bad.

Benefits Of Including Garlic In Your Diet

Lowers Cholesterol

Eating garlic regularly can help lower your total cholesterol levels as well as triglycerides. It’s also thought to increase levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol.

Reduces Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. Garlic may help reduce blood pressure in people with known high blood pressure, though it doesn’t seem to lower blood pressure in people with normal or only mildly elevated levels.

Protects Against Alzheimer’s Disease

Garlic contains antioxidants that protect against cell damage and aging. It may reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by limiting nerve damage in the brain caused by free radicals and reducing brain inflammation.

Improves Bone Health

Garlic is a natural source of phosphorus, iron, and zinc. All these elements are essential for bone health and strength. According to one study, garlic supplementation has the potential to improve bone mineral density in adult women. Another study showed that raw garlic extract can increase bone regeneration and healing in rabbits.

Detoxifies Heavy Metals in the Body

One of the main benefits of consuming garlic regularly is its ability to detoxify the body. It has been found to effectively remove heavy metals such as lead and mercury from the body. However, make sure you eat garlic in moderation because excessive consumption may actually damage your liver by increasing mercury levels in it.

Dangers Of Eating Spoiled Garlic

Botulism

Botulism is an extremely serious illness caused by a toxin released through the growth of a type of bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. Refrigerating garlic-in-oil mixtures at room temperature can encourage the growth of these bacteria.

Food poisoning

Food poisoning can be caused by the consumption of spoiled food, including garlic that has become moldy or discolored. The symptoms of food poisoning include: nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fever and chills, stomach cramps and pain, headache and body aches.

How To Tell If Garlic Is Bad

Garlic can be very good for you. It has been used as a medicinal herb and in food preparation for centuries, both to prevent sickness and to improve overall health. However, like all foods, garlic will go bad when stored at improper conditions. The following discussion will help you tell if your garlic is bad so that you can properly discard of it.

Check for mold.

Mold is a common sign that garlic has gone bad. You can usually see the mold growing on the outside of the clove. However, you may also find moldy cloves with no visible mold. If a garlic clove feels damp, mushy or very sticky, throw it out.

Look for sprouting.

Sprouted garlic is still safe to eat, but it doesn’t taste very good and some people believe it’s less healthy than unsprouted garlic. If you’re on a health kick, you may want to avoid eating sprouted garlic altogether.

Smell the garlic.

Garlic will begin to emit a sour, fermented odor when it starts to go bad. If your bulb of garlic smells like this, throw it out. The smell is caused by the growth of bacteria which can make you sick if eaten.

Feel the garlic.

Once the skin has begun to wrinkle and the smell becomes sour, the garlic is past its prime. Do not use garlic that feels squishy or mushy to the touch as this is a sign that it has started to decay.

Check for discoloration.

Discoloration is another telltale sign that your garlic has gone bad and should be thrown out immediately. If a garlic clove has turned blue-green or some other non-white color, discard that clove and any others in the same head of garlic that show similar signs of discoloration.

How Long Can Garlic Last?

Garlic can last anywhere from 3 months to a year. It may go bad sooner if it has been improperly stored and handled, i.e. exposed to moisture, light or heat.

If the garlic you are using starts to grow green shoots in the middle, this is a sign that it is beginning to spoil. You should never use garlic that has started growing green shoots because it is no longer safe for consumption.

Properly stored garlic bulbs can be kept for up to nine months, so avoid purchasing garlic bulbs that have already sprouted and are beginning to show signs of spoilage.

Tips To Keep Your Garlic Always Fresh

When you have garlic, in order to keep it always fresh and to use for the longer time, you have to store it properly. There are some ways to keep your garlic always fresh and use for longer time. Here is a complete guide that will help you:

Buy garlic that you can use before it is two months old.

If you buy in bulk from a farmers market or supermarket, make sure you’re buying produce that has several weeks before its expiration date so you know you’ll be able to use it all up before it starts to go bad.

Don’t buy bags of garlic with lots of loose cloves and peel missing.

This is a sign of old garlic that’s been sitting around. If you’re buying in quantity, look for mesh bags with tight heads of garlic and make sure the skins aren’t cracked or peeling away from the head.

When selecting whole bulbs, avoid those that are soft, shriveled or sprouting.

To store, keep in a cool, dark place for up to two months. Unbroken heads of garlic can be frozen whole in airtight freezer containers or bags for a year or more; allow them to thaw before removing individual cloves for use. Garlic minced in oil should be covered tightly and refrigerated; use within two weeks.

Store fresh garlic in a cool, dry, dark place with good air circulation.

A mesh bag or a basket that allows air to flow around the whole bulb is ideal. If you have a dry basement, this would be the perfect spot for your garlic.

Avoid storing fresh garlic bulbs in the refrigerator because they will mold and sprout.

Instead, keep them in a cool dark cupboard or pantry away from direct sunlight.

You can refrigerate peeled or cut cloves for a short time—about one or two weeks—in an airtight container with some olive oil. Just be sure to keep them away from other foods with strong odors because they’ll pick up those smells easily.

Store at room temperature

Even though many people prefer to store fresh vegetables in the refrigerator, this should not be the case with garlic. Not only will it lose its flavor, but storing it in the fridge causes it to sprout and develop mold faster. Instead of placing it in the fridge, store your garlic at room temperature (between 60-68 degrees Fahrenheit) away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures. A dark pantry or cabinet is usually an ideal location.

Conclusion

Garlic is one of the healthiest vegetables out there, full of vitamins and minerals. However, like all vegetables, it can go bad when not stored properly. Garlic that is older than six months may start to go bad and should be thrown away. You can tell if your garlic has gone bad by smelling it. If it smells funny or smells like metal or ammonia, it has gone bad.

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