Garlic quickly becomes a must-have in your kitchen and soon you’ll find it becomes a favorite of yours too.
Since we use garlic cloves, it may be confusing or challenging to know how many are in a whole head owing to variations in the heads.
We’re here to set the record straight if you’re unsure or want to learn more.
So, how many cloves are in a head of garlic?
A garlic head (or bulb) has ten to twelve cloves.
The heads may vary in size and number of cloves, which is normal and natural.
When using garlic, therefore, understand how to execute the shift, variations, and measurements.
This post will walk you through the many aspects of garlic concerning the number of cloves in a head.
It will also show you how to measure garlic and use the cloves in your dish.
Continue reading for more information.
Cloves in a garlic head
The garlic clove is a section of its bulb.
Each garlic bulb composes of cloves covered in thin papery skin.
The cloves are what we use when cooking with garlic.
Peel away the garlic bulb’s skin to get to the cloves.
While using garlic in recipes, understand that one clove may not be equal to another.
The cloves can vary in size (this is typical).
The number of cloves in a head of garlic also varies.
It’s common to have ten to twelve cloves in a head, with other natural variations such as size and shape.
How to use garlic cloves in your cooking
You can use garlic in its various states to cook.
You may chop the cloves, mash them, use in minced form, or grate them.
It’s critical to measure precisely the correct quantity for your recipe so that the food comes out exactly how you want.
In recipes, use garlic in the specified amounts of cloves or bulbs and measurements.
Use the recommended measuring tools/ utensils such as standard teaspoons, tablespoons, and cups to measure accurately.
You may customize the garlic’s quantity further to your liking or how you want to adjust your dish’s taste.
This will necessitate tasting as you go.
How do I measure garlic in the recipe?
In standard uses, you should measure garlic in tablespoons and teaspoons, in chopped or minced form.
One clove of minced garlic equals 1/2 to 1 teaspoon. 1 teaspoon is 1/3 of a tablespoon.
Therefore, 1 medium garlic clove equals 1/6 – 1/3 of a tablespoon.
When measuring garlic, use standard teaspoons and tablespoons.
The US teaspoons and tablespoons are popular kitchen utensils standardized for precise measurements.
One teaspoon is 5 ml, 1/3 tablespoon, and 1/48 cup.
A tablespoon is 15 ml, 3 teaspoons, 0.5 fluid ounces, and 1/16 cup.
Measure smaller garlic amounts using teaspoons for more accuracy and convenience while larger volumes using tablespoons and cups.
How do I convert garlic cloves into tablespoons and teaspoons?
To convert garlic cloves into tablespoons and teaspoons, use the following conversions:
- 1 clove of garlic = 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (1 clove = 1/6 – 1/3 tablespoon)
- 2 cloves = 1 – 2 teaspoons
- 4 cloves = 3 teaspoons (1 tablespoon)
- 5 cloves = 3 – 5 teaspoons
- 8 cloves = 4 – 7 teaspoons
- 10 cloves = 8 – 10 teaspoons
- 12 cloves (a head of garlic) = 10 – 12 teaspoons (4 tablespoons)
How to use a cup for garlic measurements
Recipes may sometimes require a large amount of garlic, meaning you’ll need many heads.
For these large garlic quantities, use a standard cup for measuring.
A popular US kitchen cup is a standardized cup of measurement.
One US cup is 236 ml, equal to 0.5 pints, 8 fluid ounces, 16 tablespoons, and 48 teaspoons.
This means that 1 head of garlic (12 cloves) will be 1/4 cup since 1 head = 4 tablespoons.
Half a cup will contain 8 tablespoons (24 teaspoons of garlic), 1/3 cup will have 16 teaspoons, while a full cup will have 48 teaspoons.
When measuring in cups, use the standard cup with a flat bottom.
Level the garlic with a knife or spatula until it’s flat with the top of the cup or the required measurement.
Read the cup horizontally from left to right while placed on a flat surface.
How much is a clove of garlic in grams?
A clove of garlic weighs between 3 and 7 grams.
The cloves vary in size and can be on the larger or smaller side in weight but typically fall in this range.
Some recipes may call for using garlic by weight, and precision will still be ideal for perfection.
To measure precise garlic weight, use an accurate digital kitchen scale (to within 1 gram).
Place the garlic cloves on the scale one at a time to accurately measure in grams.
You can also measure the weights of chopped and minced garlic per recipe.
In general:
- 1 garlic clove = 4 grams
- 3 cloves = 12 grams
- 5 cloves = 20 grams
- 1 head = 48 grams
How to prepare the cloves for your recipe
Making tiny pieces is the best way of incorporating garlic cloves into your recipe.
To do this, use a knife, grater, garlic press, or food processor.
You can either chop, mince, grate or press the garlic.
When chopping garlic (with a knife), peel the cloves, then finely chop them by cutting in different directions.
To get uniform pieces, you can first slice the garlic cloves, then stack and chop them in the other direction.
If you’re using a food processor, put the garlic cloves in the food processor and pulse until chopped to the desired consistency.
For finer garlic pieces, mince or make a paste.
You can also grate the garlic using a Microplane grater, then use a garlic press to get a paste-like consistency.
Add garlic paste to sauces and marinades or use it as a spread, apart from using it directly in cooking.
When should I add garlic during cooking?
Once you’ve prepared and measured your garlic correctly, add it to the recipe as indicated.
Generally, and when not stated in the recipe, the best time to add garlic is at the beginning of your cooking.
This allows the garlic to infuse its flavors into the dish as it cooks.
Adding garlic towards the end of cooking will only impart a strong flavor and aroma, which may not be desirable in some dishes.
Use your judgment at other times when the recipe doesn’t specify when to add the garlic.
For instance, if you’re making soup, stew, or foods that cook for long, add garlic at the beginning so that its flavor has time to infuse into the dish.
If you’re making salads, foods that take short durations to cook, or other dishes where you don’t want the garlic flavor to be too strong, add it towards the end of cooking.
How should I store garlic?
There are various ways in which you can store garlic.
You can keep it whole in a cool, dry place or peel the cloves and store them in a jar filled with olive oil.
The garlic will last longer if you store it this way.
You can also chop the garlic and store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
The garlic will last for about a week in the fridge.
If you want to store garlic for longer, freeze it.
To freeze garlic successfully, cut it, then wrap it in a freezer bag.
The garlic will last up to six months when stored in this way.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How much is a clove of garlic in powder?
A clove of garlic is equivalent to 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Garlic spices are available in other forms, such as salt and granulated garlic.
How much is a clove of garlic in minced form?
One garlic clove is equivalent to 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of minced garlic.
You can have fresh minced garlic or jarred.
Most often, the jarred minced garlic is used as a recipe shortcut.
Is it better to use fresh or jarred garlic?
Using fresh or jarred garlic will depend on your preference and how you want the dish to taste.
Fresh garlic has a stronger flavor than jarred.
If you want a milder garlic flavor, then go for jarred.
How much is a clove of garlic in garlic salt?
A garlic clove is equivalent to 1/4 -1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt.
Garlic salt is a seasoning made of salt and garlic powder.
You can use it as a flavor enhancer in your recipes.
Which is the most suitable equipment for measuring garlic?
The best measuring equipment for garlic depends on the form you’re using and the amount you need to measure.
Teaspoons are suitable for tiny amounts of chopped or minced garlic, while tablespoons, standard cups, or graduated containers suit large quantities.
How do I handle different size garlic heads in my recipe?
The greatest approach to deal with various size garlic heads in a recipe is to chop them all evenly and precisely measure out the correct amounts for use in the meal.
Estimating might not give you the best results.
However, if you’re an expert in garlic, you may estimate but slightly lessen the amounts of larger cloves and bulbs while increasing the smaller cloves.
Conclusion
Garlic is a versatile ingredient; adequate knowledge about it will help you make better food.
While preparing your meal, use the precise number of cloves and measurements in the recipe to ensure that your dish turns out correctly.
Experiment with garlic in new and creative ways to add flavor to your meals, and enjoy the allure of this ingredient.
Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
Equipment
- 2 large bowls
- 1 oven
- 1 saucepan
- 1 knife
- 1 cutting board
- 1 spoon
Ingredients
- 1/3 pound beef steaks
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon rosemary leaves minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed
- 1 teaspoon thyme dried
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika smoked
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard dry
- Pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 cup parsley finely chopped
- 1/4 cup chives finely chopped
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Step 1: Preparing the Steak Bites
- To begin, place your steaks in a large bowl and add the crushed red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, and dry mustard.
- Mix well to coat both sides of each steak evenly.
- Let sit for 10 minutes before moving on to step 2.
- In another large bowl, mix together the butter, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Stir until everything is combined, making sure the garlic is completely coated in the mixture.
- Add the steaks to the marinade and flip them over to coat both sides with the mixture.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 15 minutes.
- Don’t forget to turn the steaks halfway through so that they’re evenly coated.
- Step 2: Cooking the Steak Bites
- Once the steaks have finished marinating, it’s time to put them in the oven.
- Set the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the steaks for 12 to 15 minutes per side.
- When done, remove them from the oven and set aside to cool down.
- Step 3: Creating the Garlic Butter Sauce
- While the steaks are cooling down, prepare the garlic butter sauce by melting the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Once melted, add the garlic and stir constantly for one minute.
- Next, add the rosemary, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, thyme, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and dry mustard.
- Stir until combined.
- Next, add the lemon juice and stir again until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Add the cayenne pepper, parsley, and chives and stir until everything is mixed thoroughly.
- Turn off the heat and pour the sauce into a bowl to cool down.
- Step 4: Assembling the Steak Bites
- After the steaks have cooled down, it’s time to assemble the garlic butter steak bites.
- Using a sharp knife, cut each steak into four equal pieces.
- Then, using a spoon, scoop out the center of each piece to create a cavity.
- On a cutting board, spread the cooled garlic butter sauce across the bottom of a large cast iron skillet.
- Make sure to cover the entire surface area of the skillet.
- Place the steaks into the skillet and fill the cavities with the parsley, chives, and grated parmesan cheese.
- Once the ingredients are placed, carefully pour the remaining sauce over the top and cook the garlic butter steak bites in the oven for five minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm.
Video
Nutrition
I have a true passion for cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, and I have been creating and perfecting recipes for friends and family for years.
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