How to Cook Garlic

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Garlic is a delicious ingredient that adds flavor to a wide variety of savory dishes. Fresh garlic is most commonly roasted or sautéed. Both of these methods draw out garlic’s sweet natural flavors, while cutting back on the potent taste and smell of raw garlic. If you’re roasting garlic, you can leave the entire head of garlic whole until you begin to prepare it for roasting. If you’re sautéing the garlic, you’ll need to remove the skin and chop or dice the garlic before adding it to the frying pan.

Ingredients

  • 1 head of garlic
  • 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) olive oil (for roasted garlic)
  • 2–3 tablespoons (30–44 mL) olive oil (for chopped garlic)
  • 1.25 cups (300 mL) olive oil (for deep fried garlic)
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Roasting Garlic

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  1. Garlic heads will be sold at nearly every grocery store. If you’d like fresher, organic, or locally grown garlic, check a health-food store, a natural grocery store, or a local farmer’s market. Fresh garlic is in season from July to early October. [1]
    • A head of garlic comprises 8-10 individual garlic cloves clustered together into a large clump.
  2. Before you begin preparing the garlic for roasting, set your oven for 400 °F (204 °C). [2]
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Use your fingers to break and peel off the outermost layers of the garlic peel. It’s okay if the thick shell-like layers of the garlic stay in place around the cloves; you just want to remove the loose, papery peel. [3]
    • Leave the head in 1 piece; do not break off individual garlic cloves.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Use a sharp kitchen knife to cut off about 1 ⁄ 4 – 1 ⁄ 2 inch (0.64–1.27 cm) of the tops of the individual cloves. Do this while all of the cloves are still attached together at the base of the garlic head. This will allow the garlic to cook through and allow the olive oil to soak through the roasting garlic. [4]
    • As always, put safety first when using kitchen knives. Always cut away from yourself and never touch the cutting edge of the blade.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Set your peeled and trimmed garlic head in 1 of the muffin indentations inside of a muffin pan. If you don’t have a muffin pan, you can also place the garlic in a baking pan. The baking pan won’t support the garlic on the sides, though, so it may roll over while cooking. [5]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Do this slowly, so that the oil soaks in to the garlic and doesn’t pool in the bottom of the muffin pan. After you’ve poured the olive oil over the garlic heads, use your fingers to rub the oil into the cut-open ends of the individual cloves. [6]
    • This will ensure that your roasted garlic is saturated with oil and rich in flavor.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Once you’ve rubbed in the olive oil, tear off a small piece of aluminum foil. Wrap this tightly around the garlic head to keep the oil inside while it’s roasting. [7]
  8. Place the muffin tin in the oven. Once the time has passed, check to see if the garlic is fully cooked. Using a hot pad, squeeze the garlic head. If it feels soft when squeezed, it’s fully cooked. [8]
    • If the garlic doesn’t feel soft, bake it for another 5-10 minutes.
    • To confirm that the garlic is fully cooked, stab through the center clove with a kitchen knife. The knife should slide in easily, with hardly any resistance.
  9. Once the garlic has cooled for a few minutes, unwrap and discard the foil. Use a small knife or spoon to pull the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins. They should pop out easily. If a few cloves do stick in their skins, use the spoon or knife to gently pry them loose. You can eat the roasted garlic cloves immediately if you’re hungry, or add the roasted cloves to a dish. [9]
    • Roasted garlic can be mashed and spread over a warm baguette, or mixed in with savory pasta dishes.
    • Save leftover roasted garlic in an airtight plastic container. The garlic will keep in your refrigerator for 3-4 days.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Sautéing Chopped Garlic

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Take an individual clove of garlic and set it flat on a cutting board. Take a chef’s knife or kitchen knife, and set the blade flat on the clove. Then, take the heel of your hand and bring it down firmly on the side of the knife blade, directly on top of the garlic. [10]
    • This will fracture the peel of the garlic and make it easy for you to remove. Use your fingers to pull the individual cloves off from the garlic head.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Use your fingers to pull the broken shell off of the garlic clove. Many cloves of garlic have more than 1 layer of peel. Make sure to remove all of the layers before attempting to slice the clove. [11]
    • If you have a garlic clove with a particularly difficult peel to remove, you may need to use the point of your kitchen knife to slide through the peel. This will make it easier to pull off.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Use your kitchen knife to make 4 or 5 cuts along the length of the clove. Then use either a chopping motion or a rocking motion (as when using a chef’s knife) to chop the garlic clove into fine chunks. Each piece of garlic should be smaller than 1 ⁄ 8 inch (0.32 cm) in size. [12]
    • You can chop the garlic as finely as you like, based on how coarse or fine you’d like the bits to be.
    • In technical kitchen terminology, chopping an onion refers to cutting it into relatively large pieces each about 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) in width and length. A diced onion is cut into pieces about half that size, while a minced onion is cut into very fine pieces, each about 1 ⁄ 8 inch (0.32 cm) in width and length. [13]
    • Discard the hard base end of the garlic clove. This part is fibrous, thick, and not good to eat.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    The bottom of the pan should be fully coated by the olive oil, but you don’t want a thick layer of oil to line the pan. You may need to adjust the amount of oil used based on the size of the pan and the amount of garlic you’re sautéing.
    • Use a small skillet (about 8 inches (20 cm)) when sautéing a head of garlic.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Use your kitchen knife to scrape the minced garlic from the cutting board into the frying pan. Set the pan on a burner, and turn the heat up to medium-high (about 6 on most ranges). The garlic will start to sizzle and cook within 30 seconds. [14]
    • Adding your chopped garlic to cold—not hot—oil will help the garlic cook properly and not burn.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    It’s easy to burn garlic when sautéing it. The finely chopped bits can quickly turn from golden-brown to black. Keep a close watch on the garlic while it’s sautéing, and use a wooden spoon or spatula to frequently stir and turn the garlic so all sides will cook evenly. [15] Garlic will sauté fully in less than 5 minutes.
    • A useful trick to keep from burning your sautéed garlic is to prepare every other part of a dish first, and sauté the garlic last. This way, you won’t accidentally leave the garlic on the stove for too long while you’re preoccupied preparing another part of your dinner.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Once the garlic has turned a golden-brown color and begins to smell sweet, take the frying pan off of the heat. Remove the garlic from the hot pan so it doesn’t continue to cook.
    • Sautéed garlic can be added to many pasta dishes, stir fries, soups, casseroles, or sauces. [16]
    • It’s difficult to keep leftover sautéed garlic. While the garlic will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, it will lose its crisp texture and become soggy.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Deep Frying the Garlic

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Use your fingers to pull apart the cloves—still in their skin—from the garlic heads. This should produce about 10-20 individual garlic cloves.
    • Each large garlic head should weigh about 3 ounces (85 g).
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    The hot water doesn’t need to be boiling, so you can use hot water from your kitchen tap. Once the cloves are covered in hot water, stir them in a circular motion with a wooden spoon. Stir constantly for 1 minute.
    • The agitation in hot water will loosen the garlic skins.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Use a hand to hold the cloves in the bowl, and pour the water down the drain. Then use your fingers to crack open the loosened skin of each clove. Peel the layers off of each individual clove.
    • You can discard the broken garlic peel segments. Also use a kitchen knife to slice off the stem ends of the garlic cloves.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    The level of oil should completely cover the cloves at the bottom of the pan. If you don’t have olive oil, you can substitute canola or grapeseed oil.
    • A medium-sized saucepan will work best for this step. Use a pan that’s about 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    Set the burner to about 4, and keep a close eye on the olive oil as it begins to simmer. The oil should form gentle bubbles, but should not begin to boil. If you have a liquid thermometer, dip it into the simmering oil. The temperature should read between 210–220 °F (99–104 °C).
    • If the oil begins to boil, turn down the heat and remove the pan from the stove for 2 minutes.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    You’ll be able to tell when the garlic has fully cooked, as it will lose its translucence and take on a more opaque, dark tone. The cooked cloves will also soften to the point that you can split 1 open by pressing on it with a spoon.
    • Once the garlic is opaque and fully cooked, remove the pan from the heat and let the oil cool.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Garlic
    If you’re not planning to use the cooked garlic in a meal right away, store it for later in the refrigerator. Seal the garlic in a plastic container, and it should keep in the fridge for about 1 week.
    • If you want to re-use the oil to cook more garlic at a later date, store it in a separate airtight container. The oil will also keep for roughly 1 week in your refrigerator.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What are the uses of garlic scapes?
    Helen Rennie
    Chef
    Helen Rennie is a chef based in Natick, Massachusetts. She is both the owner of a cooking school and the creator of Helen’s Kitchen, a YouTube channel where she teaches cooking techniques and food science to over 560K subscribers. Helen’s classes and videos focus on many topics, including knife skills, fish, meat, poultry, sauces, vegetables, beans, grains, pies, tarts, pastry, pizza, pasta, grilling, and more. She started her cooking career with an internship in Casablanca Restaurant, and eventually earned a teaching position at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. In 2005, she founded Helen's Kitchen, her culinary education business where she teaches people to cook. Since its founding, Helen’s Kitchen has taught 1,000+ students. Helen's cooking philosophy centers on finding creative ways to prepare local ingredients. She teaches cooking classes in her house in Natick with a strong focus on culinary techniques and food science. She received a BS in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University.
    Helen Rennie
    Chef
    Expert Answer
    You can use garlic scapes several ways, but my most preferred option is making a garlic scape pesto. You can do this by tossing the scapes into a food processor along with some basil, pine nuts, olive oil, and parmesan, and blend it all together until smooth. This is a quick and flavorful pasta dish that's also perfect for sandwiches or even as a dip. Another method is by simmering the scapes with some heavy cream to make a silky, garlic-infused sauce. Start by chopping the scapes into 1-inch pieces and simmering them in a small pan with cream and a pinch of salt. Cooking them slowly helps soften their slightly woody texture and brings out a mellow, aromatic garlic flavor without the sharp bite. Once the scapes are tender, blend the mixture into a smooth, creamy sauce. This recipe works great as a topping for pasta or vegetables—it’s garlicky but in a subtle, sweet way that doesn’t overwhelm the dish and your palette.
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  • Question
    What should I look for when buying garlic?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Look for bulbs that are firm, rounded and without blemishes. The papery skins should be clear of mildew or marks. Avoid buying bulbs that are sprouting already unless you want to plant them in the garden; they're not suitable for cooking when they are at this stage. There should also be a solid feel; if the bulb feels really light and hollow, the cloves are rotten.
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    How should I store garlic?
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Garlic bulbs need to be stored in a cool and dry place. If they are stored in damp or humid conditions, they will either disintegrate or sprout, making them unsuitable for cooking or eating. For more detailed help with storage, check out the wikiHow: How to Store Fresh Garlic .
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      Tips

      • If raw, minced garlic is brought into contact with an acidic food (e.g., lemon juice or vinegar), it will take on a blue-green hue. Some novice cooks are concerned by this change in color, but the garlic is still good to eat and its taste won’t be effected. [17]
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      Things You’ll Need

      Roasted Garlic

      • Kitchen or chef’s knife
      • Baking pan or muffin pan
      • Aluminum foil

      Sautéed Garlic

      • Kitchen or chef’s knife
      • Cutting board
      • Frying pan

      Deep Fried Garlic

      • Large plastic bowl
      • Kitchen or chef’s knife
      • Saucepan
      • Liquid thermometer

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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/roasted_garlic/
      2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-roast-garlic-in-the-oven-5341
      3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-roast-garlic-in-the-oven-5341
      4. ↑ http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/roasted_garlic/
      5. ↑ http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/roasted_garlic/
      6. ↑ http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/roasted_garlic/
      7. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-roast-garlic-in-the-oven-5341
      8. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-roast-garlic-in-the-oven-5341
      9. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-roast-garlic-in-the-oven-5341
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/KaUtS24RjAo?t=27s
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/KaUtS24RjAo?t=46s
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/KaUtS24RjAo?t=51s
      4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-understand-mince-chop-and-dice-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-188523
      5. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/garlic
      6. ↑ http://www.chatelaine.com/food/kitchen-tips/how-to-cook-with-garlic/
      7. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/garlic
      8. ↑ http://www.chatelaine.com/food/kitchen-tips/how-to-cook-with-garlic/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to make your own roasted garlic, peel the papery shell off of a head of garlic. Use a sharp kitchen knife to cut off about 1/4-1/2 of an inch off the tops of the head of garlic, exposing the cloves inside. Place the garlic cut-side up in a muffin pan and drizzle it with olive oil, pouring slowly so the oil doesn’t pool in the bottom of the muffin pan. Wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the head of garlic, then place the pan in the oven for about 35 minutes. The garlic is done when it feels soft when it’s squeezed. Keep reading to learn how to sauté chopped garlic.

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