Learn how to cut garlic with this easy cooking tutorial! We will teach you the best ways to slice, cut, mince or crush garlic cloves for your recipes. We’ll also share our best tips on how to keep it fresh longer.
Sizes and Uses for Garlic
Pressed garlic: The quickest way to get here is by using a garlic press. If you want to go old school though, use a pestle and mortar. It’s best used in sauces or dressings because the pieces are easier to incorporate into the mixture, creating a homogeneous flavor.
Finely chopped garlic: The finer you chop it, the more flavor you’ll get out of it. This is because more of its juices are released into the preparation, whether they’re hot or cold.
Roughly chopped garlic: Since it comes in larger pieces, we don’t recommend it for raw dishes. However, get ready to pack your recipe with a flavor punch as long as you sautee it!
Sliced garlic: The thinner you slice garlic cloves, the milder garlic flavor they’ll provide. If you decide to cook them, watch out because they burn quickly!
Whole cloves: Roast them and then add them to vegetable purees, compound butter or olive oil and watch them develop a new, more complex flavor.
How to Peel Garlic
It’s important to select a smooth, firm bulb. When possible, avoid those that are over-ripe by looking for sprouts, mushy bits, and cracks in them.
The first step is to wrap your hands around the garlic bulb and use your thumbs to pull the skin in opposite directions, causing it to slide right off. This may happen in one go or in layers, if so just be patient and continue until you can peel off all the skin and are left only with the cloves.
If you’re wondering what a garlic clove is, it’s the individual pieces of garlic that appear once you peel the outer layer away.
Next, remove the number of cloves your recipe calls for. Set the rest aside for later use. Unless it’s super humid where you live, you can leave it at room temperature in a paper bag. Garlic likes being in dark, ventilated spots so keep this in mind when choosing where to keep it.
The easiest way to remove the skin off the individual clove is to place it flat-side down on the counter or cutting board and then put the flat side of your knife over it and press with the palm until you feel it squish.
After that, you can easily remove the skin!
Once all the cloves are peeled, you’re ready to cut them! We are going to show you 3 ways to do it.
How to Cut Garlic
Slicing Garlic
Place the clove flat-side down on the cutting board. Keep the knife in one hand and slice the garlic. Repeat the process as many times as needed, slicing to your desired thickness.
Thinly slices of garlic are perfect for pickle brines.
Mincing Garlic
Similar to slicing garlic, place the clove flat-side down on the cutting board. Then, keep the knife in one hand and place your other hand on top of the blade. Cut the clove repeatedly until it's finely minced.
Crushing Garlic
Place the clove flat-side down on the cutting board and then place the flat side of your knife over it. Use your hand to press down on the blade until you crush the garlic. Add it to your preparations but remove it right before serving.
We love to use crushed garlic in our Creamy Garlic Chicken.
How to Store Unused Garlic
Whole garlic cloves can last 4-5 months. Store them in a dark dry place.
Unfortunately, once you remove a clove, the rest of the bulb will only keep fresh for another 8-10 days. Wrapped peeled garlic, when refrigerated, can last up to a week too. However, never refrigerate entire bulbs of garlic because they soften very quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Well-wrapped peeled garlic will keep in the fridge for 8-10 days.
In a freezer-friendly container, peeled garlic can last up to one year!
Here are two methods:
● Add salt to the cutting board’s surface and then rub half a lemon over it. Make sure to squeeze the lemon as you rub it over the board. Set it aside for 6 minutes and then rinse it.
● Make a paste with two parts baking soda and one part water. Spread it on the cutting board and let it sit for 10 minutes. Scrape it off and then rinse the board.
Scrub your hands with the baking soda paste you prepared earlier or rub your hands with lemon juice and salt. Another option is to rub your hands over running water with a stainless steel object like a spoon or pot.
Garlic is one of the most important ingredients out there! Used throughout history in every cuisine, it’s imperative you know how to cut garlic, don’t you think? Hopefully, this article has helped you master the skill.
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How to Cut Garlic
Ingredients
- 1 garlic bulb
Equipment
Instructions
How to Peel Garlic:
- Separate the cloves from the garlic root, using your fingers.
- Put one clove on a cutting board. Place the flat side of your knife over it and press to crush and loosen the skin from the clove.
- Remove the skin and discard.
Crushed Garlic:
- Place the flat side of your knife over the peeled garlic clove and press to crush it.
Sliced Garlic:
- Keep the knife in one hand and run it over the clove, slicing to your desired thickness.
Minced Garlic:
- Keep the knife in one hand and run it repeatedly over the clove in different directions, mincing to the preferred size.
Notes
Nutrition
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Mate Mate UK says
Nice ways to peel and cut garlic. Nice effort, keep it up!
chefjar says
Thank you Mate!