Why and How to Make Black Garlic

Sweet, tangy, and packed with antioxidants, black garlic is easy to make at home with just time and gentle heat—using a proofer, rice cooker, or black garlic fermenter.

Black garlic is one of those ingredients that looks exotic but is surprisingly easy to make at home. Instead of the sharp bite of raw garlic, the cloves become soft, tangy, and almost candy-like. To me, it tastes a lot like a balsamic reduction. Some people liken it to tamarind. Although it’s not as tangy as the tropical fruit, it has a similar appearance, texture, and slight flavor.

The first time I tried black garlic, I was shocked by how much I loved it. The only downside? It’s expensive. Seeing the hefty price tag was what finally pushed me to try making it myself.

Luckily, you don’t need fancy equipment. With a proofer, a rice cooker, or, of course, with a black garlic fermenter, you can make your own black garlic almost effortlessly. All it takes is time and patience.

In this post, I’ll explain what black garlic is, why you should use it in your cooking, and how to make it yourself.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Gourmet flavor: Black garlic tastes like a mix of balsamic, molasses, and tamarind.
  
• Surprisingly easy: No complicated steps or special skills required. Just wrap your garlic, set your appliance, and let time do the work.
  
• Variety of methods: You can use a proofer, rice cooker, or black garlic fermenter.
  
• Healthy and delicious: Black garlic is rich in antioxidants and easier to eat than raw garlic.
  
• Long storage life: A batch lasts for weeks in the fridge (or even longer in the freezer).

What is black garlic?

Black garlic begins as regular white garlic, but after being kept at a warm temperature for several weeks, it transforms into something amazing. The cloves slowly darken, turning soft and chewy with a rich, sweet flavor.

This process was first popular in Korea and is now used all over the world. You’ll often see black garlic described as “fermented garlic” or “aged garlic,” but technically, it isn’t really a true fermentation.

Is it fermented?

Fermentation usually involves bacteria or yeast breaking down food. In the case of black garlic, the temperature is kept too high for those microbes to survive. Instead, most of the transformation comes from what is called a Maillard reaction, a natural chemical reaction between amino acids and sugars when food is heated.

It’s the same process that creates the golden crust on bread, the sear on a steak, or the roasted flavor in coffee. Garlic enzymes break things down gradually, taking weeks instead of instantly, like browning a marshmallow.

Although it’s not true fermentation, it has some “aged” qualities similar to those found in fermented foods.

What does it taste like?

Black garlic is nothing like raw garlic. Its flavor is smooth, mellow, and sweet, reminding me of a balsamic reduction, with hints of molasses and dried fruit. Some people compare it to tamarind. While it isn’t as tangy as the tropical fruit, it does share a similar look, texture, and touch of flavor.

It’s not just its sweetness, the texture is part of the surprise. It goes from firm and crunchy to soft, chewy, and almost jelly-like. Sometimes, I feel like I’m munching on a fancy gummy candy instead of garlic! It’s flavor is unique and complex.

Ingredients

You only need one thing to make black garlic: garlic.

Choose firm, fresh garlic bulbs with tight papery skins. Larger cloves are easier to peel later and give a better texture once aged. While it’s totally optional, I like to use organic when possible.

Equipment

There are a few different ways to make black garlic at home. The method you pick really depends on the appliances you’ve got at home, what your budget looks like, and whether you think you’ll be making black garlic often or if it’s just something you want to try out once.

Using a proofer

My favorite method is with a proofer. It holds a steady, low temperature while using very little electricity, and it folds up for easy storage. A proofer is also versatile and can be used to make all sorts of things. It’s usually used to make bread, but it can also be used to make homemade yogurt or temper chocolate. I use mine for fermenting soybeans when making my own soy sauce. I also like that I can choose what container will hold the garlic inside. For making black garlic, I use stainless steel pans and avoid the hormone disruptors in non-stick coatings. The only downside is the initial cost, but if you enjoy baking or fermenting, you’ll probably end up using it a lot. 

Using a black garlic fermenter

The most obvious option is a black garlic fermenter, a small appliance designed specifically for making black garlic. The results are usually reliable, and the process is generally faster, often finishing in about twelve to fourteen days. These machines aren’t normally expensive, and they use very little electricity.

Many black garlic fermenters are now sold for making other fermented foods, such as natto, sweet rice wine (amazake), or koji, which is used to make homemade soy sauce.

Their main purpose is making black garlic, though, and they do it well. They maintain a constant temperature and humidity for days, which lets the cloves become soft, sweet, and dark without much effort.
If you love black garlic and have room for another appliance, it may be worth investing in one, especially if you like making other ferments.

Using a rice cooker, pressure cooker, or slow cooker

If you’ve got a rice cooker, pressure cooker, or slow cooker, you can try making some black garlic without needing to buy anything extra! It’s a great way to give it a shot before deciding to invest in another appliance!  Keeping the garlic on the “keep warm” setting will slowly transform it over the course of several weeks. One big downside is that some cookers heat up more than others, and running one for weeks straight isn’t really the best or most practical option.

Other materials/equipment

Wrapping garlic in parchment or freezer paper and then loosely in aluminum foil helps maintain humidity and keep the cloves from drying out. If you’re using a proofer, you’ll need a stainless steel pot to hold the garlic. (You could also use a covered casserole dish or something similar.)

Procedure

Once you’ve chosen your garlic and your appliance, it’s time to start! To help keep the cloves from drying out, wrap each head in parchment or freezer paper and then add a loose layer of foil. The goal is to hold the garlic at a gentle heat for several weeks until it turns soft, dark, and sweet.

In a proofer

If using a proofer, put the garlic in a stainless steel pot or a covered casserole dish, or cover it with plastic wrap. Place the pot in the proofer and set the temperature to 60 ºC (140 ºF). I like to wrap each head in parchment or freezer paper and then add a loose layer of foil to help keep in moisture. Close the lid and let the proofer do the work. This method usually takes about four to six weeks, depending on the size of your garlic and how dark you want the cloves.

In a rice cooker or slow cooker

For a rice cooker or slow cooker, use the “keep warm” setting. The garlic heads can go directly into the pot, or you can wrap them as you would in the proofer. Some models run hotter than others, so keep an eye on the progress. Check the garlic after about three weeks. If the cloves are still pale or firm, rewrap them and continue. This method generally takes three to five weeks.

In a black garlic fermenter

If you have a black garlic fermenter, the process is even simpler. Because they’re designed for this purpose, you only need to follow the instructions that come with your machine. Most fermenters finish a batch in around twelve to fourteen days, which is much faster than other methods.

Is it ready?

No matter which method you use, the best way to tell if black garlic is done is by tasting it. The cloves should be very dark, soft, and slightly chewy, with a sweet, tangy flavor. If they are still light brown or firm, they need more time.

Storage

Once your garlic has finished aging, you can either keep the bulbs whole or peel the black garlic cloves and store them in a sealed container. Whole bulbs hold up well wrapped in parchment paper and stored into a jar or bag. Storing peeled garlic cloves makes them easier to use, but they dry out faster when stored that way.

At room temperature, black garlic typically stays fresh for about a month, but it may start to dry out earlier. In the fridge, it keeps well for three to six months. To extend its shelf life, black garlic can be frozen. Either freeze whole heads wrapped in foil or parchment, or spread peeled cloves on a tray to freeze individually before transferring them to a container or bag. In the freezer, they’ll stay good for up to a year without losing much of their flavor or texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expert Tips

Mark the date when you start your batch. It sounds obvious, but weeks can pass quickly, and it’s easy to lose track. I like to tape a little note on the appliance, so I can glance at it and know how long the garlic has been cooking.

Choose larger heads of garlic if you can. Not only do they give you more to enjoy, but the bigger cloves also peel more easily and have a better texture once aged.

Check the garlic after about three weeks, even if you don’t think it’s ready yet. Every appliance runs a little differently, and you may find your cloves are already dark and soft. If not, simply wrap them back up and give them more time.

If you want to keep the cloves from drying out, wrapping really helps. I use parchment or freezer paper and then a loose layer of foil. This holds in just enough moisture without making them soggy.

Finally, remember that patience is part of the process. The difference between “almost ready” and “perfect” black garlic is just a few extra days, so it’s worth waiting for the flavor to be as sweet and complex as you like.

How to use black garlic

Black garlic is mild enough to enjoy on its own, but it’s also delicious in recipes. Because the cloves are soft and chewy, it’s usually best to mash them up into a paste or chop them really finely before tossing them into your dishes. That way, the flavor spreads evenly.

Here are a few easy ways to use it:

• Sauces and dressings: Mash a clove into a paste and whisk it into salad dressings, marinades, or mayonnaise.
  
• Mashed potatoes: Blend a few mashed cloves into the potatoes along with butter and cream for a rich, umami twist.
  
• Soups and stews: Stir in mashed or minced cloves near the end of cooking, or blend them directly into pureed soups.
  
• Compound butter: Mix mashed cloves into softened butter for an easy spread that’s wonderful on bread, vegetables, or steak.
  
• Pan sauces: Add minced black garlic off the heat so the flavor stays sweet and distinct.

Video

How to Make Black Garlic

This post was originally published on December 17, 2018. It was rewritten in 2025 with new photos and other new information.