How long does garlic last? [Video]

Garlic is always a good idea. It’s healthy, it works in all kinds of dishes and it turns boring old French bread into … delectable garlic bread. To have garlic on hand is to have a meal-enhancing secret weapon in your pantry.

But unless you use the dried powder kind (which has a shelf life of three to four years), you may wonder how long you can store garlic before it loses its freshness. Read on to learn the ins and outs of garlic’s longevity.

Does Garlic Go Bad?

Like any vegetable, garlic does go bad. And once it does, eating it can upset your stomach. If you let garlic sit out long enough, it may, in rare cases, even begin to grow botulism-causing bacteria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture warns this risk increases when garlic stored in oil isn’t placed in the fridge, or isn’t consumed within a week.

When you’re shopping for garlic at the supermarket, …