5 Ways to Use Garlic and It’s Amazing Health Benefits

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Garlic is one of those foods that is a must have in the garden. Not only is garlic an incredible flavor to add to almost any dish in the kitchen, but it is an incredible source of medicine to have on hand. From a natural form of antibiotic to a chest decongestant, it can help to give your body the proper strength it needs to stay in optimal health. And learning the skill of preservation is key to keep this miracle herb shelf stable.

In today’s article we are going to discuss in depth, what garlic is, health benefits to garlic, and 5 ways to preserve it! Without further ado, let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

• What is Garlic?
• Health Benefits to Garlic
• List of Health Benefits
• 5 Ways to Use Garlic
• 1. Save For Next Growing Season
• 2. Fermented Garlic Paste
• 3. Use Fresh
• 4. Making Garlic Powder
• 5. Making Capsules

What is Garlic?

Garlic is an herb, is a close relative to the onion family and is scientifically known as Allium Sativum. Native to Central Asia, garlic grows as a bulb that contains several cloves that have a thin sometimes translucent paper like peel. It is commonly known to season food using it minced, whole or even powdered.

Health Benefits to Garlic

The world of health benefits to garlic is far, wide and nothing short of amazing. It has been used as a remedy to illness for over 3,000 years. It contains a powerful sulfur compound called allicin. This compound is the plants own defense mechanism against pests and other harmful intruders. When the plant feels in harms way, it releases an enzyme called allinase. Allinase converts to the toxic compound allicin that keeps fungi, pests and other harmful microorganisms away.

Allicin has many medicinal benefits such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-cancer, circulatory properties as well as hypolipidemic properties. It is also the reason for the strong pungent smell garlic is well known for!

List of Health Benefits

Potential reduces cholesterol

May fight against cancer

Possibly helps to prevent atherosclerosis

Could lower blood pressure

Reduces the duration of a cold

Helps to reduce mucus on the chest

Can potentially heal wounds

May boost immune system

May help relieve ear infections

Helps to prevent hair loss

5 Ways to Use Garlic

1. Save For Next Growing Season

Saving large bulbs of garlic from your garden for the next growing season is crucial because these bulbs are likely to have the best genetics, leading to stronger, more productive plants. Larger bulbs typically produce bigger cloves, which result in more vigorous growth and larger harvests.

By selecting the healthiest and most robust bulbs, you’re essentially ensuring that your garlic crop improves in quality and yield year after year, adapting to your specific garden conditions.

How To Store Your Seeds For Next Season

To store garlic seeds (cloves), keep them in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area. After harvesting, cure the garlic by letting it dry for 2-3 weeks in a shaded, airy space. Once fully cured, trim the roots and tops, leaving about an inch of the stalk.

Store the bulbs in a mesh bag or paper sack at a temperature between 50-60°F (10-15°C) to prevent sprouting and rot. Avoid plastic bags, as they can trap moisture and cause mold. Properly stored garlic seeds will stay viable for planting the next season.

2. Fermented Garlic Paste

Fermenting your garlic is a fantastic way to not only have minced flavor garlic ready on demand but added health benefits by way of fermentation. This is one of our favorite ways to preserve our it. This recipe comes from the book Fermented Vegetables by Kristen K. Shockey & Christopher Shockey. This is a great book for beginners, as it has tons of detailed information that help to guide you along your fermentation journey.

Recipe

1. Start with 6-8 bulbs of garlic peeled.
2. Mince cloves using a high powered blender or food processor
3. Pour your paste into a bowl and add in 2 teaspoons of an all natural salt. (I highly advise you stay away from salts that have any preservatives and anti-caking agents. We use Redmonds Real Salt.) Mix in the salt well.
4. Add paste mixture into a quart size mason jar or any quart size glass vessel.
5. Fill a sandwich bag full of filtered water, seal and place on top of your garlic paste mixture. Ensure to shimmy down your baggie so that it covers the entire surface area of your garlic mixture.
6. Place a loose fitting lid, coffee filter with a rubber band or even a fermentation lid on top and allow to sit in a cool dark pantry for 14-21 days.
7. Once your garlic paste reaches desired taste, label & date and place in fridge for up to a year.

How To Use Your Garlic Paste

Fermented garlic paste is a flavorful and versatile ingredient. Here are five different ways to use it:

1. In sauces and marinades: Add a spoonful to salad dressings, marinades, or sauces for a deep, tangy garlic flavor that enhances meats, veggies, and salads.
2. Spread on bread: Mix the paste with butter or olive oil and spread it on bread or toast for a delicious garlic-flavored spread.
3. In soups and stews: Stir a bit of the paste into soups, stews, or broths for an extra layer of fermented flavor, adding depth and complexity.
4. In stir-fries: Add the paste to stir-fries or sautéed dishes just before serving to preserve its probiotic benefits while imparting rich garlic flavor.
5. In dips and spreads: Blend it into hummus, aioli, or other dips for a savory twist with a probiotic boost.

3. Use Fresh

It is as simple as it sounds, use your newly harvested homegrown garlic fresh. There are a few simple steps on properly preparing it once you harvest from the garden.

Here are the steps:

1. Harvest: Gently pull the garlic from the soil when the lower leaves begin to turn brown but 4-5 green leaves remain.
2. Clean: Brush off excess soil without washing the garlic. Keep the bulbs intact with stalks and roots attached.
3. Cure: Hang the in bundles or spread them in a single layer in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area, out of direct sunlight. Let them dry for 2-3 weeks.
4. Trim: Once fully dried, trim the roots and stalks, leaving about an inch of the stalk.
5. Store: Store the dried garlic in a cool, dry place. Keep it in mesh bags, baskets, or open containers for airflow. This will stay fresh for use in the kitchen throughout the season!

4. Making Garlic Powder

Making garlic powder is one of the easiest ways to replace that store bought stuff while preserving your harvest for long term storage. There are two ways you can achieve this, by dehydrating your garlic or freeze drying. My preferred method is freeze drying. It makes such a beautiful pure powder that just makes my soul smile! A few years ago we invested in a Harvest Right Freeze Dryer and haven’t regretted it since! I’ll walk you through both methods.

Dehydrating Garlic:

1. Peel the garlic: Separate the cloves and peel them completely, removing all the papery skin.
2. Slice the cloves: Thinly slice the peeled cloves to allow for even dehydration.
3. Dehydrate: Lay the slices in a single layer on dehydrator trays or a baking sheet. Set the dehydrator to 125°F (52°C) or your oven to its lowest setting. Dry for 8-12 hours until the slices are completely crisp and break easily.
4. Grind into powder: Once fully dehydrated, use a blender, spice grinder, or mortar and pestle to grind it into a fine powder.
5. Store: Store your powder in an airtight container, away from heat and moisture, to maintain freshness.

Freeze Drying Garlic:

Freeze drying garlic to make garlic powder preserves its flavor and nutrients. Here are the steps:

1. Peel the garlic: Separate the garlic cloves and peel them completely, discarding the outer skins.
2. Mince the cloves: Mincing will help to provide an even layer of garlic paste for powdering.
3. Freeze: Spread the mince garlic thinly on freeze-dryer trays, ensuring it is an even spread. Having uneven areas will not allow the garlic to dry evenly.
4. Freeze dry: Insert the trays into the freeze dryer. Set the machine based on manufactures instructions. Depending on the garlic’s moisture content, you may need to add extra dry time. My garlic took about 36 hours to fully dry.
5. Grind into powder: Once freeze dried, break dried garlic into pieces that will fit into a high power blender or food processor and grind into a fine powder.
6. Store: Store your powder in an airtight container, away from moisture and heat.

5. Making Capsules

Making capsules out of your homegrown garlic ensures you have the health benefits at the drop of a hat! We love having a jar full of these in our medicinal cabinet at all times and it is super easy to make.

Here are the steps: Simply use your freshly made garlic powder using the steps above to fill your empty capsules.

1. Fill empty capsules: Purchase empty gelatin or vegetarian capsules from a health store or online. Using a capsule-filling machine (or by hand), carefully fill each capsule with the garlic powder.
2. Seal and store: Close the capsules securely and store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place to maintain freshness.
3. Dosage: Use the capsules as needed, typically 1-2 capsules per day, depending on the size and your preference for garlic intake.

There you have it, we discussed what garlic is, some popular health benefits and 5 ways to use it. Remember, you do not need to grow this amazing plant yourself. Find a local farmer, visit a health food store or buy organic garlic from your grocery store down the street. Learning to preserve food does not pertain to only those who grow their own food, it is available to all.

We would love to hear your favorite way to use your garlic. Leave a comment below! For more food preservation information read this article.

Until Next Time…