11 Best Garlic Keepers to Help Your Garlic Last

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Garlic keepers are a great way to extend your garlic’s shelf life. But with so many options out there how do you know what the best garlic keeper is? Hint: we’ve got 11 of them right here.

It seems no matter what kind of food you are cooking–Italian, Mexican, French–garlic is a staple in most savory dishes.

That means, if you want to prepare dinner on the fly, you need to have some of this healthy and tasty allium on hand. But buying garlic in bulk often means half of your supply goes squishy or starts to sprout. 

The solution?

Garlic keepers create the perfect conditions to keep garlic bulbs fresh for as long as possible.

They help reduce humidity, block out light, and stabilize temperature fluctuations. But not all garlic keepers work as well as they could.

To help you pick the right keeper to preserve your garlic and meet your individual needs, we’ve picked and reviewed the top 11 best garlic keepers on the market. We’ve also put together a handy buyer’s guide so you can get to know what it takes to keep your garlic fresh for months on end.

Our Favorites At a Glance

  1. Fitz And Floyd Everyday White Garlic Keeper
  2. Henry Watson Suffolk Collection Garlic Keeper
  3. Mud Pie Ceramic Garlic Keeper
  4. Norpro Large Garlic Baker
  5. Joie Terracotta Garlic Keeper
  6. Henry Watson Terracotta Garlic Cellar
  7. Cooks Innovations Ceramic Garlic Keeper
  8. Oregon Stoneware Studio Garlic Keeper
  9. Norpro 5-Inch Ceramic Garlic Keeper
  10. Esschert Design Garlic Storage Tin
  11. Mud Pie Garlic Keepers

Detailed Garlic Keeper Reviews

Garlic keepers are available in a wide array of designs, materials, and additional functions. This can make it difficult to know which keeper is actually the most effective at keeping garlic fresh the longest.

To help make shopping for a new garlic keeper easier for you, we’ve done the leg work, sniffing out the best designs at the right prices.

Here are our picks for the best garlic keepers on the market.

1. Fitz And Floyd Everyday White Garlic Keeper

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This Le Creuset style garlic keeper is simple, functional, and compatible with just about any kitchen aesthetic. Plus, it is perfectly designed to prolong the life of your garlic.

Why we love it:

This keeper is made of natural porcelain–a non-porous material that won’t absorb odor, which means it stays fresh even after years of use. Plus, it can be thrown in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

The front of this sleek keeper is elegant and simple. The back is functional, helping to keep your garlic dry thanks to three well-placed air holes.

The location of the holes and the oversized lid also assures your garlic sees little to no light. 

Overall, this is a cute, affordable, and functional garlic keeper perfect for any kitchen and any cook looking to save one to two bulbs of garlic at a time.

Details:

  • Size: 1 to 2 bulbs
  • Material: Porcelain
  • Color: White
  • Price: $

Pros:

  • Dishwasher safe
  • Affordable
  • Space-saver
  • Goes with any decor

Cons:

  • Smaller capacity
  • Material does not absorb moisture

2. Henry Watson Suffolk Collection Garlic Keeper

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This simple, but highly-function terracotta keeper is perfect for both humid and dry environments. And has the appeal of natural clay–a great addition to many kitchens.

Why we love it:

Terracotta is naturally porous, which makes it perfect for absorbing humidity in the air. This helps keep your garlic from sprouting and rotting.

We love this terracotta keeper the most because it is expertly crafted by the wise English potters of Henry Watson–a company that has been putting out excellent products for over two-hundred years!

The well-fitted lid and blackout-front design mean no light will get to your garlic. Meanwhile, the air holes along the back and porous clay will keep your garlic dry and protected.

Overall, this is a simple, but beautiful terracotta keeper perfect for storing 2 normal sized bulbs for an extended period.

Details:

  • Size: 2 bulbs
  • Material: Terracotta
  • Color: Terracotta
  • Price: $$

Pros:

  • Humidity-resistant
  • Well-crafted
  • Compact and simple
  • Dishwasher safe

Cons:

  • Only fits about 2 bulbs
  • May absorb some garlic odor over time

3. Mud Pie Ceramic Garlic Keeper

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If cuteness is just as important to you as function, then you love this fun petite keeper from Mud Pie.

Why we love it:

We’ll be honest, that adorable little saying on the front, “we clove you,” that definitely got us!

But this keeper is functional as well as fun!

Like terracotta, ceramic absorbs excess moisture from the environment, which is why this ceramic keeper is great for keeping your garlic from getting too moist. Plus, the extra, oversized air holes allow for extra circulation.

These holes do mean a little more light will get to your garlic than is desired, but you can easily overcome this by placing the keeper at the back of a well-shaded counter.

Overall, this adorable ceramic garlic keeper is optimal for humid environments that don’t get too much light. It will hold two good-sized bulbs.

Details:

  • Size: 2 bulbs
  • Material: Ceramic
  • Color: Off-white
  • Price: $$

Pros:

  • Fun and decorative
  • Great for keeping garlic dry
  • Comes with silver spoon for retrieval 

Cons:

  • Lets some light in
  • May dry out garlic in dry environments

4. Norpro Large Garlic Baker

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This well-crafted garlic keeper does more than just keep your garlic fresh, it also doubles as a baker for moist and delicious roasted garlic and onions.

Why we love it:

When used as a keeper, this terracotta dish keeps moisture at bay while completely protecting the bulbs from the light. And the unique design means no sticking your hand into a tight opening to fish your garlic out.

As a baker, this product allows for even, moist cooking to quickly turn raw garlic into a tasty feast.

The fire-glazed dish can withstand high heat in the oven and microwave. The small vent hole in the top creates the perfect environment inside for even and quick cooking.

It doesn’t get much simpler than this two-in-one baker and keeper. It provides the perfect place to store or cook up to four bulbs of garlic at once. Plus, it is bargain priced for any budget.

Details:

  • Size: 4 bulbs
  • Material: Terracotta
  • Color: Terracotta
  • Price: $

Pros:

  • Doubles as a baker
  • Blocks out light
  • Absorbs moisture
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Hand wash only
  • Reduced ventilation

5. Joie Terracotta Garlic Keeper

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This petite garlic keeper will blend in easily with the rest of your produce. It’s affordable, adorable, and perfect for keeping a single head of garlic fresh.

Why we love it:

The fun design of this terracotta keeper lets you know exactly what is inside. But the garlic shape is also functional.

The small air holes in the top of the terracotta bulb help keep the environment perfectly dry without allowing too much light in.

The outside of the keeper is beautifully glazed white terracotta, but the inside is raw. This means that it easily pulls moisture off the surface of the tightly hugged garlic to keep it fresh.

If all you need is an affordable, compact, single-bulb garlic keeper, this is the perfect product for you.

Details:

  • Size: 1 bulb
  • Material: Glazed and raw terracotta
  • Color: White
  • Price: $

Pros:

  • Small and compact
  • Natural terracotta
  • Absorbs moisture
  • Adorable design

Cons:

  • Small capacity

6. Henry Watson Terracotta Garlic Cellar

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Another great product from Henry Watson, this terracotta keeper has a larger capacity than their original canister, making it perfect for garlic lovers everywhere.

Why we love it:

This keeper has all the great elements of the original keeper-style. The raw terracotta absorbs moisture while the air holes allow for proper ventilation.

The front is solid, allowing you to position the pot so only a limited amount of light gets in.

But unlike the original, this keeper can easily hold four bulbs of garlic. This allows you to keep more garlic onhand without having to worry about it going bad.

Details:

  • Size: 4 bulbs
  • Material: Terracotta
  • Color: Terracotta
  • Price: $$$

Pros:

  • Large capacity
  • Absorbs moisture
  • Great for humid environments
  • Well-crafted

Cons:

  • More expensive than other options
  • May absorb some odor

7. Cooks Innovations Ceramic Garlic Keeper

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Because garlic keepers are best kept on your counter, it is important to find one that matches your kitchen. This hand painted keeper is perfect for traditional and farmhouse style kitchens. 

Why we love it:

Like many of the keepers we have featured, this garlic canister has air holes to allow for proper ventilation, a well-fitted lid to keep out light, and plenty of room for up to four bulbs.

But it is the beautiful aesthetic of this keeper that we really love.

The pot is made of glazed and kiln-fired ceramic and hand painted. 

It is available in yellow with blue outlines and grapes on the front. Or yellow with red outlines and a stylized garlic bulb on the front.

Details:

  • Size: 5 bulbs
  • Material: Ceramic
  • Color: Yellow and blue or yellow and red
  • Price: $

Pros:

  • Large capacity
  • Hand-painted
  • Wide-mouth
  • Dishwasher safe

Cons:

  • May not work as well for very humid environments

8. Oregon Stoneware Studio Garlic Keeper

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If you are going to keep your garlic canister on the counter all day, you might as well choose one that doubles as a piece of art. You’ll get just that with this hand-made garlic keeper from Oregon Stoneware.

Why we love it:

Honestly, what’s not to love? 

This one-of-a-kind piece is wheel-thrown and glazed by hand in Oregon. Even the beautiful but simple peuter “garlic” emblem is sourced and made in the USA.

This keeper comes in five colors: blackberry, latte, pistachio, whipping cream, and light blue. And because they are hand-made, each individual product is unlike any other.

Functionally, this piece of art is as good at keeping garlic fresh as anything else on this list.

The ceramic helps to absorb moisture while the air holes allow for proper ventilation. And since those holes are placed in the back of the canister, it is also effective at blocking out light.

Overall, this keeper goes beyond keeping garlic fresh. It will also add to the beauty of your kitchen.

Details:

  • Size: 4 to 5 bulbs
  • Material: Ceramic
  • Color: Blackberry, latte, pistachio, whipping cream, and light blue
  • Price:  $$$$

Pros:

  • Beautiful finish and design
  • Hand-made in the USA
  • Keeps moisture down
  • Blocks out light

Cons:

  • More expensive than others
  • Hand wash only

9. Norpro 5-Inch Ceramic Garlic Keeper

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This classic blue and white ornamental garlic keeper is the perfect color and shape to flatter your kitchen aesthetic, whether barnhouse modern or more traditional. Plus, it has an extra-large capacity to keep you well stocked in this necessary allium.

Why we love it:

While this cute keeper may not be hand-painted, it certainly looks like it is! And that attention to detail is just one of the reasons we love this thing.

Our second favorite thing about it? It is one of the biggest keepers featured on this list.

It measures 5” by 6”, making it easily big enough to fit 5 bulbs of standard garlic or 3 to 4 large bulbs. In fact, if the mouth was just a touch wider, you could probably stuff even more into this canister.

This kiln-fired ceramic keeper has extra ventilation along the front and back, making it perfect for use in high-humidity environments. Just be sure to place it on the back of your counter out of the light’s reach.

Details:

  • Size: 5 bulbs
  • Material: Ceramic
  • Color: White and blue
  • Price:  $

Pros:

  • Adorable embellishments
  • Extra ventilation
  • Affordable
  • Handles for easy transport

Cons:

  • Allows some light in
  • Hand wash only

10. Esschert Design Garlic Storage Tin

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Metal isn’t the best material for a garlic keeper, but it can be effective with the right design. Plus, tin keepers like this canister from Esschert, make for a super-cute addition to your kitchen counter.

Why we love it:

This garlic tin is for all the garlic super-fans out there. It can easily hold 6 to 7 heads of garlic, with some users claiming to have gotten up to 9 into this wide-mouthed, deep keeper.

The simple cylindrical design is key to that large capacity and fits well with the modern barnhouse vibe that is so popular these days.

Metal keepers do not typically keep garlic as long as other materials because they lack the ability to absorb moisture and protect from temperature fluctuations. But, since this one does include ventilation holes, it will work well in low-humidity environments.

Like other containers with front-facing vents, make sure to keep this one out of the light to prevent premature sprouting.

Details:

  • Size: 6 or more bulbs
  • Material: Metal
  • Color: White
  • Price: $

Pros:

  • Decorative
  • Extra-large capacity
  • Wide mouth
  • Won’t absorb odors

Cons:

  • Hand wash only
  • Not for humid environments

11. Mud Pie Garlic Keepers

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This simple but adorable garlic keeper from Mud Pie is perfect for the minimalist hoping for a clean look and an effective product.

Why we love it:

This standard-sized keeper holds about 2 bulbs of garlic while blending easily into any decor.

The light and elegant wood lid lays over the wide opening to prevent light from getting in. The position of the ventilation holes, which are set along the top rim, also help keep light off your precious bulbs.

We do tend to shy away from keepers with top-set vents because they do not always allow for adequate airflow. However, combined with the moisture absorbing ceramic, this keeper is effective in keeping bulbs fresh in low to medium-humid environments.

Overall, it is a cute keeper that is deceptively small, but perfect for keeping a couple bulbs fresh while not drawing too much attention.

Details:

  • Size: 2 bulbs
  • Material: Ceramic with wood
  • Color: White
  • Price: $

Pros:

  • Subtle design to match any decor
  • Petite and compact
  • Keeps light off of garlic

Cons:

  • Not for overly humid environments
  • Smaller than advertised
  • Hand wash suggested

How to Select a Garlic Keeper

There are a surprising number of options available to you in the garlic keeper department. That can make it difficult to find the right product to meet your needs.

That is why we put together this hand garlic keeper buyer’s guide.

We’ll walk you through the different materials, the pros and cons of each, the sizes available, and the options of multi-use keepers.

Material

The most common material you’ll find garlic keepers made of is ceramic.

When fully glazed, ceramic allows for an easy-to-clean, non-odor absorbing surface that is still effective in protecting garlic from light and temperature fluctuations.

When raw (typically only on the inside), ceramic can also help absorb moisture and keep your garlic fresher longer.

Like raw ceramic, terracotta is great for absorbing moisture and keeping temps inside stable. Terracotta is also very heat-tolerant and these products can often double as garlic bakers.

Porcelain is similar to glazed ceramic. It is highly durable, easy to clean, and will not absorb odor.

Some garlic keepers you will find are made of metal or tin.This durable, light material offers a different look, but requires more ventilation to keep garlic from molding or sprouting due to excess moisture.

Sizes

Garlic keepers come in many sizes, with some designed to hold a single bulb and others capable of holding six bulbs or more.

Consider how much garlic you will go through in about two months–the extended lifespan of garlic kept in a keeper.

Buying too small of a canister will leave you wanting for garlic while buying one that is too large will have you wasting money on food that will inevitably go bad before it is used.

Uses

Some garlic keepers double as garlic bakers and can be used in the oven.

Cooking alliums in a baker produces juicier, more evenly baked garlic and onions faster than you’ll get on a baking sheet. And having this two-in-one product will save you storage space.

Most garlic keepers can double as shallot storage while the largest sizes can even store onions.

How To Help Your Garlic Last

Garlic keepers will go a long way in keeping your garlic fresh. But there are additional steps you can take to further prolong their usability.

Temperature

Warm environments will encourage garlic to sprout, so it is best to keep them cool.

Placing them in the fridge, however, is not recommended. Cold temps tend to make garlic taste more bitter.

Instead, aim to keep your garlic at between 55 and 65 degrees whenever possible.

Moisture

Excess moisture has two negative effects on garlic.

First, it induces sprouting, which makes garlic taste bitter and shortens its shelf life. Secondly, a lot of moisture can cause mold to grow, leading to rot.

On the other hand, too little humidity will cause the cloves to wither and dry out. One way to help avoid this is to keep your bulbs together (rather than pulling apart the individual cloves). This decreases the surface area to avoid overdrying.

Light

Exposing your garlic to light can also lead to sprouting. 

Keeping your bulbs in a garlic keeper is the first line of defense against light. But ventilation holes can still allow some light in. To be safe, always store your keeper in a darker corner or area of the counter.

The Best Garlic Keeper You Can Buy

When it comes to keeping your garlic fresh for an extended period, there is no better tool than an effective garlic keeper.

And one of the most effective garlic keepers out there is the Everyday White by Fitz and Floyd.

This elegant but simple porcelain keeper is durable, easy to clean, and crafted to keep your garlic from getting too moist while keeping it out of the light. It won’t absorb odors like other keepers and fits just enough bulbs to keep your kitchen stalked without allowing any to go to waste.

Of course, if you are looking for something a little larger or a little more artsy, we’ve included plenty of options in those categories and more on our list above.