3 Best Black Garlic Fermenters In 2026 (Set And Forget Picks)
If you haven’t come across black garlic yet, you don’t know what you are missing out on! This delicious fermented garlic gives a whole new spin on one of our favorite flavors, but it can be a bit expensive to buy from the store. For 2026, the MLGB 6L fermenter is still my top overall pick, and two lower-priced machines have joined the list so there is now an option for every budget.
Fans of black garlic will be glad to hear that it is easy to make this superfood at home, with the help of a fermenter.
But how do you choose the best black garlic fermenter? The best black garlic fermenter is one that has a fully automated intelligent control system, creating the perfect conditions for making soft and chewy black garlic. Some garlic fermenters also have independent time and temperature controls, or settings to make other types of fermented foods.
Read on to learn what makes the best black garlic fermenter and find the one that suits your needs!
What Is Black Garlic?
Hands up if you thought that black garlic was just a different colored type of garlic? Yes, us too! After all, in a world where you can get purple carrots and stripy beetroot, black garlic doesn’t sound all that unusual.
However, black garlic is actually just garlic that has been aged over a long period of time, normally by heating at low temperatures with controlled levels of humidity.
This gives the garlic a unique flavor and texture, like nothing else you have ever tasted!
Black garlic has a sticky and soft consistency and a sweeter, milder taste than normal garlic. The flavor resembles dark molasses and can be used in many dishes.
If you’ve come home from the store with a jar of black garlic, you might be wondering how to eat it. Black garlic can be added to many conventional dishes as a replacement for standard garlic.
But to get the best out of this delicacy, it is normally enjoyed as part of an antipasto platter or as a topping for pizza or bruschetta.
We promise you one thing: once you’ve tried black garlic you will be hooked! Unfortunately, the time it takes to create black garlic means it is incredibly expensive, so you might start wondering if you can make it yourself at home.
If you’re a black garlic fan, then a black garlic fermenter is a worthwhile investment. Expect to spend between $100-$200 on a good quality model.
What Is A Black Garlic Fermenter?
The trick to making black garlic is to keep standard bulbs of garlic at the correct temperature and humidity for long periods of time.
And while you will find recipes claiming that you can do this in a slow cooker or Instant Pot, the best way to guarantee perfect black garlic is to invest in a black garlic fermenter.
Now, we need to clear something up here. Fans of fermented foods will have noticed by now that no actual fermentation takes place to create black garlic.
Instead, the black color, flavor, and texture are a result of the Maillard reaction, the same thing that makes the crispy brown bits of roasted foods taste so delicious!
The changes that occur within the garlic are very similar to those that happen in fermented foods. The pungent enzymes within the garlic cloves are broken down, changing the flavor, smell, and texture.
However, fermentation normally occurs due to the action of yeasts or bacteria, whereas black garlic is created purely by the presence of heat and humidity.
You will sometimes hear black garlic referred to as aged garlic or aged black garlic. This is technically more correct, but the name fermented black garlic seems to have stuck in some places.
For this reason, the machines used to create black garlic are often called fermenters, even though no fermentation takes place!
How To Choose The 3 Best Black Garlic Fermenters
There is such a wide variety of black garlic fermenters available that sometimes it becomes overwhelming to choose one for your specific needs.
From the most basic model right up to a snazzy machine with multiple settings, there really is a huge range to choose from!
If you are on the hunt for a new black garlic fermenter, here is what you should take into consideration.
Temperature Settings
Being able to select the correct temperature to ferment your black garlic is crucial. Some models have multiple temperature settings, giving you the flexibility to choose the one which best suits your needs.
As a guide, the following temperatures are used to create black garlic:
- At 140°F, the process will take several weeks. The end result will be garlic that is sweeter, but not as dark as the store-bought version of black garlic. When fermented at this temperature, some of the antioxidant properties are lost.
- At 160-170°F, the garlic will become as black as the store-bought variety, with a soft texture and sweet flavor. This will take around 9 days, depending on whether you use whole bulbs or individual cloves.
- When the temperature is increased to 180°F or above, the process is much faster but it is hard to keep the correct humidity levels. This means that the black garlic can be tough and crunchy, rather than soft and chewy, and the flavor can be slightly bitter.
So, as you can see, the correct temperature and humidity are crucial for creating the perfect black garlic. A machine with different settings will allow you to adjust the time and temperature to suit your needs.
Type Of Black Garlic Fermenter
Black garlic is created by keeping raw garlic at a constant low temperature for long periods of time. Many other types of food can also be made this way, with some slight adjustments to the temperature.
So, as always, we’re big fans of multifunctional machines here! Some black garlic fermenters can also be used to make yogurt, kimchi, fruit vinegar, bread yeasts, and other fermented foods.
You also need to look at the size of the black garlic fermenter you are purchasing. Remember that this process can take nearly 2 weeks to complete, so you will want to do a reasonable-sized batch each time.
Most black garlic fermenters will hold at least six bulbs of garlic, although larger models will take more.
Ease Of Use
Like any new kitchen gadget, picking one that is easy to use is a top priority. You want a machine that you can just pop the garlic in, turn it on and leave it to work its magic!
The machine should also be easy to keep clean and take up as little space as possible.
The process of making black garlic can produce some pungent smells, so you may want a fermenter that you can plug in somewhere less obtrusive than the kitchen.
Look for one with a removable inner liner for easy cleaning, and a ventilated rack to maximize the amount of garlic it can hold.
Quality Of Product
There is no point splashing out on a new black garlic fermenter if it breaks within a couple of months! Buying a cheap, poor-quality product is a false economy, as you will inevitably end up replacing it after a short time.
Look for a black garlic fermenter that is robust and well-made, preferably with a long warranty or guarantee.
The Best Black Garlic Fermenter
From a simple model to an expensive multi-purpose version, there are so many black garlic fermenters to choose from! Below is the one black garlic fermenter I still recommend, the model I keep coming back to after trying the rest of the field.
| Rank | Product | Best Feature | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MLGB 6L Black Garlic Fermenter and Yogurt Maker (Best Overall) | Adjustable temperature and a yogurt maker mode | Read review |
| Rank | Product | Best Feature | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MLGB 6L Fermenter and Yogurt Maker | Dual-use, lift-out stainless pan | Jump to review |
| 2 | Homend 5L Fermenter | Lowest barrier to entry | Jump to review |
| 3 | INTBUYING 6L Fermenter | Full capacity, budget price | Jump to review |
1. MLGB 6L Black Garlic Fermenter and Yogurt Maker (Best Overall)
The MLGB 6L Multi-Function Black Garlic Fermenter is an incredibly versatile model that can perform a range of different functions.
Firstly, it will make up to 1.5 kg of black garlic, over a period of 7-12 days.
But once you’ve made your garlic, take a look at all the other options you have!
This model can also be used to make yogurt, fruit wine, kimchi, sweet rice wine, fruit vinegar, and baking yeasts.
The fully adjustable time and temperature settings will give you the optimum conditions for perfect results every time, without any hassle. And when you’re finished, the stainless steel pan lifts out for easy cleaning.
2. Homend 5L Black Garlic Fermenter (Best Value)
The Homend is the fermenter I suggest to anyone trying black garlic for the first time, because it brings the price down to a level that makes the experiment easy to justify.
It is a fully automatic machine with intelligent temperature control, so the process is genuinely set and forget. Load whole bulbs, press start, and check back when the cycle finishes.
The 5 liter chamber is a touch smaller than the MLGB above, but for most kitchens that still means more black garlic per batch than you can use. If you are wondering what to do with it all, our black garlic article has ideas.
3. INTBUYING 6L Black Garlic Fermenter (Best Budget 6L)
If you want the full 6 liter capacity without the flagship price, the INTBUYING is the strongest value on this list, and it currently holds the highest customer rating of the three.
Like the others it runs a fully automatic fermentation cycle with intelligent control, turning raw bulbs into sweet, molasses-dark cloves over a couple of weeks with no babysitting.
It is a no-frills machine from a lesser-known brand, but at this price the trade-off is easy to accept for a gadget that runs a few times a year.
Black Garlic Fermenter FAQ
How long does a black garlic fermenter take?
Most home fermenters need roughly two weeks of continuous low heat to transform raw garlic into soft, black, balsamic-sweet cloves. The machines on this list manage temperature automatically for the whole run.
Is it cheap to run a black garlic fermenter?
Yes. These machines hold a low, steady temperature rather than cooking at high heat, so energy use is modest even over a multi-week cycle. Run it in a garage or utility room if the mild garlic aroma bothers you.
Can I make black garlic without a fermenter?
You can approximate it with a rice cooker on keep-warm mode, but holding a safe, even temperature for two weeks is hard on equipment not built for it. A dedicated fermenter is safer and far more consistent. For a faster everyday flavor boost, see our roasted garlic guide.
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