Garlic is regarded as an essential ingredient in Indian cooking. It has an overpowering aroma and is widely used to boost the flavour of various dishes. Not only this, many of us include garlic in our diet to improve our health. It is rich in antioxidants and may help improve our body's immune system. Because of this, we all buy it in bulk. However, have you ever noticed that garlic starts to sprout after a certain period of time? This is usually a sign that your garlic is starting to go off and may need to be discarded. So, if you want to store it for a longer period of time, we have some interesting hacks to keep the garlic from sprouting. Without further ado, let's get started with the list.
Also read: Garlic Recipes: 8 Of Our Best Recipes For Garlic Lovers To Try!
How Do You Store Garlic For A Long Time | Try These 5 Hacks To Keep Garlic From Sprouting:
1. Do Not Store In A Cool Place
Most of us store garlic in our fridge or any other cool place in our kitchen cabinet. Should garlic be stored in the refrigerator? The answer is no - this is not the best thing to do. If you want to prevent it from sprouting, store it in a dry and airy place. You can also keep it in the open and cover it with paper.
2. Do Not Store In A Plastic Container
We are all guilty of using plastic bags or containers to store our veggies and herbs. But this may cause sprouting as the garlic will germinate. You should always store garlic in a paper or cloth bag to prevent sprouting.
3. Do Not Store It With Other Food Items
The next thing to keep in mind while storing garlic is not to store it with other food items. Many of us store garlic with potatoes or onions, but if any one of them germinates, the gas released from it can affect the other and cause sprouting.
4. Remove The Buds Before Storing
Lastly, make sure to remove the buds of the garlic if you want to store them for a longer period of time. Garlic buds are very minute in size as compared to whole garlic and can cause sprouting easily.
Keep these tips in mind before storing garlic. Let us know how these hacks worked for you in the comments section below.