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Garlic Scape-Infused Oil | Easy Way to Preserve Scapes!

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Turn your abundance of garlic scapes into a delightful garlic scape-infused oil! This oil is a wonderful way to preserve scapes for future use. It tastes delicious with bread, pizza, vegetables and more. 

A bowl of garlic scape oil with fresh garlic scapes around it.

As someone who grows a lot of hardneck garlic, I’m always thinking up new recipes to use up my garlic scapes.

They are such a delicious seasonal treat; I don’t want any to go to waste!

Garlic scapes are typically available in abundance for a few weeks and then they are nowhere to be found. So when I have a big harvest, I jump into action freezing my garlic scapes and making different recipes to use them up.

This garlic scape-infused oil is the newest addition to my scape recipe lineup. It’s a new favorite for me and I think it will be for you too!

Why You’ll Love It

Delicious: The mild garlicky flavor of the fresh garlic scapes infused in flavorful olive oil makes for a unique oil that is fun to use in a variety of dishes.

Preserve your scapes: If you grow a lot of garlic you surely get more scapes than you know what to do with! This garlic scape oil is an excellent way to use those scapes and it freezes well to enjoy throughout the year. 

Versatile: It’s not hard to use up this tasty oil! Drizzle it on salad or pizza, enjoy with fresh bread, or use it to roast veggies. It’ll add a little something special to all of your meals. 

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A jar of oil with fresh garlic scape next to it.

What You’ll Need

  • Garlic scapes: Garlic scapes are the delicious flower head of a hardneck garlic plant. You can grow them in your own garden or find them at farmer’s markets in late spring and early summer. 
  • Olive oil: I recommend a high-quality extra virgin olive oil. They taste so much better. 
  • Small saucepan
  • Fine mesh strainer
  • Jar or ice cube trays: You’ll need a jar for fridge storage or ice cube trays to freeze the oil in.

How to Make Garlic Scape-Infused Oil

Minced garlic scapes in a food processor.

Step 1. Put the garlic scapes in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until they are minced.

Garlic scapes in oil in a saucepan.

Step 2. Add the minced scapes and the olive oil to a small saucepan.

Garlic scape in a pot with olive oil.

Step 3. Heat the oil over medium heat until bubbles form, then promptly turn down to low. Continue heating for two or more hours. Do not let it boil!

Straining garlic scape-infused oil through a fine mesh strainer into a jar.

Step 4. Take the oil off of the heat and allow it to cool completely. Strain the oil through a fine mesh strainer. Use immediately or store in the fridge or freezer.

Note: This oil is not shelf-stable. Be sure to keep it in the fridge or freezer, not at room temperature.

Helpful Tips

  • If your oil gets too hot even on the lowest setting of your stove, slide the saucepan off of the burner so only a small piece is getting direct heat. If that doesn’t work for your stove, you can also make it in a crockpot on low. 
  • You can store the infused olive oil in the fridge in an airtight container like a mason jar for a couple of weeks. For long term storage, keep it in the freezer. 
  • Pour cooled oil into ice cube trays and freeze for single portions that are ready to go. Once the oil is frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag or glass jar. 
  • If you don’t have a food processor, you can chop the garlic scapes well with a sharp knife.
  • I recommend not washing your scapes before making this oil. If you do need to wash them, be sure they are thoroughly dried before adding them to the food processor.
Pouring oil into ice cube trays.

FAQs

What are garlic scapes?

Garlic scapes are the flower buds and stems of hardneck garlic plants, typically harvested in late spring or early summer before they bloom. Removing them allows the plant’s energy to be focused towards producing larger garlic bulbs. With a mild garlic flavor and tender texture when cooked, scapes have become a sought-after treat for gardeners, farmers, and chefs alike.

garlic scapes growing in a garden

Where can I find garlic scapes?

If you aren’t growing your own garlic in your garden, garlic scapes can usually be found at farmers’ markets and farm stands. Look for them in late spring or early summer. If you are lucky, you may find them at the grocery store!

What is infused garlic scape oil good for?

My favorite way to use it is to make a dipping oil for fresh bread! You can use garlic scape oil pretty much any way you’d use regular olive oil. Make it into a salad dressing, drizzle over roasted vegetables or potatoes, or cook eggs in it. The infused oil will add a subtle garlic flavor to your regular dishes. Garlic scape oil also makes a great addition to pizza! 

More delicious garlic scape recipes

A jar of garlic scape-infused oil on a piece of parchment paper with fresh scapes.

Garlic Scape-Infused Oil

Turn your abundance of garlic scapes into a delightful garlic scape-infused oil! This oil is a wonderful way to preserve scapes for future use. It tastes delicious with bread, pizza, vegetables and more. 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Course Sauces and Spreads
Servings 6 ounces

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • Fine mesh strainer

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup minced garlic scapes
  • 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Put the garlic scapes in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until they are minced.
  • Add the minced scapes and the olive oil to a small saucepan.
  • Heat the oil over medium heat until bubbles form, then promptly turn down to low. Continue heating for two or more hours. Do not let it boil!
  • Take the oil off of the heat and allow it to cool completely.
  • Strain the oil through a fine mesh strainer.
  • Use immediately or store in the fridge or freezer.

Notes

Note: This oil is not shelf-stable. Be sure to keep it in the fridge or freezer, not at room temperature.
  • If your oil gets too hot even on the lowest setting of your stove, move the saucepan off of the burner so only a small piece is getting direct heat. If that doesn’t work for your stove, you can also make it in a crockpot on low. 
  • You can store the olive oil in the fridge in an airtight container like a mason jar for a couple of weeks. For long-term storage, keep it in the freezer. 
  • Pour cooled oil into ice cube trays and freeze for single portions that are ready to go. Once the oil is frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag or glass jar. 
  • If you don’t have a food processor, you can chop the garlic scapes well with a sharp knife.
  • I recommend not washing your scapes before making this oil. If you do need to wash them, be sure they are thoroughly dried before adding them to the food processor.
Keyword garlic scape oil, garlic scapes, infused oil
Garlic scape infused oil pinterest pin.

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