Garlic Fresh and Intact for a Whole Year: A Kitchen Trick Only Chefs Know

Garlic That Lasts a Year: How to Preserve It

Experienced chefs are already familiar with this garlic preservation method.

1. Start with half a kilo (about 1 lb) of garlic cloves.

2. Soak them in warm water for about an hour.

3. After soaking, dry and peel them—you’ll find the skins come off easily since they’ve softened.

Next, place all the peeled garlic cloves into a sterilized jar. For every two tablespoons of coarse salt (roughly 30 grams), add to the jar. Then pour in a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar—this ingredient helps keep the garlic intact.

Bring some water to a boil, let it cool down, and pour it into the jar just enough to cover the garlic.

Before sealing the jar, place one slice of lemon on top of the garlic. Then close the lid tightly and give the jar a good shake to mix all the ingredients.

Result:

With this method, your garlic cloves will stay perfectly fresh for over a year—they won’t rot, and they’ll be ready to use at any time without needing to peel them again.

This trick, used by many chefs, is not only practical, but also highly effective.