How To Store Garlic Correctly. Part 3

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

To keep the garlic perfectly preserved, it is important to follow a number of recommendations. However, none of us is immune from the occurrence of various problems during its storage. Sometimes it happens that all the most important storage conditions were met in full, and the garlic began to mold, dry out or take root. In this final part of the article, we will look at the main troubles that can arise when storing a garlic crop, as well as ways to prevent them. The question of the safety of garlic in an apartment will be no less relevant

What troubles await garlic during storage

Drying of the garlic heads. Garlic dries up when moisture is actively evaporated from it. To prevent this nuisance, ordinary paraffin candles should be melted, and then the prepared heads of garlic should be immersed in liquid paraffin. The result of such a procedure will be the formation of a thin paraffin layer on the surface of the scales that retains moisture inside the garlic heads. In addition, such a measure is also an excellent protective agent against various diseases - in the process of breathing, the stems release carbon dioxide, which accumulates in the garlic heads and at the same time kills all kinds of harmful microorganisms.

Mold formation. As a rule, greenish mold or black rot often appears on frozen and damaged garlic heads. Mold spreads incredibly quickly if the garlic is stored in rooms with sufficiently high humidity and high temperatures. In order to prevent such an unpleasant development of events, immediately after harvesting, it is recommended to thoroughly dry the garlic heads in the open sun. The action of the direct rays of the sun provokes the rapid death of bacteria, as well as fungi and ill-fated mold. Moreover, the garlic subjected to this procedure acquires a very good immunity, allowing it to lie safe and sound all winter.

Germination of garlic heads. To prevent garlic from spilling roots, before sending it for storage, you need to lightly "burn" its bottom over the gas stove - the garlic will not only be relieved of its independent life, but it will be much better and longer stored. If the roots of the garlic are nevertheless started, then it is peeled and placed in sunflower oil, which will serve as an excellent "temporary refuge" for it. You should remove the garlic from the oil as needed, and when all of it is used up, do not rush to pour out the remaining garlic oil - it will come in handy for cooking. Typically, garlic in sunflower oil will keep well for about four months (assuming it's been refrigerated). It is quite possible to replace the oil with linseed or olive oil. Thus, in order to preserve garlic in this way, you will need to prepare peeled garlic cloves or heads, sterile containers (bottles with rather wide necks or jars) and linseed, sunflower or olive oil. The procedure for further actions is extremely simple: the garlic is placed in a container, poured with oil and placed in the refrigerator.

We store garlic in the apartment

To store harvested garlic in an apartment, it is important to choose places away from heating appliances, and they should also be cool and darkened enough. A refrigerator and a dark closet are probably the best options. In the refrigerator, prepared heads of garlic are usually kept in a special drawer for fruits and vegetables.

An unheated balcony is also suitable for storing a garlic harvest, but on condition that it is insulated, otherwise the garlic heads may freeze. True, if the winter is warm, you can store garlic on an ordinary balcony.

As for the options for storing garlic in an apartment, it is best to weave graceful pigtails from it or close the garlic heads in jars, sprinkling them with salt thoroughly. Garlic is stored very well in sawdust or in carefully sifted ash.