Visit the Wonderful World that Garlic can Open for You!

Garlic is beneficial for the body because it will strengthen the immune system, lowers bad cholesterol and helps to prevent heart disease.

Garlic also has antifungal abilities which mean that fungus and many types of bacteria do not stand a chance when this wonder drug of natural healing is in the nearby vicinity.

What is Garlic?

Garlic is a bulbous plant that is in the same family as onions, leeks and scallions. It is most often used as a seasoning or flavoring ingredient but it can also be eaten in the same manner as all other vegetables. In the family garlic belongs to, it is often thought of as king while the onion is its queen!

Garlic can be purchased as fresh in the produce department of your grocery store or it can be purchased in its dried form. Dried garlic is the most often used of the two for recipes and it can be found in pink, purple or white varieties. When garlic is roasted or sautéed it has a decidedly mild and sweet aroma. On the other hand, raw garlic is pungent and bitter (and lives up to its stinky reputation all too well!)

There are many cultures throughout the world that use garlic in cooking, including our own. Garlic provides a welcome addition to many dishes as it provides a tasty, savory flavoring for casseroles, stews, soups, meats, sauces, salad dressings, marinades and vinaigrette. Garlic is also commonly used to make garlic butter, which can then be spread on bread to make garlic bread or garlic toast. If you do not want to buy fresh garlic for a recipe then bear in mind that a 1/8-teaspoon of garlic powder is roughly the same as a medium fresh clove of fresh garlic.

Buying Garlic at the Store

Garlic is not a seasonal vegetable and for that reason should be available at your grocery store all 12 months of the year. When choosing fresh garlic, always choose bulbs that are firm and plump and ensure that the paper-like skins of the garlic bulbs are intact and are not falling away. Stay away from garlic bulbs that exhibit bruises, blemishes or nicks. Also avoid any that show signs of mildew or ones that have soft spots or sprouting. If you cannot find fresh garlic then the second best choice is to buy garlic powder, or garlic puree. Some select grocery stores and health food stores might sell garlic juice in a spray form and garlic is sometimes also made into salt as well as granulated garlic.

Storing Garlic

Always store fresh garlic in a place in your home that is well ventilated. The area should be cool, dark and dry at all times. If stored properly, garlic can remain worthy of use for a period of four to six months. It is recommended that once purchased, garlic should be used up within a couple of weeks for optimum freshness. If the cloves have been removed from the garlic bulb they can easily be frozen for a number of months and should remain perfectly fine to cook with. If garlic has been prepared in any way such as by chopping or mincing then the parts that were not used must be refrigerated. It is essential that you store the garlic in an airtight container so it will not smell up your refrigerator and any food containers that are sitting close by.

We have demonstrated that garlic is good for so much more than warding off vampires! Next time you make up a grocery list put garlic at the top of the list and start reaping all of its many health benefits!

Samantha