Reversing the marinating process?

[violetta LXXII]

I looked everywhere and couldn't find anything regarding this.

In short, I have more jars of garlic cloves in sunflower oil than I know what to do with and the taste is nothing short of disappointing - a tragic waste of good garlic.

It occurred to me that if I soak them in water long enough, perhaps I can salvage them? I'm not expecting a miracle, just something to perhaps get the taste of garlic to overcome the smell and taste of the sunflower oil it's been saturated with.

BUT - if there's no simple method to do this with, I'd be glad to hear of some (vegan-friendly) recipes that I could put these to use with that would diminish the horrid sunflower oil taste and texture --- none of 5 garlic-lovers in this household can find any redeeming quality about this product.


Open to suggestion.

[Kitchen Witch]

Are these jars of garlic that you prepared yourself?

I make mine with olive oil - no problem at all. I absolutely HATE sunflower oil!

[ChefToddMohr]

Garlic cloves jarred in oil? I'd be concerned about the food safety issues.
Unless you simmered the garlic in oil to bring the temperature above 140F for 15 minutes, you have potential for botulism in your jars.

I'd discard the entire batch and learn from your mistake. If you want garlic infused oil, use a flavorless oil. There's no reversing a marinating process.

[Kitchen Witch]

Organic garlic in sunflower oil is sold on line - and probably in stores as well. I'd return it.

[simrnz]

Originally Posted by ChefToddMohr

Garlic cloves jarred in oil? I'd be concerned about the food safety issues.
Unless you simmered the garlic in oil to bring the temperature above 140F for 15 minutes, you have potential for botulism in your jars.

I'd discard the entire batch and learn from your mistake. If you want garlic infused oil, use a flavorless oil. There's no reversing a marinating process.

I would agree with you! I think the best way to preserve garlic paste is to add some salt while you grind - and store the garlic paste in cold condition +5 degree that will keep itself in pretty good condition [without smell] for 2 months atleast.

[violetta LXXII]

Thank you so much for the responses.

I received a number of free jars from a specialty food store called Sunflower Market, which caters to fresh/organic produce and products. They just taste horrible in the sunflower oil - so Kitchen Witch has the right idea with using olive instead.

So, might there be any way to save them? Returning a free item isn't an option and the garlic is good - it's the sunflower oil that makes it taste horrible.

[Kitchen Witch]

I'm afraid that if you try something like rinsing and then using a different oil you are going to still taste the sunflower oil. Besides - once those jars are opened, they do not last.

I make my own - and I make enough for 1 to 2 days at the most and store in the fridge overnight.

There is too much of a chance of bacteria setting in - and once that happens - sunflower oil won't matter much - it's not worth a good case of food poisoning.

Just toss it. Or pass it on to a friend.