For many at-home chefs, there are a few things better than smelling the distinct aroma of minced garlic sautéing in butter or olive oil on the stove. If you ever wondered how such a prominent smell and taste can come from such a small plant, The Garlic Farm blames allicin, which is a sulphuric compound only produced when a garlic clove is minced or crushed. The process of altering the clove creates a chemical reaction that produces that one-of-a-kind smell and taste weve come to know and love in many of todays savory dishes.
Garlics consistent presence behind the scenes in restaurant kitchens and at-home recipe ingredient lists makes it a popular food for enhancing the other ingredients on your plate. According to the USDA, in 2020, U.S. farmers produced roughly 346 million pounds of garlic. But things get interesting when you discover that not even half of that amount was sold as a fresh product. 225 million pounds of garlic were processed into various products, such as garlic powder and dehydrated garlic.
With the difficulty of peeling raw garlic cloves, you may have turned to jarred garlic to save your sanity. But how can you tell if that ancient bottle in the back of your fridge is still good to use?
Yes. Like any other plant matter, it’ll go bad. Also, even if it’s not strictly inedible, the garlic flavor is based on chemicals that break down quickly, which is why jarred minced garlic has a much “flatter” flavor than fresh minced garlic.
Is older minced garlic safe to use?
To answer this question, there are a few factors to consider. Jarred garlic is a popular product you can find in almost every grocery store. But with abundance comes variety. If your jarred garlic contains preservatives, an opened bottle will remain safe to eat for up to 24 months if sealed properly in your refrigerator. Preservatives aside, both FoodsGuy and Street Smart Kitchen agree that youre typically safe to consume opened jarred garlic for up to 3 months when its stored in your fridge after opening. (While expiration dates are important, theyre usually indicators of garlic quality, not safety.)
If youre unsure of when you purchased the garlic in question, there are signs to look for in terms of spoilage. FoodsGuy states that if your jarred garlic has an off-putting smell or signs of discoloration, it might be time to say goodbye.
You might have a habit of keeping the jarred variety handy to make your famous garlic rolls, but Healthy Food Guide says that buying pre-minced garlic is a gamble due to the array of ingredients that can be added, such as vegetable gums, salt, and sugar. But is there really that much of a difference between jarred garlic and cloves straight from the bulb?
You Should Never Use Minced Garlic From A Jar. Here’s Why.
FAQ
Is it OK to use expired minced garlic?
How long can I keep minced garlic in the fridge?
Is minced garlic in a jar bad?
Does minced garlic go bad if unopened?
While garlic is best when fresh, minced garlic in a jar saves time and smelly hands by allowing you to take a spoonful and add it to your dishes. Minced garlic goes bad after 18-24 months when unopened and stored at room temperature in a pantry. Unopened minced garlic goes bad in just 3 months when unopened in a refrigerator.
Is cooked garlic good for you?
Cooked garlic has the same health benefits as raw garlic, such as reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, promotes cancer prevention, has antibiotic properties and prevents Alzheimer’s and dementia.
How do you know if minced garlic has gone bad?
If minced garlic has developed mould, a weird odour, flavour or colour it should be thrown away. It can sometimes be easier to notice when whole garlic has gone bad as they usually turn soft, have a sour smell or develop dark spots. Similar signs will appear in minced garlic, the most notable being an off smell or mold appearing.
Can you eat bottled minced garlic?
Storage times shown are for best quality only – after that, the bottled minced garlic’s color or flavor may change, but in most cases, it will still be safe to consume if it has been stored properly, the bottle is not damaged and there are no signs of spoilage (see below). How can you tell if bottled minced garlic is bad?