If you’re a garlic enthusiast, it’s likely you’ve searched for the best ways to keep this popular ingredient fresh during the chilly winter season.
It’s easy enough to throw garlic in the fridge or freezer, but you have to be careful not to overdo it.
If you don’t want to risk ruining all those perfectly-roasted chicken wings, here’s what you need to know.
What are the benefits of freezing garlic?
One of the most obvious reasons to freeze garlic is because it saves you money.
You may be able to buy one pound of garlic at the grocery store for around $1, but if you were to freeze it yourself, you could get 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of garlic for around $10.
That’s an incredible savings!
Another benefit is that it makes it easier to add more flavor to your meals.
A lot of times, you only have access to a small amount of fresh garlic.
By making extra batches of garlic paste ahead of time, you can easily keep it on hand for future meals.
How do you properly freeze garlic?
To ensure that your garlic stays nice and crispy, you need to follow proper food safety procedures.
The first step is to wash the garlic thoroughly before chopping it up.
Next, you need to dry your garlic completely.
After that, you need to peel off any dirt from the outside of the cloves.
Then, you should cut the garlic into pieces that will fit into each individual bag you plan to use to freeze it.
Once you’ve done this, put the garlic into its own bag with ice cubes to keep it cold.
Make sure that the bags are sealed tightly.
Finally, label the bags with the date and the name of the recipe.
As long as you follow these steps, your garlic will be safe to eat.
What are the consequences of freezing garlic improperly?
There are two main risks associated with freezing garlic.
First, if you freeze the garlic too quickly, the cloves will burst open, releasing their contents into the air.
This can cause health problems like coughing, breathing difficulties, and other respiratory issues.
Second, if you leave your garlic sitting in the freezer for too long, it can become moldy.
The ideal temperature for storing garlic is between 0°F (-18°C) and -20°F (-29°C).
If you live somewhere where temperatures go below zero regularly, you should consider buying a chest freezer or something similar.
These devices are designed specifically to keep food cold.
How long can garlic be frozen for?
It’s hard to say exactly how long garlic can be stored in the freezer.
In general, though, the longer it has been in the freezer, the better it tastes.
So, if you’ve made extra batches of garlic paste, you might want to try using some of it after a few months.
Is freezing garlic the best way to preserve it?
Yes, it is!
Freezing garlic helps maintain the quality and flavor of the garlic.
It also gives you a lot of flexibility with your cooking.
For example, you can thaw garlic in the microwave instead of having to wait for it to come back to room temperature.
Plus, you can use frozen garlic to replace fresh garlic in recipes without any noticeable difference.
However, there are still disadvantages to freezing garlic.
For starters, you won’t be able to freeze garlic whole.
You’ll have to chop it up first.
Also, since garlic contains sulfur compounds, it can spoil easily.
Therefore, you should always wrap it up in plastic wrap if you’re going to freeze it.
What are some other ways to preserve garlic?
Garlic can be preserved in many different ways.
One of the simplest methods is to cover the entire head of garlic with olive oil and place it on a cookie sheet in the refrigerator.
This process is known as “Roasting”, and it keeps the garlic crisp and flavorful.
Another option is to slice the garlic thinly and sprinkle it with salt and pepper.
Place it in a paper bag and let it sit overnight.
When you take it out the next day, the garlic will be soft and ready to use.
You can also keep garlic in water.
To do this, split the clove in half and put it in a jar filled with water.
Put the lid on the jar and shake it several times to mix the water and garlic together.
Strain the mixture through cheesecloth and repeat until the water is clear.
What are some dishes that freezing garlic can ruin?
While freezing garlic doesn’t affect the overall healthiness of the food you cook, it does change the texture.
Because of this, it can make certain foods mushier than usual.
For instance, if you freeze bread while it’s still warm, the bread will break apart when you bite into it.
However, if you freeze it after it cools down, it will stay intact.
Similarly, garlic can make soups and stews much thicker than they normally would be.
I share you the recipe of my favourite dish with you Garlic Butter Steak Bites
What are some dishes that garlic freezing can improve?
A lot of people think that freezing garlic means that you lose most of the nutrients.
While this isn’t true, it does mean that you won’t extract as much flavor from your garlic as you would if you cooked it fresh.
This doesn’t mean that you should never freeze garlic.
On the contrary, you can use frozen garlic to make sauces, marinades, and dressings.
Just be sure to cook your food before adding the garlic, otherwise you risk losing some of the flavor.
What are some creative uses for frozen garlic?
For a great trick, you can use frozen garlic in place of ground beef.
All you have to do is fry up some onions and peppers until they start to brown.
Once they’re crispy, remove them from the pan and set aside.
Add 1/2 cup (125 mL) of frozen garlic to the skillet and sauté it for a few minutes.
Now, add the onion and peppers back to the pan and stir everything together.
Serve it immediately!
Is there anything else we should know about freezing garlic?
When you’re preparing to freeze garlic, you need to keep in mind that it’s very perishable.
If you’re planning to freeze it, you should do so within a week of purchasing it.
If you aren’t planning to use it right away, you should refrigerate it instead of freezing it.
Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
Equipment
- 2 large bowls
- 1 oven
- 1 saucepan
- 1 knife
- 1 cutting board
- 1 spoon
Ingredients
- 1/3 pound beef steaks
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon rosemary leaves minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed
- 1 teaspoon thyme dried
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika smoked
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard dry
- Pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 cup parsley finely chopped
- 1/4 cup chives finely chopped
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Step 1: Preparing the Steak Bites
- To begin, place your steaks in a large bowl and add the crushed red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, and dry mustard.
- Mix well to coat both sides of each steak evenly.
- Let sit for 10 minutes before moving on to step 2.
- In another large bowl, mix together the butter, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Stir until everything is combined, making sure the garlic is completely coated in the mixture.
- Add the steaks to the marinade and flip them over to coat both sides with the mixture.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 15 minutes.
- Don’t forget to turn the steaks halfway through so that they’re evenly coated.
- Step 2: Cooking the Steak Bites
- Once the steaks have finished marinating, it’s time to put them in the oven.
- Set the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the steaks for 12 to 15 minutes per side.
- When done, remove them from the oven and set aside to cool down.
- Step 3: Creating the Garlic Butter Sauce
- While the steaks are cooling down, prepare the garlic butter sauce by melting the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Once melted, add the garlic and stir constantly for one minute.
- Next, add the rosemary, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, thyme, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and dry mustard.
- Stir until combined.
- Next, add the lemon juice and stir again until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Add the cayenne pepper, parsley, and chives and stir until everything is mixed thoroughly.
- Turn off the heat and pour the sauce into a bowl to cool down.
- Step 4: Assembling the Steak Bites
- After the steaks have cooled down, it’s time to assemble the garlic butter steak bites.
- Using a sharp knife, cut each steak into four equal pieces.
- Then, using a spoon, scoop out the center of each piece to create a cavity.
- On a cutting board, spread the cooled garlic butter sauce across the bottom of a large cast iron skillet.
- Make sure to cover the entire surface area of the skillet.
- Place the steaks into the skillet and fill the cavities with the parsley, chives, and grated parmesan cheese.
- Once the ingredients are placed, carefully pour the remaining sauce over the top and cook the garlic butter steak bites in the oven for five minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm.
Video
Nutrition
I have a true passion for cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, and I have been creating and perfecting recipes for friends and family for years.
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