This! Whole garlic bulbs (as well as onions, potatoes etc. etc.) will last for months if stored properly, the "convenience" versions need extra packaging, have

This! Whole garlic bulbs (as well as onions, potatoes etc. etc.) will last for months if stored properly, the "convenience" versions need extra packaging, have to be refrigerated or cooled, and still can't be stored for very long. You don't have to dice the garlic by hand though, you can use a garlic press. Before anyone calls me a snob, I use some convenience products too, e.g. pre-cut and mixed salad - I hate cleaning salad, plus in this case the convenience product has more or less the same shelf life as an uncut salad. Also, after several quiche disasters where we ended up eating "minced quiche" because it leaked or refused to be removed in one piece, I am a huge fan of convenience quiche crust - tasty, crispy, and (almost) 100% leak-proof! If you go down the "only use base products" rabbit hole, you also have to make your own pasta, because after all that's also a convenience product...