Garlic on Standby

GrateEggspectations

We use A LOT of garlic, but with busy schedules, it’s not always practicable to have fresh on hand, as we can visit grocery stores once a week at a maximum. Even when we do get fresh, there’s some time and effort in peeling it, mincing it, etc. Enjoy doing it when time allows, but it can prove inconvenient. 

While we regularly buy and use fresh garlic, having a backup plan that is nearly as good is essential in our household. 

I have taken to buying big tubs of peeled cloves from Costco for just this purpose. I throw them into the Vitamix with some olive oil and blend to a loose paste consistency. Then put them into an ice cube tray and once fully frozen, pop them into a heavy duty Ziploc. 

The only thing I may have to modify as far as approach would be to refrain from putting the garlic-soaked ice cube trays into the dishwasher for cleaning after the fact. All other dishes and utensils were pretty impregnated with the scent, even after multiple cycles. 🙃 Also, nitrile gloves can help in preventing you from reeking for days. It is said that garlic rubbed into your extremities will still show up on your breath, though these claims have not been independently verified. 

Total cube yield was 3lbs 4oz at a cost of $7 or so. The cubes are generous, which suits me just fine. 

Vitamix was nearly full. 

This bag is bigger and fuller than it looks. This will keep us in good stead for a spell.

lkapigian

Pretty Brilliant @GrateEggspectations

kl8ton

Waiting for @caliking to come by

kl8ton

I like this idea!

RRP

You really have a terrific idea there!  I know you have also told us to use gloves so my hint here is just a solution for getting garlic smell off your hands. I have no idea why this little bar of stainless steel does the trick, but it does!

GrateEggspectations

RRP said:

You really have a terrific idea there!  I know you have also told us to use gloves so my hint here is just a solution for getting garlic smell off your hands. I have no idea why this little bar of stainless steel does the trick, but it does!

Thanks Ron. While I don’t have an SS bar, I did wipe my hands over the inside of my SS sink. Pretty potent over here though. I was worried that I might have to replace the Vitamix jar. 😉

Canugghead

I recall someone mentioned stroking the faucet spout to get rid of the smell 

paqman

When we bought our house, it came with the previous owners dishwasher.  The dishwasher tub was made of plastic and reeked of garlic.  We tried multiple cleaning products and a cycle with a pouch of Tang ended up being the most effective way to get rid of the smell.

paqman

I have a similar approach but rather than blending/food processing the garlic, I simply smash cloves individually with the side of a knife blade and I then place one clove per mini ice cube tray section.  I add a bit of olive oil and freeze to make nice cubes.  I usually do that with local garlic when it is in season.  A word of warning, your freezer may catch the smell garlic too 😂🤣

fishlessman

if you have a space to grow, some russian red garlic grows here in maine and would grow in canada. order it in the spring for a fall delivery and planting. its a strong and spicy garlic with smaller cloves. growing your own you get the scapes for salads and pickling and the leaves can be diced up and used as an herb for things like fish. when you dig it up next early fall drop a few cloves back in the hole and then you have garlic for ever. it lasts six to 8 months hanging in the kitchen unlike the store bought stuff and then it dries out instead of rotting, could probably even grind it up at that point

Legume

I do almost the exact same with ginger, except I blend it with a little water and then freeze it in cubes.

I fermented a whole tub of that pre peeled garlic from Costco and it just sits there now in the pantry occasionally burping garlic fumes. I pull out whatever I need and the rest stays fine. I also have a jar of it fermented in honey that I use.

fishlessman

paqman said:

I have a similar approach but rather than blending/food processing the garlic, I simply smash cloves individually with the side of a knife blade and I then place one clove per mini ice cube tray section.  I add a bit of olive oil and freeze to make nice cubes.  I usually do that with local garlic when it is in season.  A word of warning, your freezer may catch the smell garlic too 😂🤣

i had a lost onion in the fridge a few years back, onion smelling ice cubes dont work in a gin and tonic

caliking

I. Love. This. Thread!

caliking

I made a jar of garlic confit in the IP a year or two ago, and it's still good in the fridge.

 Nice to have on hand to add to all kinds of stuff... Rice, pasta, veg, mashed potatoes, etc.