Garlic is a piquant, yet wonderful way to add amazing aroma, taste, and nutrition to any dish. You'll find spring garlic and green garlic at your farmers' market in the early months of the year. Mildly flavored, it looks like a green onion with large white bulbs at the end.
Fresh garlic bulbs are mature garlic with a white papery skin holding cloves together. You'll find fresh garlic at your farmers' market during the spring and early summer months - garlic doesn't like the heat. Dried garlic is available year-round and lasts longer than fresh and can be roasted to rehydrate.
The Lowdown
Season
Spring
Color
Off-white
Select
Choose garlic heads that are firm with no cuts or soft cloves.
Store
Store unpeeled heads of garlic in an open container in a cool dry place away from other foods. Do not refrigerate unpeeled garlic. It will last up to three months.