How long does garlic last?
Fresh: 3-14 days in the fridge, 1 month in the freezer for best quality and 1 month in the pantry.
“Research performed by the National Center ... confirmed that mixtures of garlic in oil stored at room temperature are at risk for the development of botulism.” Extension
| State | Pantry | Fridge 40 °F | Freezer 0 °F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh | 1 month FoodKeeper | 3-14 days FoodKeeper | 1 month best quality FoodKeeper |
| Chopped, commercial jar | 8-12 months FoodKeeper | Not stated | Not stated |
| Powder | 3-4 years FoodKeeper | Not stated | Not stated |
| Garlic-in-oil | Not stated | 4 days Extension | Not stated |
Sources compared
| Source | State | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018 | Fresh | 1 month | 3-14 days | 1 month |
| USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018 | Chopped, commercial jar | 8-12 months | - | - |
| USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018 | Powder | 3-4 years | - | - |
| National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia) | Garlic-in-oil | - | 4 days | - |
A dash means that source gives no time for that place.
Handling and freezing notes
- Store unbroken bulbs in pantry. FoodKeeper
- Store individual cloves in refrigerator. FoodKeeper
- “cloves, garlic, green pepper, imitation vanilla and some herbs tend to get strong and bitter.” Extension
- “It may be frozen for long term storage for up to several months. Package in glass freezer jars or plastic freezer boxes, leaving ½-inch headspace.” Extension
- “certain ingredients intensify in flavor after freezing, such as pepper, cloves, garlic ... they could also become bitter overtime.” Extension
What the sources say
FoodKeeper treats whole and separated garlic differently: it says to store unbroken bulbs in the pantry and individual cloves in the refrigerator.1
From the date of purchase, it gives fresh garlic 1 month in the pantry, 3 to 14 days in the refrigerator and 1 month in the freezer.1
Chopped garlic sold in commercial jars has a longer pantry time in FoodKeeper, 8 to 12 months from purchase.21
Dried garlic powder, whether commercially bottled or bought in bulk, keeps 3 to 4 years in the pantry.3
FoodKeeper gives no refrigerator or freezer time for chopped garlic in jars or for garlic powder; only the pantry is covered.23
Of the three forms in FoodKeeper, fresh garlic has the shortest time in the pantry, and its refrigerator range starts at just 3 days.123
The National Center for Home Food Preservation lists garlic with pepper, cloves, green pepper, imitation vanilla and some herbs as seasonings that tend to get strong and bitter during freezing.5
Its advice on freezing soup makes a similar point: garlic is one of the ingredients that intensify in flavor after freezing, and they could also become bitter over time.6
Garlic mixed into oil needs different handling: research by the National Center confirmed that garlic in oil stored at room temperature is at risk for the development of botulism.4
The National Center says garlic-in-oil should be made fresh and kept in the refrigerator at 40 °F or lower for no more than 4 days.4
For longer storage the mixture may be frozen for up to several months, packed in glass freezer jars or plastic freezer boxes with ½-inch headspace.4
Rules that apply here
Related foods
Sources
- USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 285: Garlic. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Garlic. Pantry: - (Store unbroken bulbs in pantry.); DOP_Pantry: 1 Months; Refrigerate: - (Store individual cloves in refrigerator.); DOP_Refrigerate: 3-14 Days; DOP_Freeze: 1 Months
- USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 235: Garlic, chopped, commercial jars. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Garlic, chopped, commercial jars. DOP_Pantry: 8-12 Months
- USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 474: Garlic powder, dried, commercially bottled or purchased in bulk. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Garlic powder, dried, commercially bottled or purchased in bulk. DOP_Pantry: 3-4 Years
- Freezing Garlic-In-Oil - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25.
Garlic-in-oil should be made fresh and stored in the refrigerator at 40°F or lower for no more than 4 days.
Research performed by the National Center ... confirmed that mixtures of garlic in oil stored at room temperature are at risk for the development of botulism.
It may be frozen for long term storage for up to several months. Package in glass freezer jars or plastic freezer boxes, leaving ½-inch headspace.
- Foods That Do Not Freeze Well - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24.
cloves, garlic, green pepper, imitation vanilla and some herbs tend to get strong and bitter.
- Freezing soup - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24.
certain ingredients intensify in flavor after freezing, such as pepper, cloves, garlic ... they could also become bitter overtime.
- REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24.
Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.