Preserving Smoked Garlic Bulbs for Cooking

Preserving smoked garlic is an easy to process, requiring three simple items – garlic, wood chips or pellets, and a smoker. Smoked garlic bulbs bring flavor to all recipes which call for garlic, turning a simple dish into one with extraordinaire flavor.

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The idea of smoking garlic is so simple people overlook it. Use the cloves as an ingredient to any dish desired, enhancing the flavor of garlic by providing a bit of smokiness . And in truth, it should be added to everything, for example, homemade egg noodles. Smoked garlic sauteed with butter and homemade noodles? Um, yes, most definitely! Also, make sure to add a clove or two, maybe more, to the following dishes:

• Soups
• Pasta sauce
• Bread making
• Dip
• Garlic Hummus
• Chili sauce

Preserving garlic in this method allows for a plethora of cooking options. Do not limit yourself on what to add this to. Experiment a little with it.

Growing Garlic

Garlic, soft or hard neck, is extremely easy to grow. The best time to plant garlic is in the fall. Fall planting allows the bulbs to winterize, producing a nice size head which will be ready to harvest in the early summer months.

One tip, select bulbs which store best. Also, harvesting garlic scapes to make garlic scape pesto or fermented garlic scapes, make sure to plant hard neck garlic varieties.

Cured Bulbs or Fresh

Smoking garlic is best achieved using cured bulbs. Freshly harvested bulbs hinder the smoke from penetrating through the bulb. However, in a pinch fresh bulbs can be used but will need to be smoked for a longer period.

Smoked garlic provides you an easy, and different, method for preserving the harvest.

Preserving Smoked Garlic Bulbs – Equipment

Regardless of the model, any type of smoker will do; electric, gas, pellet, even charcoal.

• Smoker

Preserving Smoked Garlic – Ingredients

Remember, cured garlic bulbs are ideal. However, smoking fresh, clean garlic bubs is also an option.There is no restriction on the type of wood chips to use. Apple wood chips will create a mild, slightly sweet smoked flavor, whereas oak or hickory creates a heavier smoked product.

• Cured garlic bulbs, stalk trimmed to 1/2 from bulb
• Wood chips – apple, oak, or hickory

Preserving Smoked Garlic Bulbs – Instructions

The instruction are extremely simple. Feel free to shorten or lengthen the amount of time the garlic is in the smoker. Remember, this process is not a science. Though keep in mind, the longer the bulbs remain in the smoker the higher the chances that the cloves will dry out.

1. Soak wood chips in water for 30 minutes
2. Pat wood chips dry, add to smoker
3. Bring smoker to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, add garlic bulbs
4. Close smoker, allow garlic to smoke for 2 1/2 hours.
5. Smoked bulbs will be slightly tender, and the skin slightly tan in color.

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Printable Recipe Card – Preserving Smoked Garlic

To make things easier, enjoy this printable recipe card for your convenience!