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A detailed guide to garlic storage methods: how to store garlic so it keeps longer

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There are many ways to store garlic. Depending on the purpose and conditions of storage, you can use hanging storage, heap storage, cold storage, radiation storage, chemical treatment storage and other methods. Here are three methods in detail: 1. Hanging storage method. When harvesting garlic, strictly select the bulbs intended for hanging storage, discarding those that are too small, have rotting stems and leaves, are damaged, or have gotten wet from rain. Then spread them on the ground to dry for a few days until the leaves become soft and the outer skin of the bulbs has dried in several layers. Finally, select 50-100 bulbs of uniform size, braid them, and hang them under a cool, ventilated, rain-sheltered eaves to air-dry and store.

There are many ways to store garlic. Depending on the purpose and conditions of storage, you can use hanging storage, heap storage, cold storage, radiation storage, chemical treatment storage and other methods. Here are three methods in detail:

1. Hanging storage method. When harvesting garlic, strictly select the bulbs intended for hanging storage, discarding those that are too small, have rotting stems and leaves, are damaged, or have gotten wet from rain. Then spread them on the ground to dry for a few days until the leaves become soft and the outer skin of the bulbs has dried in several layers. Finally, select 50-100 bulbs of uniform size, braid them, and hang them under a cool, ventilated, rain-sheltered eaves to air-dry and store.

2. Heap storage method. After harvesting garlic, discard bulbs that have separated cloves, are insect-damaged, have moldy stem ends, or are injured. First bundle them into bundles of 50-100 bulbs, stand them upright in rows in an open area to dry the leaves; after the leaves are dry, dry the roots as well. The drying time is 7-10 days. Choose a cool, well-ventilated place for heap storage. When heaping, face the bulbs outward; every 3-5 days, open up the heap to ventilate and air the garlic. This must be done whether the weather is cloudy or clear. Ventilate and air the garlic in the morning, then stack and seal it again toward evening to prevent rot from rain. After about a week, ventilate it a second time. Repeat this twice so the bulbs are thoroughly dried, then move them indoors to a ventilated, cool place for storage.

3. Radiation storage. Radiation treatment uses a lethal dose of 14000 coulombs/kg of cobalt-60 gamma rays to irradiate garlic. During irradiation, the gamma rays passing through the bulb cause the water and other substances in the organism to ionize, producing free radicals or ions, thereby inhibiting metabolism. This method is simple and gives high fresh-keeping quality; at room temperature it can be stored for 1-2 years. For commercial storage, it can greatly reduce losses.

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