Storing garlic in glass jars - the art of harvesting! Garlic: all the ways to properly store it

Garlic is our food and medicine. Under the right conditions, it can retain its nutritional and medicinal value for 8-10 months. But how to store garlic at home, and organize proper storage of garlic in the apartment in order to preserve it maximum quantity useful components? And how to preserve garlic until spring? There are many ways to store garlic for the winter, but we must not forget that only healthy bulbs that are not affected by pests and not mechanically damaged, which are grown correctly, harvested on time and carefully prepared for storage, are successfully stored. So, let's start in order.

Choosing a variety

Summer (spring) and winter (planted in autumn before winter) root crops differ in terms of ripening and storage conditions.

Spring varieties are stored better than others. Spring garlic is best stored in a warm room (+16-+20°C) They should be chosen for winter storage. A good root vegetable should be stored not only until the new year or until the end of winter. If you create a suitable spring variety, necessary conditions storage, it will remain until the beginning of summer.
Keep winter garlic at home it’s more difficult until spring, he’s capricious in this regard. Especially if these are vitrifying types of root vegetables. It is better to store winter garlic in a cool room (+1-+3°C). Although planting before winter produces large heads, they are not suitable for winter storage.

In order not to be confused there is a simple and reliable way distinguish spring and winter varieties. Spring varieties (suitable for long-term storage) do not have an internal stem between the cloves. Winter crops have an internal stem

Preparing home harvest for storage

To ensure long-term storage of garlic for the winter so that it does not spoil before harvesting, you must follow some rules:

Before harvesting, it is necessary to stop watering (10-14 days before).
After digging up the heads, they need to be dried thoroughly. This can be done in the sun for 3-4 days. Or - in the shade for 7-10 days. If wet dew falls during the drying period, then the root vegetables are brought indoors at night, and taken outside in the morning.

What should be the conditions inside the storage, how to preserve garlic for the winter? Let's look at the answers to these questions next.

High-quality drying is the key to long-term storage.

Rules and conditions for storing garlic

Each summer resident, having received good harvest bulbs, thinks about how to properly store garlic in winter, how to keep it juicy until spring. Compliance with the conditions of humidity, light, and temperature ensures that the heads are stored throughout the winter. To prevent it from deteriorating and drying out, it is necessary to create the right conditions storage:

To preserve garlic in winter, you need to keep it in a dry place. The optimal air humidity should be 70-75%. It's best to measure it special device- hygrometer.
The temperature for storing garlic must be maintained. There are warm and cold storage. When warm - root vegetables are kept at a temperature of +20 +25 °C. At cold temperatures +1 +3 °C.
If you need to store the bulbs until mid-spring, you need to take care to limit their contact with air. To do this, use jars, bags, which are filled with bulk substances (salt, ash), or coat the heads with paraffin or clay.
For long-term storage, a dark place is required. Sunlight promotes the appearance of sprouts.

The storage area should not be too dry, as the bulbs begin to dry out. Too much high humidity bad too. If there is a large amount of it, they pick up moisture and can become moldy.

Now let's talk about how to store garlic in a city apartment? And how to provide the necessary conditions.

How and where to store garlic in a city apartment

Few people can boast of their own good vegetable storage. Even summer residents, having collected big harvest, in the fall they decide whether it is possible to store garlic at home? Is it suitable? room air for storage? How to store garlic in an apartment until late spring? And what is the best way to store garlic - in bags, boxes or jars?

Storing winter garlic in an apartment begins with choosing containers that limit too dry air and create a microclimate around the garlic heads. Bags are used as containers, wooden boxes, plastic containers, glass jars. For better preservation of root crops, put salt, ash, sawdust. Let us describe in more detail the methods that allow you to store garlic in an apartment in winter until mid-spring.

Store in containers with salt

You can store garlic for the winter at home in containers with salt. The heads are placed on a layer of salt and covered with salt. For indoor storage, it is important not to let the garlic dry out. Storing in salt creates optimal conditions for bulbous root crops. In addition, the natural mineral performs two functions: absorbs excess moisture, neutralizes pathogens (prevents the appearance of rot and mold). Garlic bulbs can be stored in ashes in a similar manner. You can also store them in paraffin (melt a candle and dip each head in it).

How to store garlic in the refrigerator

Can garlic be stored in the refrigerator? It is possible - subject to one condition. It should be located at the very bottom of the refrigerator. Do not place the bulbs at the top under the freezer, as this may freeze them. Young summer garlic heads are stored in the refrigerator.

Preserved root vegetables should not be frozen, otherwise they will quickly spoil after defrosting.

How to store garlic in a jar

Another possible way- storing garlic in glass jars. For such storage, it is necessary that the stored garlic be well dried. The jars are covered with natural fabric on top. However, they cannot be covered with lids. It can only be stored under a tight lid if the air has been pumped out of the jar and a vacuum has been created (with a special device).

Storing peeled garlic in oil

Sometimes the harvest turns out to be spoiled and it is necessary to clean each head and separate the good cloves from the soft, rotten, spoiled ones. In this case, the question arises: how to preserve peeled garlic until spring? We offer one more interesting option storing garlic in oil. Olive, sunflower, etc. choose according to your taste. As containers for such storage, it is necessary to use containers made of inert material - glass jars.

The heads must be cleaned immediately before placing in jars. How to store peeled garlic in a jar? Should I keep it in the refrigerator or leave it in a warm, dark place? Better - in the refrigerator. But you can also simply put the jar in a dark, cool place (under a table or under a cabinet).

Basement storage

Is it possible to store onions in the cellar for the winter? It is possible if there is good ventilation inside the underground storage facility and humidity is limited to 70%. Storing winter garlic in a damp basement is wrong. it does not tolerate dampness, and if there is a large amount of it, the garlic will quickly become soft, sprout and rot. Therefore, a basement without ventilation is not suitable for storage - it is too damp.

Storing garlic at home throughout the winter is a task that can be completely solved even in a city apartment. If you know how to store garlic in winter, it can remain fresh and fragrant for a long time. You just need to choose the optimal method and create the required conditions for storing the crop so that it does not spoil. After all, proper storage of garlic in winter guarantees vitamins on your table until the first days of summer.

Knowing how to store garlic, you will be able to preserve this valuable product until the next harvest, taking advantage of its irreplaceable properties in cooking and more. Even experienced amateur gardeners will be able to learn new subtleties of preserving garlic heads.

Secrets of storing garlic

The various methods of storing garlic at home, tested in practice, will be a real godsend for many. However, before you begin to implement any of them in practice, you must first properly harvest the crop and properly process the carefully dug up garlic heads.

Garlic is dug up at the end of July at the beginning of August, preventing them from overripening and cracking the husks on the heads, after which they are thoroughly dried, ideally under sun rays, and in rainy weather in a ventilated place under a shed or in the attic.
The husk should become completely dry, without any signs of moisture.
The dried heads are cleaned of the top dirty layer of husk, after which the roots are cut off. In most cases, it is recommended to scorch the place where the roots are cut above a candle, which also contributes to good preservation of the crop and prevents the premature development of sprouts inside the cloves.
If the chosen option is storage in woven wreaths, then leave the stems. In other cases, they are cut off, leaving fragments 5-10 cm long above the heads.
Long-term storage of garlic at home for the winter using any of the presented methods will ensure pre-processing heads with calcined oil mixed with iodine: add 10 drops per 0.5 liter.
Garlic can be stored at a temperature slightly below room temperature from +15 to +20 degrees or in the cold, observing a temperature regime of +2 to + 4 degrees. In this case, it is necessary to maintain moderate humidity in the storage area from 50 to 70%.

How to store garlic for the winter in an apartment?

Many people do not know where to store garlic in the apartment in winter so that the product remains fresh and unharmed until the new harvest. The heads must first be properly prepared by cutting off the roots and singeing their ends.

The easiest way to store it is to weave braids from the prepared heads and hang them in the kitchen. Such a blank will become an additional decor for the kitchen interior.
If you don’t want to bother with the braids, the heads are placed in a cotton bag or nylon stocking, and a convenient, dry place is selected in the kitchen, pantry or other suitable room.
Spring garlic heads are perfectly stored even at room conditions. How to store winter garlic? This product is more demanding on storage conditions and retains its original characteristics for a long time only in a cool and ventilated place.

How to store garlic in a jar?

Here's how you can store garlic on your pantry shelf: kitchen cabinet or another dry place so that it does not begin to deteriorate and at the same time retains its original juiciness. A true proven method is to place the heads in jars.

Well-dried heads are removed from the roots, leaving about 3 mm, after which they are scorched over a candle flame.
You can place either whole heads in dry jars or by disassembling them into cloves.
Storing garlic in glass jars requires access to air, so it is not recommended to close the containers with lids.
Vessels with garlic are placed on a shelf kitchen rack or pantry.

How to store peeled garlic?

A simple and accessible way for everyone is to store garlic in a jar with salt. The cleaned teeth are placed in a sterilized and dried container, sprinkling the layers with coarse rock salt, which will absorb excess moisture and protect against the development of pathogenic bacteria. The vessel, covered with a tight lid, is placed for storage in a dry place.
No less effective method– storing the cloves in a jar of flour, which must be tightly closed and placed in the cold.
Cleaned teeth can be stored for a long time in a jar with vegetable oil.

How to store garlic in flour?

Storing garlic in flour absorbs excess moisture and prevents possible molding and, as a result, protects the heads from spoilage and rotting. The container for such preservation of the product can be an ordinary glass jar or any plastic food container.

The heads are thoroughly dried, the rhizomes are cut off and singed, and the stems are trimmed.
Place a layer of flour of at least 2 cm at the bottom of the storage container.
Place the heads in one layer, stem up, and cover until covered with flour.
Place the garlic again and add flour. The topmost layer of flour above the garlic should be at least 2 cm.

Storing garlic in oil - recipe

The following recipe is for those who want to know in detail how to store. The result of this method is the fresh taste of garlic cloves for a long time and aroma oil for dressing salads or adding to all kinds of dishes. You can use any oil: sunflower, olive, corn. Both refined and aromatic, unrefined products are suitable.

Ingredients:

garlic - as much as is available;
vegetable oil;
aromatic herbs (optional).

Preparation

The garlic is first thoroughly peeled and placed dry in a sterilized, dried jar.
If desired, you can add some dried herbs of your choice and taste to the container, which will transform the taste of both garlic and oil.
Fill the contents of the container with vegetable oil until completely covered.
Further storage of garlic in oil involves placing the workpiece in the cold. This could be a refrigerator, cellar or cold basement.

How to store garlic in the refrigerator?

Refrigerated storage - no best way for garlic, especially in unprocessed and untouched form. As a rule, the microclimate on the shelves of a refrigeration unit is characterized by a high percentage of humidity, which is not in the best possible way affects garlic heads that require cool but dry conditions. However, if there are no other options, when storing the product in the refrigerator, you need to remember the following:

Unpeeled heads of garlic are stored in the refrigerator for no more than two months, and peeled cloves for no more than a week.
Due long-term storage garlic in the refrigerator can be ensured by first placing the heads or cloves in vacuum container or package.
In addition, garlic cloves can be peeled, filled with oil and placed on the device shelf, using both garlic and fragrant oil as needed.
Garlic can be frozen in cloves or grated form. freezer.

How to store garlic in the cellar?

Owners of private households will be interested in information on how to properly store garlic in the cellar. However, in this case, you should remember that coolness in the room is not the only requirement for ideal preservation of the product. It is even more important that the cellar is dry with minimal humidity.

Proper storage of garlic in the cellar in winter is to hang wreaths or braids woven from stems with heads at some distance from each other. It is important to choose the most ventilated place.
You can store properly prepared garlic heads in ventilated boxes, placing the product in them not tightly to each other.
Alternatively, the heads are placed in a box in layers with dry straw or covered with ash.

Storing garlic in paraffin

Proper storage of garlic while preserving all its properties and the juiciness of the cloves will be ensured by pre-treating the vegetable with paraffin. At the same time, it is imperative to remember that the heads must be as well dried as possible before processing without the presence of minimal signs of moisture.

The heads of garlic are removed from the roots by cutting them off with scissors, after which the stems are also cut, leaving fragments above the cloves measuring 5-10 cm.
Melt paraffin in a suitable old unnecessary container, lower the garlic head into it for a few seconds, holding it by the top of the stem.
Remove the garlic from the container, after which the thin paraffin layer immediately hardens, covering the vegetable with a thin protective film.
Such processing will protect the product from moisture, air and harmful bacteria and, as a result, from spoilage.

Storing garlic in onion skins

The next section is about how to store garlic in winter at home, using onion skins to ensure ideal conditions. The latter absorbs excess moisture and prevents the development of harmful bacteria. In addition, such an airy onion pillow will ensure the free passage of air between the layers.

should be dry without any admixture of wet onion pulp.
Place the prepared dried garlic heads in bags, paper bags or stockings with the husks. Small containers can be used cardboard boxes, cans or container.

How to store crushed garlic?

If in fresh does not give the desired result and over time the product begins to deteriorate or sprout, then optimal solution may become a preparation of ground product. The advantage of this method is not only the preservation of cloves until the next harvest, but also the ability to immediately use ready-made raw materials for cooking, without additional cleaning and grinding.

The peeled cloves are ground on a fine grater, twisted in a meat grinder or crushed in a blender.
The resulting crushed garlic mass is lightly salted, placed in a sterile jar, closed with a lid and stored in the refrigerator.
The ground substance can be frozen in ice cube trays, then put the frozen portions into a common container or bag.

How to store garlic in the freezer?

Storing garlic in the freezer somewhat changes the structure of the garlic pulp and its taste, but allows you to preserve the product unharmed and juicy for a long time for use for a year or more.

The teeth can be cleaned, spread on the shelf of the chamber for a day, and after freezing, poured into bags for long-term storage.
It is practical and convenient to freeze already crushed cloves by distributing the mixture into ice cube trays or portioned bags.

How to store dried garlic?

A very practical way to preserve garlic is to dry it. The cloves cut into plates are dried in an electric dryer or on parchment in the oven at 60 degrees, after which they are ground using a coffee grinder or blender until small grains with a diameter like semolina or fine sugar are obtained. The storage conditions for garlic after drying and chopping it are not demanding.

Dried garlic is poured into dry jars and stored in a kitchen cabinet.
You can use a small plastic container with a lid to store garlic granules.
Dried garlic can be stored in small slider bags.

In the article we talk about how to store garlic in an apartment. Determine the best time to collect garlic. You will learn how best to store garlic and extend its beneficial properties until spring.

In order for garlic to be stored for a long time and not spoil, you need to know the time for harvesting.. It should be remembered that there are two types of garlic. The time of its collection and features depend on this temperature regime storage Garlic that is planted in the spring is called spring garlic. Garlic planted in the fall is winter.

There are several ways to store garlic in an apartment.

When is the best time to collect? Let's look at the signs of maturity, storage conditions and harvesting times for each of these species.

Russia has several climatic zones. So to find out best time To harvest garlic, look for signs of ripeness rather than specific dates.

Winter garlic is ripe if:

the lower leaves turned yellow;
the skin of the inflorescences on the arrows is cracked;
The scales of the bulbs became thinner and dry.

The best time to harvest winter garlic is middle lane Russia - end of July.

It is best to harvest spring garlic in late August - early September. It is ripe if:

the lower leaves turned yellow, but remained green in the center;
the color of the garlic head has changed;
The top scale can be easily removed.

To ensure you have no doubt about the ripeness of the garlic, dig up a couple of heads. If the head of garlic is dense, covered with 2-3 layers of scales, the cloves are easily separated from each other, then the garlic is ripe.

Garlic should be collected in short terms, the whole process should take no more than a week. Dry and sunny weather is best for harvesting garlic. Dig up the garlic with a shovel or pitchfork, carefully remove the soil from the heads and place it in the garden bed to dry. There is no need to immediately cut off the tops, because nutrients will move from the stem to the head, and the garlic will be preserved better.

If the weather permits, leave the garlic to dry in the sun for several days. If garlic is harvested in rainy weather, put the entire harvest in a warm, well-ventilated room for 1-2 weeks. It is necessary to trim the roots of the heads so that they dry better. Remove the tops only when they are completely dry. If you plan to store garlic in an apartment in the form of braids, then you do not need to remove the tops.

We looked at the timing and timing of garlic harvest, and also learned the signs of its ripening. Let's figure out how to preserve garlic for the winter at home in an apartment.

How to properly store garlic

Garlic is a spice that we use almost every day. It does not take up much space, so it is often stored in the apartment. You need to know that winter garlic is poorly stored at room temperature, often dries out or rots. Spring garlic will be perfectly preserved and will not lose its qualities at room temperature.

To do this, you must fulfill some conditions and select the right way storage Below we provide recommendations on how to store garlic in a city apartment.

Storing garlic at room temperature

A popular way to store garlic is to braid it.

One of the most convenient and compact ways to store garlic in an apartment is braiding. This method is suitable if you did not cut the tops when collecting garlic. The optimal number of heads in a braid is 13-15 pieces.

Garlic braiding:

Take three stalks of garlic.
Braid from below, gradually adding new stems. For strength, you can add twine or nylon thread to the braid.
Make a loop for hanging.

Garlic can also be stored in a container. Containers for storing garlic should be well ventilated. Cardboard boxes, wooden slatted boxes, linen bags, and nylon stockings are perfect for this. Transfer the well-dried heads of garlic into a container and put them in a cool, dark place. Remember that garlic needs to be sorted at least once a month. It is necessary to remove dry, rotten and diseased heads.

Storing garlic in a jar

Above we gave examples of where and how to store garlic in an apartment in boxes and bags. Another good way- this is storing garlic in a jar.

To do this you need to do the following:

dry the heads well;
wash and pasteurize the jar;
fill the jar with garlic heads;
close the lid.

To better preserve the garlic, you can add flour to the jar. To do this, lay out the garlic in layers and sprinkle each layer with flour. To prevent air from entering the jar, the top layer of flour should be at least 2 cm.

Storing garlic in the refrigerator

You can also store garlic in the refrigerator. To keep garlic for a long time:

dry the vegetable well;
transfer the heads to a paper or linen bag;
for better preservation, add salt or husks to the bag.

There is no need to freeze garlic as it will lose taste qualities, will become soft.

How else can you store garlic?

Storing garlic with salt

To better preserve the garlic, add salt to it.

Salt absorbs excess moisture, has an antiseptic effect, and prevents rot from developing. Therefore, the shelf life of garlic in salt is longer. If you doubt whether the garlic has dried well enough, then we recommend this method.

How to store garlic in salt:

take a suitable container;
sprinkle salt on the bottom;
lay out a row of garlic;
sprinkle with salt;
repeat the procedure until the container is full.

Storing garlic with iodine

Solution for storing garlic with iodine:

boil 0.5 l. vegetable oil;
add 10 drops of iodine to the oil;
rub the garlic heads with the solution;
dry the garlic and put it in a dark place.

How to dry garlic

Garlic can also be stored dried. Dried garlic is convenient to use as a seasoning for dishes. It does not require much storage space. Before drying, you need to peel the cloves. You should not wash garlic because it will significantly increase its drying time. Wear rubber gloves when chopping garlic to dry. Its juice is very aggressive for the skin. There are two ways to dry garlic:

in the air;
in an oven or electric dryer.

How to air dry garlic:

peel the garlic heads;
cut lengthwise into 2 parts;
Place on baking sheet, core side up;
dry in the sun for 5 - 7 days.

To dry garlic in the oven, do the following:

peel and cut the garlic into petals;
line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the garlic in one layer;
preheat the oven to 60 degrees;
dry the garlic with the door slightly open for 30-45 minutes;
cool at room temperature.

Dried garlic is fully cooked when it crumbles and crisps. When drying garlic in an electric dryer, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

For more information on how to dry garlic, watch the video:

Storing dried garlic

To preserve dried garlic, you need to protect it from moisture and loss of flavor. Therefore, store it in a glass jar with a lid or an airtight container. plastic container. You can grind already dried garlic in a blender to make it easier to use.

What to remember

To tell if garlic is ready to harvest, look for signs of garlic ripeness.
To keep garlic for a long time, dry the heads well.
Store garlic in a ventilated container.
For better preservation, add salt or treat with a solution containing iodine.
Store dried garlic in containers with a tight lid.

" Garlic

Garlic has long been an integral ingredient in many dishes and folk recipes. To all year round To have fragrant and fresh heads on hand, you need to know how and where to properly store them at home in the winter.

There are several common ways to store this vegetable, which allow it to remain suitable for consumption until the next harvest.

As a rule, the following places are chosen for this:

underground;
balcony;
fridge;
dry places in the apartment.

It is more convenient for owners of private houses to choose an underground floor, since there may not always be enough space in the refrigerator. Having a dry place in your apartment or house is perfect for placing garlic braids and bunches or hanging a net. A glassed-in balcony is a great place to “winter” this vegetable in jars and boxes.

Storing in braids

Time-tested method - This is a braided braid made from heads dried with the stem. The finished braid is left in a dark and dry room. For this a closet will do or storage room. Garlic braids take up very little space, but require skill and dexterity to weave the stems together well.

Storage in bundles

The dried heads with stems are tied into a bundle with a rope and hung in a dry room. The method is practically no different from the previous one, and the bunches can also act as interior decoration.

Using cans and boxes

Many people choose three-liter jars for wintering vegetables, without filling the heads with anything. This allows it not to dry out and sprout. Jars must be placed in the refrigerator or on the balcony.

To store garlic in a box, you need to sprinkle the bottom with salt, then lay out some of the heads, sprinkle with salt again and lay out in this way layer by layer. This option allows the vegetable to remain fresh and juicy for a long time.

Waxing

Storage in bags

For this purpose, bags made from natural materials. R It is recommended to periodically sort through the contents of the bag to remove damaged heads.

In order to reduce the risk of mold and bacteria, you must first soak the garlic in a concentrated salt solution, let it dry, and then place it in a bag.

Storage in the refrigerator in a city apartment

To leave a vegetable in the refrigerator for the winter, it You need to dry it well and put it in paper bags. and place separately from other products.

To prevent the product from spoiling in the refrigerator, it is recommended to sprinkle the contents of the bags with salt or onion peels.

Freezing and canning

You can freeze whole peeled cloves, wrapped in foil or cling film, or finely chopped cloves to reduce cooking time when using them. This option is suitable for those who do not use vegetables in cooking very often, since freezing changes the taste and structure of this product.

For preservation, you can use wine or vinegar. To do this, cleaned cloves are placed in a jar and filled with dry wine or white vinegar. The tightly closed jar is placed in the refrigerator. This method allows garlic not to spoil for up to four months.

How to properly prepare crops for storage?

Proper preparation ensures that the product does not deteriorate during winter period in a city apartment.

Preparation for wintering should begin with the harvesting stage. It is important to know that there are two types of garlic, which determine the timing of its harvest:

Winter:
- collection time: end of July;
- determination of readiness: the leaves turn yellow, the scales become thinner, the skin of the inflorescences begins to crack;
- storage temperature: +1-3°;
Spring:
- collection time: first half of August;
- determination of readiness: the leaves turn very yellow and begin to bend and lie on the ground;
- storage temperature: +16-20°.

Digging must be done carefully, since damaged heads deteriorate much faster than intact ones and are more susceptible to the development of bacteria. For this purpose, a pitchfork or shovel is used.

Preparing garlic for storage - tying it together

After digging, the garlic needs to be dried thoroughly. It is better to do this in the open sun. The stems must be cut off, except in cases where braids or buns are intended.

After harvesting, you need to get rid of all:

damaged heads;
rotten or affected by bacteria;
empty heads.

Unsuitable garlic can be dried and used as a seasoning.

After carrying out all the above manipulations, you can begin sending the vegetable for the winter.

Problems encountered during storage

The most important and practically the only problem that can arise during wintering is damage to the heads. It can happen for several reasons.

First of all, this is a fungal infection. This can be avoided through very careful sorting. The product may also deteriorate due to incorrect conditions storage

The following signs allow you to determine depravity:

an unpleasant odor reminiscent of overcooked garlic;
the presence of rotten lobules or whole heads.

In order for garlic to remain usable for as long as possible during the winter season, it is necessary to strictly follow the algorithm for preparing for wintering and the conditions of the method chosen for this purpose.

Preserving garlic for the winter at home is quite simple. The main thing is to follow all preparation measures and choose the most suitable method for yourself. Having done everything established recommendations, you can delight yourself with tasty and juicy vegetables until the next harvest.

We all know what garlic is. Everyone knows about him beneficial properties and how it transforms the taste characteristics of almost any dish.

But not everyone knows how to properly store garlic so as not to lose their harvest and money spent. If all conditions are met, this vegetable can be preserved for a long time. nice view and not spoil.

In order for it to last, it is necessary to prepare it correctly. This process begins with harvesting. Garlic can be spring or winter. The timing and characteristics of collection depend on its type.

Spring garlic is harvested at the end of August. To understand when a plant should be harvested, you need to look at the tops. If it has fallen and turned yellow, then it’s time to remove the garlic. Spring garlic is not picky and can be stored until the next harvest.

Winter or winter garlic is harvested in July. It is quite capricious and can only survive until winter (very rarely until spring). If a large harvest of this species is harvested, then it is better to grind the garlic into spices or make a paste from it. You can tell that winter garlic is ripe by its dry and yellow tops, thin scales and cracks on the skin of the inflorescences.

You should dig up the garlic carefully so as not to damage the heads, since cut plants cannot be preserved for a long time. After extraction, it is necessary to dry the garlic under a canopy or under the sun (if the weather is good outside) for several days.

After drying, the dry stems need to be trimmed (if you are not going to store the garlic in braids) and the heads sorted.

Under no circumstances should heads be left empty, scratched, damaged or rotten. They will not be stored for long. Moreover, they can infect other garlic with rot or disease.

After preparatory work You can start choosing a storage method. The garlic that has been sorted for one reason or another can be ground for seasoning or frozen in the freezer.

According to its characteristics, garlic holds the record for shelf life. It is stored both warm and cold, and the timing does not change much.

To understand how to store garlic in a city apartment, you need to understand the storage location and packaging (container).

What is the best container to store garlic in?

Box. There is no need to peel garlic in a box; whole heads should be placed in boxes and sprinkled with salt or flour if desired. Best to use wooden boxes, and there should be gaps in them for the passage of air for the garlic.
Storage in baskets. This is the simplest container and one of the most simple ways how to preserve garlic. Due to the weaving, air constantly circulates in the basket. This has a beneficial effect on storing vegetables.
Stockings or tights. Our grandmothers used this method. But it still remains popular for storing garlic in homes. Due to the small gaps, air enters the tights, and the garlic can survive the winter remarkably well. Knitted tights are hung on nails, thereby saving space in the apartment.
Banks. In such a container you can store both peeled and unpeeled garlic. It can be placed in a jar in its pure form, with salt or oil, and depending on the contents, it can be closed with a plastic lid or left open. Garlic in a jar can be placed in the refrigerator or on the balcony.
Without packaging. If you do not want to store garlic in boxes, jars, baskets or other containers, good option- braids. With this method, the garlic must be well dried and constantly kept in a dry place. The heads are woven with feathers and twine or rope. This option will not only allow you to store garlic for a long time, but will also be a wonderful element of decor for your apartment.

If you don’t yet know or haven’t decided where to store garlic in your apartment, here Some of the best options:

loggia or balcony. Suitable for storing garlic in jars or boxes if the premises are insulated;
cellar or underground Don't know how to store garlic in your apartment in winter? The underground will become ideal option. There is moderate humidity, good air permeability, and garlic will not lose its properties in the spring;
any dry place. Garlic will be perfectly preserved in braids, drawers or tights;
fridge. Many people ask, is it possible to store garlic in the refrigerator? In principle, this device is being considered as an option. Garlic keeps well in the cold. If it doesn’t bother you in the refrigerator and doesn’t take up much space, then you can store it there too.

So that you can finally decide how to store garlic at home, we offer you several ways.

Let's look at them.

In salt. To do this, you need to sort the garlic and dry the selected heads. Place salt on the bottom of the plywood box. Place a layer of garlic on this salt, then add salt again. There can be several of these layers, at your discretion. It is important that the garlic cloves do not touch each other, and that the salt covers the layers well.
In the refrigerator. This method is the most common, as storing garlic in the refrigerator is simple and practical. It's important to have space in it. To preserve it, dry the garlic well and place it in paper bags. If you wish, you can sprinkle with salt. Garlic must be stored separately from all vegetables, then it will be stored until spring and even summer.
In banks. This is one of the favorite storage methods among housewives. If you have already peeled the garlic or the husks have fallen off on their own, then the option with a jar will be the best, since you can store peeled garlic in it without losing the properties of the plant. To do this, we sort out the garlic, if necessary, peel it, dry it for several days and put it in jars. You don't have to close the lid. The main thing is to put it in a dry place.
In ground form. If the garlic has spoiled, then processing it is an indispensable option. To do this, choose good, unspoiled cloves, clean them and grind them in a meat grinder. Then they salt and put in jars, which are covered with lids and placed in the refrigerator. This is one way to store garlic for a short time, but you will always have garlic dressing on hand.
In oil. Peel the garlic, pour it into a jar and fill it with oil (olive or vegetable). Then you need to close the lid. Where to store garlic preserved using this method? You can just keep it in the refrigerator.
In sawdust. Also, instead of salt or flour, you can sprinkle the garlic with sawdust (it is better if it is coniferous trees). Garlic should be stored in wooden or plywood boxes in a cool, dry place.

Shelf life of garlic

Approximate deadlines are:

ground garlic - stored for no more than two months;
flour, salt, sawdust - about five months;
in oil - no more than three months;
in the refrigerator, as in paper, also about three months;
in the bank - three months.