Fermented Garlic Recipe for Whole Cloves

Learn how to ferment whole garlic cloves for everyday use in the kitchen. When fermented, garlic keeps for months in the fridge, and can be used as needed in recipes, home remedies and cooking.

In my kitchen, garlic is something I must have on hand at all times. We love it so much, we grow our own every year. It takes work to plant, harvest, cure and store it. But it's worth the effort.

Garlic stores beautifully over winter in our cold room. But when spring arrives, garlic cloves start to send up green, grass-like shoots. My garlic quickly spoils if I don't preserve cloves in a new way.

That's when you'll find me fermenting garlic in salt water. I also like to freeze garlic, and preserve garlic in vinegar.

Until the new crop comes in, I rely on my preserved garlic for that rich, bold flavor we love!

Here is my fermented garlic recipe for whole cloves.

Why You'll Like Fermenting Garlic

1. Fermenting is an easy way to preserve a lot of garlic, all at once.
2. You don't need special equipment to ferment garlic.
3. The process is very simple.
4. You can use fermented garlic just like fresh garlic.
5. Fermented garlic is loaded with good bacteria that is easily absorbed by your body.
6. Fermented garlic will keep for a half a year or more in the refrigerator. 

Tools You'll Need

• kitchen knife
• cutting board
• quart glass jar
• fermentation weight
• lid

Watch the Video Tutorial

How to Ferment Garlic Cloves

1. Break open garlic heads and separate individual cloves.
2. Peel your garlic cloves.
3. Create a salt water brine in a mason jar.
4. Add freshly peeled cloves to the jar.
5. Place a glass weight on top of garlic to keep submerged.
6. Cover the jar with a lid.
7. Break the lid's seal every 1-2 days if gas is building up.
8. Ferment your garlic for 14-21 days.
9. Refrigerate your garlic and use as needed.

Questions and Answers

Why should I ferment garlic?

Fermenting garlic makes nutrients and beneficial properties more available to your gut. It's also a wonderful way to preserve garlic in the fridge.

What is fermented garlic good for?

Whole fermented garlic cloves can be used just like fresh cloves. They are delicious paired with meat, in soups, homemade condiments and even in home remedies.

Does fermented garlic have the same benefits as raw garlic?

Yes...and more! Fermenting makes nutrients more available to our bodies. We digest fermented food better. You could say that fermenting garlic enhances all the qualities of raw garlic.

Is botulism a problem when fermenting garlic?

The short answer is no. Botulism needs an anaerobic environment to develop and become dangerous. When fermenting food, oxygen is always present.

Is my garlic good if it turns blue?

Yes, it's not uncommon for garlic to take a light blue or grey hue during the fermenting process.

How do I know if my garlic is bad?

If your garlic develops mold on the surface of the brine, turns slimy or smells putrid, throw it out. Healthy ferments should have a tangy, sour aroma.

Can you eat whole cloves of raw, fermented garlic?

Even after fermenting, garlic is still very hard on the stomach. If you want to eat a raw, fermented clove, take it on a full stomach with a side of cheese or other fattening food.

How to Use Fermented Garlic

Whether you're making homemade pasta sauces, sautéing meat, making salad dressings, homemade condiments or even using garlic for its medicinal properties, you can use fermented garlic just like fresh garlic!

Read more about garlic here: 

How to Grow Your Own Organic Garlic

How to Preserve Garlic in Apple Cider Vinegar

How to Freeze Fresh Garlic for Easy Use

Cabbage and Garlic Sauerkraut Recipe