Garlic is a staple in my kitchen, right up there with onions (how to cut an onion). It’s essential for adding flavor and aroma to countless recipes. And, while a jar of lazy garlic might look really tempting for those intimidated by how to prepare garlic from a whole head, put it down! It doesn’t taste anywhere near as good and contains added ingredients. Instead, follow my easy guide on how to mince garlic cloves in no time, as well as chop into small pieces, crush, slice, and press it for all your needs!
Types Of Garlic
While there are many different varieties of garlic, there are three main “types.” These are hardneck, softneck, and elephant garlic (though the latter is technically a leek, not true garlic). The “neck” in the name refers to the stalk that grows from the middle of the bulb upwards, with hardnecks containing a firm stalk and softnecks containing leaves instead. Hardnecks tend to have fewer individual cloves but the ones they have are larger. They’re also usually easier to peel and are arguably the more flavorful type. However, softneck garlic is better for long-term storage. In comparison, elephant garlic has very large bulbs and a very mild garlicky flavor.
What Is A Garlic Bulb?
A garlic bulb refers to a whole head of garlic and is a complete bunch of garlic cloves covered in a white-ish papery skin.
What Is A Clove Of Garlic?
Within a bulb of garlic, there are individual lobes (also covered in the papery peel) called cloves. Usually, there are between 11-16 cloves per softneck bulb, though hardneck may contain between 4-12, and elephant garlic usually only contains 4-7 cloves.
How To Open A Garlic Bulb
Place the head of garlic on your chopping board with the pointed end facing upwards. Then, place the heel of your hand (or the side of a wide chef’s knife/cleaver) directly over the point and, using your second hand to press down over the first, firmly press/bang the garlic and twist your hand to release the individual cloves. To avoid mess while doing this, place the head of garlic in a Ziplock bag first.
Is There a Trick to Peeling Garlic?
Peeling garlic may be the most difficult (and annoying) part of using it. However, there’s not only one “trick” or “hack” to peeling garlic with minimal time and effort, but several. I’ve tested 6 popular ways to peel garlic, so you can choose your favorite one. Once you have peeled garlic cloves, it’s time to prepare the garlic.
How To Prepare Garlic
Learn how to cut garlic cloves / prepare garlic in 7 ways with this step by step guide, including fresh crushed, grated, chopped, sliced, pureed, pressed, and minced garlic. Note the more you process garlic, the stronger smelling and tasting it will become. This is because garlic contains a compound called allicin that releases upon chopping. So the more you “damage” it, the more robust the flavor/smell. Below is a list of 7 methods, from least to most processed, with the final option adding the most robust, pungent smell and flavor to any dish.
How to Crush Garlic
Crushed garlic requires very little effort and produces a very mild flavor. All you need is a wide chef’s knife or cleaver. Alternatively, you can use the bottom of a small skillet or saucepan to firmly press into the garlic. Uses: Crushes garlic will release mild flavor, so it works well in slow-cooking sauces, chili, or soup – to be fished out before serving.
How to Chop Garlic
Roughly chopping garlic is a quick and simple way to prepare it for dishes. Uses: Chopped garlic will work well in soups, stews, chilies, and stir-fries, but may be too chunky for sauces, dressings, etc.
How to Slice Garlic
Alternatively, you can use a mandoline for perfectly even slices, but as the cloves are small, wear protective gloves and be careful. Uses: Sliced garlic is great for dishes where they’re sautéed or stir-fried, in pickles or any dish you want to see it in the dish.
How to Mince Garlic
Mincing garlic is probably the most common option for preparing this ingredient and you can mince garlic without a mincer, too, all you need is a sharp knife! Check my guide on how much minced garlic equals a clove so you know how much to prepare. A “cheat” method to mince garlic is to chuck the cloves into a mini food processor and pulse until it reaches your desired consistency. Uses: Minced garlic is my go-to for most recipes that call for fresh garlic. You can use garlic minced in soups, sauces, marinades, salad dressings, dips, salsa, etc.
How to Grate Garlic
Grated garlic is very similar to garlic cloves minced, but with even less texture, and with a tool many may already have in the kitchen: a Microplane zester/grater or a box grater (use the shredder side). You can also grate garlic from frozen if needed, though it doesn’t take long to thaw. Uses: This is often used in dressings and is great for recipes where you really want a punch of garlic flavor.
How to Press Garlic Cloves
What’s great about this method is you don’t even have to peel the clove. Just note that you’ll need to scoop out the peel in between cloves. Alternatively, other garlic presses are curved in shape, where you place the clove on your cutting board and press and roll the garlic press over it. Uses: This is one of the most potent methods of preparing garlic for a pungent flavor. Avoid using it in raw recipes unless pairing it with an acid, like lemon juice, to mellow the flavor. Otherwise, it’ll work great in soups and cooked sauces, too.
How to Puree Garlic
See all the details to homemade garlic paste. Uses: You can use pureed garlic in almost all the same ways as the minced version. You can also freeze pureed garlic to use later. This version blends really well to flavor the entirety of dishes, perfect for curries and other sauce-y dishes.
How Much Garlic Paste Equals One Clove?
One teaspoon of garlic paste/minced garlic is equal to one large clove or two small cloves.
How Much Garlic Powder Equals One Clove
1/8 tsp of garlic powder equals 1 clove. If you use 1/2 tsp of powder, it’s like using 4 cloves, etc.
How to Store Whole Garlic Heads and How Long Do They Last
First, select good garlic from the store. The heads should be firm and heavy for their size, with no soft spots. Store it in a cool, dry, well-ventilated, dark place, and it should be fine for 2-3 months (up to 6 months in some cases). However, as soon as you remove the cloves, aim to use the bulb within 7-10 days.
How to Store Peeled Garlic
Once peeled, store the separate garlic cloves in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
How Long Does Peeled Garlic Last
It will last for 5-7 days. Just note that the quality of the flavor will deteriorate over time.
How to Store Minced Garlic
Any chopped, sliced, minced, etc. garlic is best eaten as soon as possible, as the quality deteriorates quickly.
How Long Does Minced Garlic Last
I recommend storing them in an airtight container in the fridge for only up to a day.
Can You Freeze Garlic?
You can freeze the whole cloves in a Ziplock bag for up to 6 months, then thaw them at room temperature when needed. However, the texture may soften, so this isn’t a method I do often. You can also freeze the prepared garlic – I specifically like to freeze garlic puree – for between 3-4 months. I prefer to do so in portions (i.e., one clove/one teaspoon, etc.). If portioned, you can often pop the frozen garlic directly into your dish. Be careful about placing something icy directly into a pan with oil, as it will spit a lot. Read more about all the ways to freeze garlic here, including top tips and more.
Does Garlic Go Bad?
While the shelf life of whole unpeeled garlic is pretty impressive, it can definitely go bad. A whole, unpeeled head of garlic can last several months in the right conditions. However, a peeled clove will only last about a week in the fridge, and any chopped garlic should be used within a day.You can usually tell if garlic has gone bad if it’s become soft, has a sour smell, or you notice discoloration.
How to Remove Garlic Smell from Hands
As delicious as it is, this ingredient is also pretty stinky, and the smell can linger on your skin for up to 2 days. To get rid of this sooner, there are several methods to choose from: To stop the smell from getting on your hands in the first place, you could wear kitchen gloves.
More Garlic Recipes and DIYs
Garlic Powder Garlic Flakes (+ Dried Minced Garlic) How to Roast Garlic in the Oven (Whole Roasted Garlic + Cloves) How To Make Garlic Confit (& Garlic Oil) Pickled Garlic (Plain and TikTok Spicy Pickled Garlic) Fermented Garlic Honey How to Make Black Garlic
Alternatively, browse my list of 30+ garlic recipes for more inspiration! If you try any of these methods to prepare garlic, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
