Garlic is a familiar spice in Vietnamese meals, not only helping the dish to be fragrant but also considered a healthy food. However, many people preserve garlic incorrectly, causing garlic to sprout quickly, become soft, moldy or lose its characteristic aroma.
Notably, some seemingly convenient habits are the reason why garlic quality is reduced, even reducing beneficial compounds.
Below are common mistakes when preserving garlic that many families are making.
1. Store garlic in the refrigerator when it is still whole.
Many people think keeping garlic in the refrigerator will help keep it fresh longer. However, the cold and humid environment in the refrigerator can easily make garlic sprout quickly, soft and reduce fragrance.
Whole garlic should be stored in a dry, airy place instead of being stored in the refrigerator.
2. Put garlic in a sealed plastic bag
Garlic needs to "breat" to avoid getting damp. When placed in a sealed plastic bag, water vapor is trapped, creating conditions for garlic to mold or rot faster.
The best way is to keep garlic in a mesh bag or airy basket.
3. Peel it off and leave it for a long time
Many people have a habit of peeling garlic in advance for convenience of use. However, garlic after peeling is very easy to dry out, reduce flavor and spoil quickly if not stored properly.
If it is pre-unwrapped, it should be kept in a sealed container and used for a short time.
4. Keep garlic in a place with sunlight or high temperature
Garlic placed near the kitchen, near windows or in direct sunlight will quickly dry out, shrink and reduce quality.
Garlic should be kept in a cool, ventilated place, avoiding heat and strong light.
5. Put garlic with onions or potatoes
Many families have a habit of putting garlic with onions or potatoes in the same basket. This can increase moisture and make garlic spoil faster.
It is best to store garlic separately to extend the shelf life.
Just avoid the above mistakes and preserve them properly, garlic can last longer, be fragranter and limit sprouting or molding. This is a simple but very worthwhile tip to save costs and maintain food quality in the kitchen.
