Cooking 101: how to select fresh garlic

May 26, 10:25 PMOrlando Cooking ExaminerDawn Viola

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Try as you may, even the healthiest looking head of garlic can yield an icky surprise once in a while. Following are tips on picking the perfect head of garlic and what to do when your garlic gets hit with the ugly stick:

• Look for bulbs that are dry all the way around - top, bottom and sides. Bulbs should never be wet or feel sticky
• Bulbs should feel heavy for their size, be plump, and have no green sprouts growing from the top.
• Avoid garlic that is soft or light in weight - this could be a sign of age or dehydration.
• Look for bulbs with the roots still intact – imported garlic often has the root shaved off
• Papers (outer skins) should be dry and tight - there should be no large cracks in the paper with cloves spilling out and no black or gray marks on the papers, which can be a sign of rot or mold
• Healthy garlic with tight papers should have no odor. If the bulb smells like garlic, do not purchase

When you've got ugly garlic:
Even with all of the criteria above checked off your list, there can still be a nasty surprise lurking beneath the papers. Garlic with green sprouts in the middle can still be used. Remove the green stems growing in the middle, discard, and use the garlic as you would normally. The green sprigs are very bitter, so be sure they don't accidentally make it into whatever you're cooking.

If your garlic clove has brown spots or holes, like the picture above, throw it away and do not use it as it could be a sign of disease, mold, rot or bugs.

Neat things you should know:

• Garlic is claimed to help prevent heart disease including atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and cancer.
• According to Ron Engeland, author of Growing Great Garlic, there may well be over 450 identifiable strains of garlic.
• Elephant garlic is actually a wild leek. 
• Builders of the pyramids in Egypt were often paid in fresh garlic, in part to maintain their strength and stamina. Garlic was found in King Tutankhamen's tomb.
• Garlic can thin the blood, similar to the effect of aspirin.
• Garlic and onions can be toxic to cats and dogs.