Is there a significant difference in the quality of garlic found in grocery stores?
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M$5 Answers
More importantly than the variety, is the freshness of your garlic. As it is stored, the oils and moisture in the cloves evaporate and i'll say "sour" for lack of a better word, leaving the garlic without much ooompf, and maybe even turning it bitter.
I'd love to know what recipe you're making that requires 40 cloves of garlic! Would you care to share?
I rely mostly on personal experience, but thought you'd like to see this website for more info.
http://www.gourmetgarlicgardens.com/overview.htm
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M$
The aromatic part of that is particularly important. After being harvested, garlic immediately begins to loose its flavor. Not only does it expel the aroma and flavour that we all love, but it also absorbs the gasses and smells around it.
Importantly, many produce departments store garlic (both in the backroom storage area and on shelves) beside Onions. Onions have a pungent smell and when left for weeks or months beside each other, the garlic is often overwhelmed by both the onions and the length of time on the shelf. It looses its falvour.
Worse yet, some produce departments store garlic with fruit such as Oranges and Grapefruits. These fruits emit ethane gas that negate the flavours of many products and usually speed up decomposition.
The best place to buy garlic is at a local farmers market. Not only will the local farmer know the exact type of garlic they're offering, they will be able to tell you about the flavors of it. If you purchase a freshly braided bunch of garlic, it will last for more than a year at home. Braids usually have at least 8 bulbs and often up to 30. I purchase large wreaths of garlic from my local farmers market each year and am consistently happy with the results!
I worked in a few produce departments when I was in school and I enjoy cooking.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
My life experiences
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M$
Thanks for the answer! Alton Brown's "40 cloves and a chicken" recipe, as found at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/40-cloves-and-a-chicken-recipe/index.html. The garlic I used was grown in China and a bit old. Part of why I think the garlic must not have been pungent enough is the fact that the smell came out of my fingers in less than 24 hours... after handling about 50 cloves.