Garlic scapes are bright green stalks that shoot out from the tops of garlic bulbs, then curl in on themselves and end in a small bulge of a bud. These scapes are now quite popular in cooking, and like many seasonal, less common vegetables, there’s a few reasons why you should grab them the minute you see them.

Firstly, garlic scapes are delicious and good to use in dishes that call for garlic or in place of chives, ramps, or scallions. When raw, they can be sharp and pungent, but when cooked, they have a mild and nutty profile, and are delicious when sautéed in oil, ground into pesto, pickled, or roasted with meat and veggies.

Secondly, garlic scapes are a hyper-seasonal vegetable in high demand. They only appear in markets for a few weeks in late spring and early summer, and only keep for three weeks in the refrigerator, so don't miss the opportunity to buy them before other shoppers snatch up the whole supply, and try not to waste them.