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CookMatey

Cooking guide

How to Prepare Garlic

Peel, crush, mince and slice garlic the easy way, and know when to use each.

  • 3 min read
  • 5 steps
  • Easy
Bulbs of fresh garlic

Garlic adds big flavour for very little cost. How you cut it changes the taste: the finer you chop or crush it, the stronger the flavour. Garlic burns quickly, so add it to the pan after onions have softened and keep the heat moderate.

Step by step

  1. Step 1: Separate the cloves

    Press down on the bulb with the heel of your hand to break it apart into cloves.

  2. Step 2: Loosen the skin

    Lay a clove on the board, place the flat side of a large knife on top and press firmly. The skin will split and peel away easily.

  3. Step 3: Trim

    Cut off the hard root end. If there's a green shoot in the middle, remove it — it can taste bitter.

  4. Step 4: Mince or crush

    Slice thinly, then rock the knife back and forth over the slices until finely chopped. A garlic crusher works too.

  5. Step 5: Cook gently

    Fry minced garlic for about 30 seconds, until fragrant, before adding other ingredients.

    Tip: Burnt garlic tastes bitter. If it turns dark brown, it's best to start again.

Put it into practice