QuestionI've heard that when garlic sprouts, the taste gets bitter. Is this true?
AnswerDon't toss that garlic. Although there's controversy about this, experts I spoke with at Christopher Ranch in Gilmore, CA, and Melissa's Produce in Los Angeles agree that the sprout is not bitter. But it is more susceptible to burning, so it will turn bitter if cooked over too high a temperature. To help prevent your garlic from sprouting, choose firm heads. If you do spot a soft clove, discard itit can contaminate the other cloves. Store in a cool, dry place but not in the refrigerator. Ceramic garlic keepers work well; so do small ceramic flowerpots.