Toss the garlic if it’s reached this stage.

Throw garlic at this stage in the trash.

If it doesn’t seem soft or have bad spots, you may be able to use the yellow garlic, but it won’t be as good as white. Use your best judgment about whether it’s time to toss it.

If the scent has faded but not developed a sour smell, it’s likely fine to use, but it won’t be as pungent. Throw out garlic that has a bad smell.

Some people don’t like to use garlic at this stage. However, as long as you peel or cut away the green parts, it’s fine to use, and you can experiment to see if it’s to your tastes. The green parts are bitter, so you don’t want to eat them. In fact, sprouted garlic may have more healthy antioxidants than the fresher variety. [6] X Research source

Once you pull off a clove, it will last for a couple of months as long as you haven’t peeled it yet. For maximum freshness, keep it in a cool, dark place. Store it someplace with plenty of air circulation; don’t keep it in a sealed container! Avoid storing it in the fridge as it does better closer to room temperature.

Keep in mind this only holds true if you don’t crush or damage the clove itself. Some peeling methods ask you to crush the clove or cut off the ends, for instance. If that’s the case, it will last about as long as fresh, chopped garlic.

Don’t just look for the expiration date; check for the “once opened” date. That is, some jars will have a note that says something to the effect of, “Use within 1 month once opened. " The expiration date sometimes refers to the date the unopened jar goes bad.

This is a great place to use other kitchen scraps. Keep a bag in your freezer for clean vegetable scraps, such as carrot peels, onion roots and tops, parsley stalks, celery leaves, tomato peels, and so on. Put them all in a pot and cover them with water. Cook the vegetables for at least 30 minutes before straining.

Skip using sprouted cloves when garlic is the star, such as 40-clove chicken, garlic bread, or a garlic pasta sauce.

Put the container in a sunny area. When it gets dry outside, give your garlic some water, and make sure to keep the weeds out of the garlic pot or bed. The best time to plant garlic outside is in the fall. Unless you have very cold winters, it will grow throughout the winter. In the summer, the leaves will yellow, and you can pick and cure your garlic by hanging them up to dry. [14] X Research source