How to Roast Garlic to Perfection: Easy Roasted Garlic Recipe

Roasting garlic is an easy way to mellow out raw garlic's astringent flavor and add depth to a variety of dishes. It's easiest to do this with a whole head of garlic, but what can you do with so many roasted garlic cloves?

1. 1. Add roasted garlic to hummus instead of raw garlic
2. 2. Swirl roasted garlic into mashed potatoes
3. 3. Whisk roasted garlic into salad dressings
4. 4. Spread roasted garlic on a toasted baguette with a pinch of salt for an easy appetizer
5. 5. Serve roasted as a condiment for beef or cauliflower steak

The garlic you buy from the supermarket is cured (dried) to last longer than fresh garlic bulbs. Cured garlic can last for months, but once you cook the cloves, they become much more perishable due to their moisture content. Roasted garlic will last two weeks in the refrigerator, and up to several months in the freezer. Do not leave roasted garlic at room temperature for more than a few hours.

Cooked garlic doesn't keep very well at room temperature—even when stored in extra virgin olive oil, it's considered a risk for botulism. However, roasted garlic freezes very well. To do so, simply remove the wrappers and freeze the peeled cloves in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer the frozen roasted garlic cloves to a resealable plastic bag. Or, squeeze roasted garlic cloves out of their papery wrappers and mash them together, then spread the roasted garlic paste into ice cube trays for later use. For safe defrosting, transfer frozen roasted garlic to the refrigerator at least an hour before you plan to use it.