Garlic is a staple in kitchens worldwide, prized for its robust flavor that enhances countless dishes across different cuisines. Freshly minced garlic can elevate your cooking, but what do you do when you have an abundance of garlic that you don’t want to waste? Freezing minced garlic is the perfect solution for preserving its pungent flavor and nutritional benefits. Here’s the absolute best way to freeze minced garlic.

Start with fresh bulbs of garlic. Pick ones that are plump, firm, and free from any green sprouts or mold. Peel the garlic cloves by lightly crushing them under the flat side of a knife to loosen the skins.

Once peeled, mince the garlic either manually with a knife or use a food processor if you have a large quantity. Aim for evenly-sized pieces to ensure uniformity in freezing and later use.

Next, take a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper. This will prevent the minced garlic from sticking to the tray and make retrieving frozen portions much simpler. Now, spoon out teaspoon-sized amounts of the minced garlic onto the lined tray. If you wish for a specific portion size, feel free to use a measuring spoon as your scoop. Do not let the mounds touch so they will freeze individually.

Place the tray into the freezer and let it sit until each mound of minced garlic is frozen solid. This could take a few hours depending on your freezer. This step is crucial as it keeps your garlic from freezing into one big clump.

Once frozen, quick-transfer these frozen mounds into an airtight container or freezer bag. Label it with the date so you’ll know how long it’s been stored.

When packed correctly, frozen minced garlic can last up to six months in your freezer without significant loss of flavor.

The ideal way to use frozen minced garlic is directly from the freezer – there’s no need to thaw it first if you’re tossing it into hot dishes like soups, stews, or sautés. The heat will defrost it quickly.

To sum up, freezing minced garlic involves selecting fresh bulbs, mincing them evenly, initially freezing individual portions on a baking sheet before transferring them into airtight containers and using them as needed straight from the freezer into hot dishes. It’s an efficient and effective way to ensure that you always have fresh-tasting garlic on hand without any inconvenience or waste.