How to Prepare & Store Aromatics

Fresh aromatics like garlic and ginger can transform any dish, adding depth and richness to your cooking. However, incorporating them into every meal requires planning and extra prep time—something we don’t always have. The key is to prepare in advance. With a little foresight, you can have ready-to-use aromatics on hand, making cooking easier while also extending their shelf life.

Garlic

Many of us reach for garlic powder to skip the hassle of peeling and chopping fresh cloves. Once garlic is cooked, allicin - the compound responsible for its pungent bite—dissipates, meaning the powdered version often does the job. But if you crave that bold, fresh garlic flavor, there’s no way around the prep. To make it easier, consider peeling a large batch of cloves in advance. Having them ready to go saves time and streamlines your cooking process.

1. Remove the outer layer of the garlic bulb. Carefully remove the skin from each clove (try not to break the outer layer of the clove itself).
2. Add a piece of paper towel into a ziplock bag or tupperware to soak in any moisture that will accumulate during storage.
3. Add your peeled garlic cloves.
4. Keep the bag (or tupperware) in the fridge for up to a month. 

Now whenever you need to use fresh garlic, you can take the cloves out and press or cut them in seconds. 

Onions

Onions freeze exceptionally well and don’t require blanching beforehand. To save time, dice a whole bag of onions as soon as you bring them home, then portion them into ziplock bags or airtight containers before placing them in the freezer. They’ll stay fresh for up to six months. The only downside to this method is that frozen onions are best suited for cooked dishes, as their texture changes once thawed. To keep your options open, store a few fresh onions in the fridge while freezing the rest.

1. Place the entire bag of unpeeled onions in the freezer for 25-30 minutes. This will allow you to cut them without tearing up.
2. Take out of the freezer, peel and dice them. 
3. Split into portions ~ 1 onion per portion. You can use multiple ziplock bags or you can use tupperware. If you are using tupperware you can separate the onions using clingfilm or baking paper layers. You don’t want your onions frozen in one block - you won’t be able to easily separate them afterwards. Pack your chopped onions really well as the smell will travel throughout the fridge. If you are using ziplock bags, double-bag them.
4. Keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

Ginger & Turmeric

Powdered ginger and turmeric work well in most recipes, but sometimes only fresh ingredients can deliver that extra kick of flavor. The downside? Prepping them is time-consuming, and they tend to spoil just when you need them most. You might think you have fresh ginger on hand, only to find it has gone moldy when you reach for it. To avoid this, prep fresh ginger and turmeric as soon as you buy them - ensuring you have them ready to use for months to come.

1. Wash and peel fresh ginger and turmeric once you bring them home.
2. Cut them into small pieces.
3. Place them in ziplock bags or tupperware.
4. Keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

Turmeric’s vibrant color can stain just about anything it touches, including your hands, cutting board, and knife. To avoid yellow-stained fingers, wear disposable gloves while peeling it. A small paring knife works best for the job. If your knife ends up stained, don’t worry - the color will fade with use over time. But if you prefer to keep your knives spotless, wipe them down immediately with a cotton pad soaked in methylated spirit for quick stain removal.

Lemon Juice

Freezing lemon juice is a convenient way to always have fresh citrus on hand without the hassle of squeezing lemons and cleaning a juice press every time. However, there are two small drawbacks:

1. Squeeze 2-3 lemons into an ice-cube tray.
2. Keep in the freezer for up to 4 months. 

If you don’t want to keep them in the ice-cube tray, take the lemon juice cubes out once frozen solid and place them into a ziplock bag or tupperware. Return the cubes into the freezer and take out as many as you need for any given recipe.

1 cube = ½ tablespoon 

Summary

With these simple prep and freezing tips, you’ll save time in the kitchen while keeping your ingredients fresher for longer. Ready-to-use aromatics and herbs make cooking more convenient, increasing the likelihood that you’ll use them regularly. Freezing also extends their lifespan by slowing down bacterial growth and spoilage, ensuring you always have flavorful ingredients on hand.

Most importantly, prepping in advance streamlines meal preparation, making home cooking:
a) Easier and more likely to happen
b) More visually appealing
c) Nutritionally richer

Delicious, healthy home-cooked meals don’t have to mean hours in the kitchen - or a big mess to clean up afterward!