Garlic Scapes

Find

Farmers markets and local farm-stands and green grocers are often the best best, but garlic scapes can sometimes be found in larger grocery stores as well.

Choose

Look for firm (but not hard), green stalks without any obvious bruising or damage. Smaller scapes are generally more tender. Ideally you want to look for scapes without yellow or papery tips on the flower bulb, as this indicates older/tougher stems.

Prep

Difficulty: Easy - Simply wash the scapes and cut off the tough bulb. The remaining scape can be chopped, diced, or used as-is. Got older/tougher scapes? Click 'Need More Details' below for tips.

Use

Can be eaten raw, or cooked. As with garlic bulbs, the taste mellows with cooking.

Store

Short Term: Keep in fresh water in a glass or vase (like cut flowers) for 2-3 days.
Medium Term: Refrigerate (unwashed) 2-3 weeks in a breathable bag in the crisper.
Long Term: Blanch in boiling water 30 seconds, drain and rinse with cold water, then chop into segments and freeze. Will keep for 6+ months, but tastes best if used within 1-2 months.

Flavour Profile

Pungent/Sweet/Green - Scapes have a pleasant, tender green vegetable flavour combined with a sharp garlicky 'bite.' The garlic flavour is strongest in raw scapes, but still distinct and noticeable after cooking.

Substitutions

Substitutions vary somewhat depending on intent. Chinese/Garlic chives make a good substitute for chopped scapes, though they are often much stronger. Chives, ramps, and scallions (plus or minus added garlic) can make good substitutes. See "Substitution Note" below for details.

Cuisines

Garlic scapes appear quite frequently in modern, seasonal farm-to-table recipes. That being said, they can be encountered in cuisines from virtually any part of the temperate world (i.e. anywhere hardneck garlic is grown).

Flavour Pairings

As with garlic itself, scapes can be paired with an enormous variety of foods. Butter, oil, vinegar, lemon, sharp cheese, mild/sweet vegetables, tomatoes, and herbs are popular choices. Simple preparations that allow the flavour of the scapes to shine through are generally preferred. Sauces, soups, and purees are commonly made with scapes.

Varieties

While there are numerous varieties of hardneck garlic with different characteristics, the scapes are rarely differentiated by variety. Elephant garlic (actually a variety of bulb-forming leek) also produces edible scapes that are quite similar to true garlic scapes.

Nutrition

Top-To-Tail

The entire garlic scape can be eaten, though the tougher, stringier flower bud is frequently removed. The underground garlic bulb is, of course, edible too.

GMO Status

There is no GM or gene-edited garlic in the human food supply. Genetic modification and/or editing of garlic has been investigated in academic settings (see note below)

Health & Science

- Garlic is loaded with chemicals of both culinary and scientific significance. These are generally concentrated in the bulbs, but many can be found in some quantity in the scapes as well
- Garlic scapes are higher in Vitamin C and calcium than the bulbs, and (more importantly) are generally eaten in much larger quantities, making them more nutritionally significant.
- Several sulfur-containing compounds are responsible for the pungent and distinctive flavours of garlic. The compound allicin, which is primarily responsible for the perceived heat of garlic, is deactivated by cooking.

Organic vs. Conventional

As a fairly niche and local crop, garlic scapes may be grown using a variety of conventional or organic methods, thought certified organic products may be hard to come by. Garlic is a hardy, pest-resistant crop that generally requires little intervention regardless of growing method.