Selecting good garlic goes back 6000 years

It was used as currency. Buried with Tutankhamen. And worshipped. (And don’t even get us started on the vampire stuff.) The word garlic comes from Old English garleac, meaning "spear leek". Regardless of what you call it, when selecting garlic, choose heads that are firm to the touch, with no nicks or soft cloves. If you notice dark, powdery patches under the skin of the garlic, put it back. It’s an indication of a common mold, which will eventually spoil the garlic. Store unpeeled garlic in an open container in a cool, dry place away from other foods. Do not refrigerate or freeze unpeeled garlic. Although, peeled garlic cloves may be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Go figure.

Food Fact brought to you by Farm Credit Canada.

Sources:
http://homecooking.about.com/cs/foodfactsheets/p/garlic_pro.htm
http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/aa081197.htm

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