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Keep Your Garlic Fresh with a DIY Garlic Keeper

by on Jun 3, 2007

 

Garlic cloves in terracotta plastic container.

 

These little guys are pretty cool: they’re designed to keep fresh garlic, well, fresh. Garlic should be stored in a cool, dry place (like in a cabinet, not the refrigerator). Presumably, using a close terra cotta container keeps out light, and the unglazed ceramic surface absorbs moisture- all of which can double the shelf life of your garlic.

And they cost 5 dollars. You can build one for less than 1 dollar. Your choice- but either way, use fresh garlic, and use it often.
A terra cotta pot and drainage dish.
Ingredients:
Terra cotta pot and drainage dish
Electric Drill and 3/8” drill bit (optional)
Large sink basin and water
Safety glasses, gloves, and dust mask.

1. Purchase a terra cotta pot and a drainage dish that would serve well as a lid, hopefully for a price under three quarters.
2. Wash your pot thoroughly with soap and water, and if you’re concerned about sanitation, bake both pieces for 30 minutes at 400-degrees. Garlic comes with its own wrapper, so no worries about storing your groceries in garden supplies.

3. Submerge the bottom of the pot in water for 1 hour. This will soften the clay, and make it easier to drill.
4. Load a drill or drill press with a 3/8” drill bit, and wearing protective gear, slowly and carefully drill 3 or 4 holes along the bottom side. I’m not sure of the science of doing so- I guess a little fresh air is useful. The manufactured item includes the holes, so I thought mine should as well, but this step is optional.
5. Wipe off any dust, and wash one last time. Load up your garlic, and have it some fresh, whenever your please.

 

Terracotta pot with holes drilled on side and topped with water draining tray.

 

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2 Comments

  1. If you use a 3/8″ coring bit to make the holes, you can glue the cut out pieces to the top of the lid.  You then have an instant handle for the top for easy opening/replacing for the lid!  

  2. Couple important steps that’s are missing….store in a cool place like a basement or cold storage.  Plus, every 3 weeks or so, empty the garlic out, soak the lid and pot in water for 5 minutes to fully absorb, then drain out the water, wipe both pieces dry of surface moisture and put the garlic back into the lidded container. The water within the walls of the clay will slowly disperse and keep the internal humidity high.  Garlic requires high humidity to keep fresh.  This is even more important if you’re running a central air conditioner or central heating, as both will dry out the air indoors.