How to Peel & Mince Garlic

Name: How to Peel and Mince Garlic
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 4 min
Ingredients: 1 head of garlic

Not quite sure How to Peel and Mince Garlic? This foolproof method is the best way! Easily separate the cloves from the bulb, peel the skin off, and finely mince with a knife. Once you perfect this simple process you can use garlic in endless recipes.

Minced garlic is shown on a cutting board next to a knife.

Countless recipes call for the all-too common “minced garlic.”

If you’re new to the cooking world, this could stop you right in your tracks, maybe even scare you off from making the recipe entirely.

Well fret no more, my friend.

Because it is actually so very quick and easy to peel that pesky skin from garlic cloves and then mince them to your heart’s content.

And with just a few simple tips and tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be prepping those cloves like a pro in no time!

1. Separate the Cloves

Place the head of garlic with the root end on the cutting board. Press down with the palm of your hand until the cloves have loosened. You can also use two hands if you need a little extra force.

The full garlic bulb is pushed down with your hand.

If you’re having trouble getting the cloves to break apart, another method is to make a small incision with a knife between two cloves. Feel for the junction where two cloves meet, there should be a small indentation here, and then cut into the peel. Place your thumb into this spot and break apart the bulb into cloves.

2. Remove the ends.

Once you’ve separated the cloves, cut and remove both the root and tip end from one clove.

A knife is used to remove the tips of the garlic clove.

3. Crush the clove.

Place your knife on top of the clove with the blade facing away from you and crush the clove onto the cutting board.

Pressure is applied to the garlic clove with a knife.

4. Peel the skin from the clove.

The peel should have broken apart after crushing and should easily slide right off.

5. Mince the garlic clove.

Carefully cut the garlic into thin slices and then continue chopping until your desired size is reached. It’s easiest to do this with your dominant hand on the knife’s handle, your non-dominant hand on the top of the blade towards the tip, and then work in a fanning motion, re-grouping the garlic as you go.

The garlic clove is then finely chopped with a chefs knife.

Storage

To Prep-Ahead: It is best to use minced garlic immediately after preparing.
To Store: If needed, you can refrigerate for up to an hour. After this amount of time the garlic will begin to get bitter.
To Freeze: Store minced garlic in a tightly sealed freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months.

Garlic Press or Grater

There are also two other quick methods to mince garlic:

A garlic press – This method is preferred. It will give you perfect and uniformly minced garlic in the quickest amount of time.

A fine grater, or microplane – This works wonderful, too, but you do have to be extremely careful to not let your fingers get too close to the grate.

A spoon is used to hold the minced garlic.

FAQs

Is minced garlic the same as chopped garlic?

No. Chopped refers to a larger cut, whereas minced is very fine.

How much minced garlic equals one clove?

One clove of garlic generally equates to ¾ teaspoon of minced garlic.

How long does minced garlic last?

Freshly minced garlic is best used within an hour. It can also be frozen for future use.

Expert Tips and Tricks

Peel with ease. Crushing the clove with the side of the knife breaks the peel and makes it easier to remove.
Use two hands. Stabilize the end of your knife with your non-dominant hand for better control of the knife.
Fan-shaped motion. Move the knife back and forth as you cut until you get the desired size.
Prep just what you need. As garlic sits in the refrigerator it will become bitter.
Speed it up. Squeeze peeled garlic cloves through a garlic press to save time.

Carefully holding the knife, the garlic is minced.

5 from 1 vote

How to Peel and Mince Garlic

This foolproof method for How to Peel and Mince Garlic is the best way! Once you perfect this simple process you can use garlic in endless recipes.

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Course Spice

Cuisine American

Keyword cooking basics, garlic, how to

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 4 minutes

Servings 15 cloves

Calories 1 kcal

London Brazil

Ingredients

1 head of garlic

Instructions

Place the head of garlic with the root end on the cutting board. Press down with the palm of your hand until the cloves have loosened.
If you’re having trouble getting the cloves to break apart, another method is to make a small incision with a knife between two cloves. Feel for the junction where two cloves meet, there should be a small indentation here, and then cut into the peel. Place your thumb into this spot and break apart the bulb into cloves.
Once you’ve separated the cloves, cut and remove both the root and tip end from one clove.
Place your knife on top of the clove with the blade facing away from you and crush the clove onto the cutting board. The peel should have broken apart and should now easily slide right off.
Carefully cut the garlic into thin slices and then continue chopping until your desired size is reached. It’s easiest to do this with your dominant hand on the knife’s handle, your non-dominant hand on the top of the blade towards the tip, and then work in a fanning motion, re-grouping the garlic as you go.
It’s best to use minced garlic immediately but it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to an hour. Much longer than that and it will start to take on a pretty bitter taste.