How Long Does Garlic Last?
Storage method
Garlic — chopped, commercial jars — pantry, from date of purchase
8 to 12 months in the pantry
- Cool, dry pantry or cupboard
- Applies from date of purchase · chopped, commercial jars
Pick a valid date to calculate the recommended use-by window.
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper (v128, snapshot 2026-07-24) · About this data · Report an issue
FoodStorageCheck — official USDA FoodKeeper guidance · foodstoragecheck.com
All official guidance for garlic
Every storage entry the USDA FoodKeeper dataset lists for this food, exactly as published (v128, snapshot 2026-07-24). “No official duration listed” means the source does not provide a number for that combination — not that the food lasts forever.
Garlic — chopped, commercial jars
| Where | Condition | Official time |
|---|---|---|
| Pantry | from date of purchase | 8 to 12 months |
Garlic
| Where | Condition | Official time | Notes from the source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pantry | general guideline | No official duration listed | Store unbroken bulbs in pantry. |
| Pantry | from date of purchase | 1 month | — |
| Refrigerator | general guideline | No official duration listed | Store individual cloves in refrigerator. |
| Refrigerator | from date of purchase | 3 to 14 days | — |
| Freezer | from date of purchase | 1 month (best quality) | — |
Common questions about garlic
- How long does garlic last in the pantry?
- 8 to 12 months in the pantry, counted from the date of purchase, per the USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset. Assumes a cool, dry pantry away from light.
Two reminders that apply here
Keep the fridge at 40 °F (4 °C) or below.Refrigerator times in this dataset assume a refrigerator held at or below 40 °F. An appliance thermometer is the reliable way to check.
The two-hour rule.Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90 °F / 32 °C) should be discarded, per FoodSafety.gov. Storage windows assume food was refrigerated promptly.