I have some that the skin has split and the garlic is green where it is exposed to light. Does this make the garlic bitter or unusable as it is? moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
Carolyn, I think the garlic would still be quite usable, but taste it to make sure. Different varieties react differently. Our California hardneck stays strong but sweet no matter what happens to it, but the French Silverskin deteriorates quickly, and gets a "musty" taste.
Thanks Jane, I was hoping it wouldn't be bitter. I roasted it and blended it into my salsa today. I was making all my left overs into salsa today and it seems to be okay. (I finished with 6 qts. and 11 pints. probably enough for the winter). I mixed up my garlic when I pulled it so I don't know which is which nor do I really taste a difference when using it. So whether it was music, chesnok or great white...I can't tell the difference.
Carolyn, I think it takes a better "garlic palate" than I have to tell the difference in the tastes of the garlics we plant. I like them all! I'm glad yours were still usable, and that you have plenty ( :!: ) of salsa. I ended up taking the cloves of our French, peeling them and then freezing them. It was better than letting them go to waste!
Thanks Jane. I will plant what I can, sell a little more at my next market and slice and dry the rest.
Hello Jane--do you cut up those garlic "toes" before freezing? If not are they difficult for you to cut when you take them out of the freezer to use? Carolyn-- I suspect that they were alright to use. I do cut the green away before cooking them, but I don't really know if it is necessary.
Sjoerd, I just freeze the individual cloves of garlic, peeled but uncut. After they thaw they are easily mashed, minced, or sliced. They look a bit transparent, but I haven't found the taste to be affected. There's a pint bag full of cloves in the freezer. I think we are going to be eating a lot of garlic this winter!
And you all know how to get rid of any smells left over on your hands, right??? For those who have stainless steel sinks, just rub them along with running water all over the steel and all the smells will be gone. If you don't have a steel sink, carefully, use a steel knife blade over your hands. Works great. This is very silly but when I cut onion or garlic, that night, when I rolled over while sleeping and my hand would go near my face, it'd wake up. Sometimes good thoughts of the joyous evening would happen but then yukky thoughts run through my mind. Especially when I would do my "very large volumes", that you all know that I do, my stainless steel sink is a lifesaver..... AND THE HUBBY DIDN'T WANT THAT KIND OF SINK. Stick my hand in his nose while he is sleeping. That would have shown him, if he didn't buy me the sink I wanted.
Thant is funny, Barb. Last night at church I kept getting a whiff of garlic every now and then. I like the smell, but evidently not everyone appreciates as much as those of us who do. I hope no one noticed. I think I had a little splatter on my forehead. I didn't think to wash my whole face, I guess.
