Does Garlic Go Bad?

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If you’re a garlic lover like us, you might wonder does garlic go bad? This article explores how long garlic is good for and how to tell if it has gone bad. In addition, we will look at the benefits of garlic, consequences of eating too much of it and ways to use garlic.

Yes, garlic does go bad. If garlic is kept as a whole head of garlic, meaning it has not been peeled, it will last six months. Once you break garlic up into individual cloves, it will last about three weeks. Finally, if you break garlic up into cloves and peel them, they will last about one week.

These timelines assume that your garlic is being stored properly. In order to make your garlic last as long as possible, you should only break off and peel the number of cloves you need at that time.

How To Store Garlic

There are many ways to buy garlic. They way you store it depends on the type you have. Lets take a look at each option.

Whole Bulb – Whole garlic should be stored in a cool, well ventilated, dark pantry or cabinet. Choose a cabinet that is furthest away form the oven. You want to make sure the garlic remains cool. Garlic stored like this should last up to six months.

Unpeeled Individual Cloves – Unpeeled garlic cloves can be stored in the pantry or cabinet along with the whole bulbs. Once removed, garlic broken up into individual cloves will last seven to ten days.

Peeled Garlic – Peeled garlic must be stored in the refrigerator. Once you peel the garlic, put it into an airtight container or storage bag and place it in the refrigerator. Peeled garlic will be good for five to seven days.

Garlic Paste – Garlic paste is a convenient and easy way to use garlic on demand. Garlic paste is sold at grocery stores and should be stored in an airtight container. It can be stored for a week.

Is It Bad To Eat Old Garlic?

It is OK to eat garlic that has sprouted or have yellow or brown spots. You do not want to eat garlic if it has become mushy or has mold on it. If your garlic has brown or yellow spots, simply remove them and eat the fresh parts.

Benefits of Eating Garlic

Lower Blood Pressure – Garlic may lower blood pressure by stimulating chemicals in the body that help support blood flow and pressure.
Reduces Inflammation – Garlic may stop the the production of inflammation causing proteins in the body.
Lower Cholesterol – Garlic helps lower total cholesterol which includes LDL which is the bad cholesterol
Supports Immune Function – Garlic helps with the immune system in two ways. First it may help prevent colds, and second it reduces the duration of a cold.
Makes Healthy Food Taste Better – Garlic, similar to onions, herbs and spices add a lot of flavor without adding a lot of calories.

Disadvantages Of Garlic

There are several disadvantages of garlic which includes bad breath, heartburn or rashes.

Bad Breath: Bad breath is probably the most common side effect of eating garlic. As a result, you may want to brush your teeth or use mouth wash after eating garlic.

Skin Rashes: Eating a lot of garlic can cause skin rashes and irritation. If you have had a reaction with garlic, you can avoid future rashes by wearing gloves when you are chopping it.

Heartburn: Too much garlic can cause digestion problems which can lead to heartburn. To avoid heartburn, do not eat raw garlic.

Does Minced Garlic Go Bad?

Yes, minced garlic goes bad. The store bought kind of minced garlic, which contains citric acid, will last up to twenty four months in the refrigerator after is has been opened.

If the minced garlic does not contain preservatives, it will only last about three months opened in the refrigerator. Homemade minced garlic will last about two weeks in the refrigerator. For best results, make sure it is stored in a sealed container.

How Long Does Garlic Last In Olive Oil?

Homemade garlic in olive oil is really easy to make, but if not handled correctly is can cause botulism. If the oil is not refrigerated, bacteria can grow in it. Raw garlic in olive oil will go back after four days even with refrigeration.

Cooked garlic cloves in olive oil can last up to two weeks in the refrigerator. If the mixture is put in the freezer, it can last up to four months. Garlic in olive oil should never be stored at room temperature.

How Long Do Garlic Bulbs Last?

Garlic does not come with a best by date or expiration date like packaged foods. Whole garlic should be stored in a cool, well ventilated, dark pantry or cupboard. If you choose a cabinet that is furthest away form the oven, it will last longer. You want to make sure the garlic remains cool. Garlic stored away from heat should last up to six months.

Is Garlic Good For Dogs?

No, garlic is not good for dogs. Garlic, along with onion, chives and leeks are poisonous to dogs and cats. Generally small amounts of garlic are OK, but large amounts can be toxic.

Signs of garlic poisoning may be delayed. It can take several days for the sign and symptoms to show up. The most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and drooling. If your dog has eaten a large amount of garlic you might also notice increased heart rate, weakness and lethargy.

What Happens If You Eat Garlic Everyday?

Garlic, like other herbs, is an easy way to add flavor to healthy meals without a ton of added calories. In addition to adding flavor, garlic is full nutrients that may benefit your health. However, as with most things, too much can be a bad thing.

We all know that eating garlic will give you bad breath. However, overdoing it can cause discomfort, including upset stomach, bloating, diarrhea, and body odor.

If you want to add garlic to your daily routine, you should start with a little bit. To get the health benefits of garlic, consider using garlic capsules instead of fresh garlic.

Is Garlic Good For Weight Loss?

There are a lot of benefits of eating garlic. Garlic has been identified as being potentially helpful when trying to lose weight. If used with a healthy diet, and workout schedule, it does help with weight loss.

Garlic has been shown to increase energy levels and burn unwanted calories, which will lead to weight loss. As a result, it will keep your body fit and healthy. With components that helps in boosting metabolism, garlic helps in losing weight efficiently

Another way garlic helps lose weight is by suppressing your appetite. It helps you keep you fuller for a longer period of time. This will also help stop you from overeating as it keeps you fuller longer.

Finally, garlic is also known for detoxification properties. Garlic can help flush out the toxins in your body, which might otherwise slow down digestion. So garlic not only helps with weight loss, but also the digestive system.

Can You Eat Raw Garlic?

Yes, you can eat raw garlic. Eating raw garlic will allow you to get the most nutritional value out of it. If you eat raw garlic on an empty stomach, the Allicin will not get diluted. Allicin, which the molecule t that makes garlic so nutritional, is not a strong once it is cooked.

Garlic Capsules Vs. Raw Garlic

Cooked garlic is the least effective version of garlic. Next, is raw garlic and the most effective version of garlic is in capsule form. Garlic supplements are convenient and easy to purchase.

Garlic supplements are generally well-tolerated. However, taking too many tablets may cause upset stomach, diarrhea, bad breath, and body odor. By the way, these are the same symptoms of eating too much raw garlic.

Ways To Use Garlic

Garlic is most often used to bring flavor to food. It is used in salad dressings, vinaigrettes, marinades, sauces, vegetables, meats, soups, and stews. It can even be used to make garlic butter and garlic toast. Lets take a look at each option below.

Crush It Up – Crushed garlic is really common and is to prepare. To crush garlic, simply chop the cloves into small pieces. Next mash it in a mortar and pestle until if reaches your desired consistency. Crushed garlic can used many ways including: soups, hummus, sauce, or it can be spread on a slice of toasted bread.

Spread It On – Garlic butter has been around for ages. Most commonly, it is used on toasted bread, pita or a slice of French bread. Garlic butter can be made at home or bought at the store.

Roast It – Roasting in the oven makes garlic soft, warm and caramelized. The outcome is sweet and mild tasting. Roated garlic can be eaten alone or spread over toast, cracker or mixed into mashed potatos.

Roasting garlic is really easy to do. Simply place the entire garlic head with tin foil and placed it in the oven. Roast it at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for forty five minutes. Unlike raw garlic, roasted garlic has a sweet and caramelized flavor.

The Right Way To Eat Garlic To Get Maximum Benefits

Raw garlic is the optimal way to get its benefits. However, you can still boost your health by cooking with garlic. The right way to eat garlic to get the maximum benefits is the way you like to eat it best. There is no sense in trying to eat garlic raw if you don’t like it. Find what you like best and go with it.

If you try eating garlic and find out your don’t’ like it, try garlic supplements. Dried garlic capsules are convenient and also boost your health. You can buy dried garlic capsules at most health food stores and vitamin and wellness retailers.

You can buy dried garlic capsules online. Make sure you read the product label to make sure it contains allium. Allium is important to make sure you’re getting the health benefits. To get the most health benefits form them, make sure you’re following the dosing instructions. .

Conclusion

Today, there are many options when it comes to improving the flavor of your food and improve your health. Regardless of whether you are trying to lower cholesterol, lose weight or just add flavor, garlic does go bad. Finding alternatives to fresh garlic will make life a lot easier. Comment below with your favorite way to use garlic.