How to store garlic so that it does not sprout

There are many times in our lives when the garlic we buy from the supermarket will sprout. The reason for this is that we don’t know how to choose it. Such garlic should be stored in a shaded and humid environment. If a warmer environment is chosen, it will easily sprout. Generally, garlic is relatively fresh and will not sprout. Only new garlic will sprout. So how can we store garlic so that it won’t sprout?

1. After buying garlic, it is best to tie the opening of the plastic bag tightly to prevent the garlic from absorbing moisture.

2. You can also put the garlic into an empty bottle or jar with a sealed lid. This can not only prevent moisture, but also reduce the oxygen concentration in the storage environment, increase the carbon dioxide concentration, and inhibit the germination of garlic.

3. Low temperature can inhibit the germination of garlic. Therefore, the garlic can be stored in the refrigerator. This is the method of preventing germination adopted by many families. Note that garlic should not be stored below zero degrees, and garlic should not be frozen, as this will easily lead to nutritional loss of garlic.

4. High temperature can also inhibit the germination of garlic. If you have a microwave oven at home, put the garlic in the microwave and heat it for about one minute, depending on the specific parameters of each microwave oven. Heat the garlic until it is slightly hot to the touch. Do not overheat it, otherwise the garlic will be roasted completely and you will not be able to finish it in one go. If you are not sure, you can first experiment with a garlic clove to determine the right time. Garlic that has been treated with high temperature in this way can be placed anywhere without sprouting easily. Of course, it cannot be thrown in a humid place.

5. If you have an oven with temperature control at home, it would be best to use the oven to inhibit germination at high temperature. Set the temperature to about 45 degrees Celsius and bake in the oven for about fifteen minutes. After being treated with high temperature, it is generally not easy to germinate even if left in the kitchen for ten days or half a month.

6. Some garlic bulbs are about to sprout when you buy them, so neither low nor high temperatures can suppress their germination. For such garlic, we can peel off its skin, cut off the germ of the garlic cloves, and pull out the bud tip of those that have already sprouted. In this way, the garlic will no longer sprout and grow seedlings. Finally, we can put the garlic cloves with the germ removed in the refrigerator, or just leave them anywhere, but they may lose water and shrink over time.