How to Freeze Roasted Garlic (Paste or Whole Cloves)

Why This Is a Great Way for Garlic Lovers

If you’ve seen the latest TikTok make-ahead hacks or are searching for the best way to preserve garlic, you’ll love this method. Roasted garlic brings a sweet, mellow flavor that transforms everything from garlic bread and pasta dishes to homemade salad dressing and dips. By freezing roasted garlic—whether as silky garlic paste or whole cloves—you’ll always have this great addition ready for future use.

While you should enjoy fresh garlic, garlic scapes and green garlic for as long as you can, the farmer’s market season is not year round and you won’t want to miss out on the benefits of Iowa grown garlic! You can also often get a deal on “seconds” or “ugly” garlic that will not store well, and this method will have you eating local, chemical free garlic until garlic season is back! 

Need to learn more about a head of garlic vs. cloves? Head to our blog post where we explain the difference!

What You’ll Need (Scalable Ingredients)

Yield: ~1 cup of peeled cloves (easy to scale up or down!)

• 1 cup peeled raw garlic cloves (about three heads of garlic)
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

Scale it up or down easily:

• 2 cups garlic cloves + 4 tsp oil
• ½ cup garlic cloves + 1 tsp oil

Step-by-Step: Roasting the Garlic

1. Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
2. Place the individual garlic cloves in a single layer on a baking sheet, loaf pan, or small baking dish. Toss with a little olive oil to coat.
3. Cover tightly with a piece of aluminum foil and roast for 90 minutes. Stir once or twice, resealing the foil each time. This keeps moisture in and ensures the cloves turn beautifully golden brown.
4. Let the garlic cool completely to room temperature. At this point, you can freeze the roasted garlic as whole cloves or mash it into a garlic paste using a food processor or even a potato masher.

Food Safety Note: Garlic stored at room temperature in oil can create the perfect conditions for botulism toxin. Freezing is the safest method and keeps your roasted garlic ready for future use.

Roasted Garlic: Cloves or Paste?

• Whole roasted garlic cloves: Drop into soups, stews, or spread onto garlic bread.
• Garlic paste: Blend in a food processor for a creamy spread—great for toast, salad dressing, mashed potatoes, or pasta sauces.

How to Freeze Roasted Garlic

Method 1: Parchment Paper & Cookie Scoop

• Line a tray with parchment paper or reuse the tin foil like I did here
• Use a cookie scoop to portion garlic (cloves or paste).
• Freeze for a couple of hours until solid, then transfer to a zip lock bag or other freezer-safe container.

Method 2: Ice Cube Tray, Muffin Tin, or Silicone Mold

• Spoon garlic into ice cube trays, a muffin tin, or a silicone mold.
• Freeze, then pop out the cubes.
• Store in an airtight container or bag for easy future use.

Tips & Safety

• Always cool to room temperature before freezing.
• Never store roasted garlic in oil at room temperature—it can encourage botulism toxin. Freezing is the best way to preserve roasted garlic safely.
• Use within 3–4 months for best flavor, though it stays safe longer if frozen at 0 °F in a freezer-safe container.
• A squeeze of lemon juice in the paste adds brightness and helps keep color fresh.
• Buying garlic bulbs from the grocery store? Roast several whole heads of garlic at once—you’ll be glad to have extra garlic tucked away.

Favorite Ways to Use Frozen Roasted Garlic

• Garlic bread – spread roasted garlic paste before baking.
• Salad dressing – whisk with olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs.
• Pasta dishes – melt a cube into hot pasta with Parmesan.
• Mashed potatoes – stir in paste for a punch of garlic flavor.
• Soups & stews – drop in whole cloves for depth.
• Quick sauces – blend garlic paste with herbs and garlic oil.

Quick Scaling Guide

Garlic Heads	Teaspoons Olive Oil
½ head	1 tsp
1 head	2 tsp
2 heads	4 tsp

Final Thoughts

This roasted garlic recipe is one of my favorite ways to preserve garlic. Freezing roasted garlic is a great way to save time, reduce food waste, and add bold flavor to everyday meals. Whether you freeze whole cloves or silky garlic paste, you’ll always have this flavorful kitchen staple on hand in perfect, ready-to-use portions.

For garlic lovers, it doesn’t get better than this!

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