How To Mince Garlic

Minced garlic is a staple in so many recipes. Learn how to peel, slice, and mince garlic in just a few steps with this easy tutorial!  

Why We Love Using Minced Garlic

Garlic is one of those cooking ingredients that even a small amount adds so much flavor. When I see a recipe that calls for minced garlic, I know it’s going to taste amazing!

Cutting it boosts the flavor and aroma. The more you chop, the more pungent and aromatic a clove becomes. That’s why when using minced garlic, a little really can go a long way.

There are several ways you can learn how to mince garlic. The technique I use the most is mincing it with a chef’s knife. I find it’s easy, the cleanup is minimal, and I have more control over how fine the mince is.

You may be tempted to use the store-bought kind in jars, and while that’s ok in a pinch, I encourage you to try mincing it raw. Knowing how to mince garlic takes just a few minutes of work and is so worth it. The flavor you’ll get is so much bolder than the jarred variety! 

What You’ll Need to Mince Garlic

I like to keep things simple by just using a kitchen knife to mince my cloves on a sturdy cutting board.

How to Mince Garlic

1. Remove the outer skin. Peel away the outer skin from the bulb and separate it into individual cloves.
2. Remove skin from cloves. The skin on a garlic clove is thin and papery, so the easiest way to remove it is to place the flat side of your knife on top of the clove and then with the palm of your hand, the free hand, firmly press down on the top of the blade to crush it. The clove will smash open, and the skin will come right off. Cut off the darker tip (root end) of the clove.
3. Thinly slice and mince. Cut the clove lengthwise into thin slices and then chop with the knife until it is minced. I find it’s often easiest to rock the knife over the pieces on the board using the palm of my non-chopping hand to gently hold the top of the knife in place.

Alternate Methods 

There are a few ways that you can mince garlic in addition to using the knife method:

• Garlic press. This kitchen tool makes it easy to mince. The result will be finer and damper than if you use a knife.
• Microplane or small holes on your box grater. Grated is similar to minced, but it will be stronger in flavor and have more of a wet consistency like paste.
• Food processor. For larger batches, toss the peeled cloves in a food processor and mince them up in no time!
• Mortar and pestle. This will typically result in crushed garlic, but it works too.

Ratio of Minced Garlic to Cloves

Cloves of garlic come in many sizes, so it depends. A good rule of thumb is that generally 1 clove = 1 teaspoon of minced garlic. If the clove is really small, then you might only need ½ teaspoon. 

How Much Garlic Powder Equals a Clove

I’m a huge cheerleader of fresh garlic but garlic powder does have its time and place. The conversion is, 1 clove = 1/4 tsp of garlic powder.  

Tips For Cooking With Garlic

• Mince right before using. The longer minced garlic sits, the less potent it will become. If you don’t use it within an hour, put it in the fridge to help preserve some of the flavors.
• Cut off the green tip. If you see a green tip starting to grow out of the top of your garlic bulb, you can still use it. Simply cut off the tip and use it as normal.
• It can burn easily and turn bitter. I suggest always adding garlic near the end of sautéing your other vegetables.

Ways To Use It

Outside of soups, stews, and stir-fries, I have tons of amazing recipes that use minced garlic. Here are some of my favorites for you to try:

• Garlic Herb Butter
• Garlic White Pizza Sauce
• Asian Meatballs
• Garlic Aioli 

Storage

You can store minced garlic in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 – 2 days. If you want to prepare a larger batch to use later, it also stores beautifully in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to mince a big batch and then freeze in an ice cube tray. Then you can easily pop out a frozen cube of garlic whenever you need it!

More Recipes That Use Minced Garlic

• Bruschetta – A fresh tomato and basil mixture that’s a summertime favorite.
• Homemade Meatballs – A comfort meal or popular appetizer.
• Easy Garlic Knots – With a buttery parmesan topping served with marinara.
• Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes – An easy way to take your mashed potatoes up a notch.
• Restaurant Style Salsa – Easily made in the blender!

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