Why Garlic Needs Special Storage
Garlic stored in a sealed container sprouts quickly because trapped moisture encourages growth. Garlic left in the open dries out and loses flavor. The solution is a container that blocks light while allowing air to circulate. A pottery garlic keeper does exactly this. The clay walls block light. Small holes provide ventilation. The lid keeps dust out.
This makes garlic keepers one of the most genuinely useful pottery projects. They solve a real kitchen problem better than any alternative.
Design Elements
Ventilation Holes
The defining feature. Drill or punch small holes — about a quarter inch in diameter — in the walls of the keeper. Six to twelve holes provide adequate airflow. Space them evenly around the circumference. Drill when the clay is leather-hard.
Size and Shape
A garlic keeper should hold two to four heads of garlic. A round form about five inches in diameter and four inches tall works well. The opening must be wide enough to easily insert and remove whole heads — at least three inches across.
The Lid
A fitted lid with a lifted knob completes the design. The lid should rest securely but lift off easily with one hand. A knob or handle on top is essential — garlic keepers are opened frequently.
Throwing and Building
Wheel-Thrown Keeper
Throw a wide-mouthed jar about five inches in diameter. Create a gallery ledge inside the rim for the lid. Keep the walls about a quarter inch thick. Throw the lid separately with a flange that fits inside the gallery.
Hand-Built Keeper
Roll slabs about a quarter inch thick. Cut a circular base and a rectangular wall piece. Join the wall into a cylinder and attach to the base. Hand-built keepers can be square, hexagonal, or any shape.
Learn from Stephen Jepson
Stephen's pottery video lessons cover the throwing, lid-making, and hand-building skills needed for garlic keepers and all functional kitchen pottery. One-time purchase, lifetime access to all lessons.