Clove
A clove is one segment of a garlic bulb. Here is how big a clove is, how much minced garlic it gives, and what to do when sizes vary.
Also called Garlic clove, Cloves.
A clove is one of the segments that make up a head (bulb) of garlic. Each clove has its own papery skin. A typical head holds 10 to 15 cloves. The word also names a dried spice, the flower bud of the clove tree, but when a recipe gives a number of cloves next to garlic, it means the segments.
How to do it
- Pull a clove off the head.
- Cut off the hard root end.
- Lay the flat side of a knife on the clove and press down with the heel of your hand. The skin cracks and slides off.
- Cut out any green shoot in the middle if you want a milder taste.
- Slice, mince or crush as the recipe says.
How to use it
Cloves vary a lot. The ones on the outside of a head are big and the inner ones can be tiny. As a rough guide:
| One clove | Amount |
|---|---|
| Medium clove | about 4 to 5 g |
| Minced | about ½ to 1 teaspoon |
| Garlic powder swap | about ⅛ teaspoon |
If your cloves are very small, count two as one. If you have a head with only a few huge cloves, use fewer.
How you cut the clove changes the taste as much as how many you use. A whole smashed clove gives a mild, sweet flavor. A minced or crushed clove is much stronger, because cutting breaks more cells and releases the sharp compounds.
How to store it
Keep whole heads at room temperature in a dry, airy place, out of the fridge, for up to a few months. Once you break a head open, use the cloves within about 10 days. Peeled cloves keep about a week in a closed container in the fridge. Do not keep raw garlic in oil at room temperature, because of the risk of botulism.
Common mistakes
- Burning minced garlic. It goes from golden to bitter in seconds over high heat. Add it after onions have softened, and cook only until fragrant.
- Confusing a clove with a head. "2 cloves" is two segments, not two bulbs.
In recipes
You will see "2 garlic cloves, minced", "3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced" and "1 clove, crushed". "A fat clove" means a large one. Elephant garlic cloves are much larger and milder than regular ones.
Related terms
- HeadA head is a whole, compact vegetable such as garlic, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower or broccoli. Here is how big one usually is and how to cut it.
- MinceTo mince is to cut food into the smallest pieces you can, finer than chopped, so garlic, ginger, shallots or herbs melt into a dish with no chunks.
- CrushTo crush is to break food apart with pressure instead of a clean cut, as with garlic under a knife blade or spices in a mortar, to release more flavor.
- SmashTo smash is to flatten or break food with a sharp blow or firm press, as with garlic under a knife, cucumbers for salad, boiled potatoes or burger patties.
- PeelTo peel is to remove the skin or rind from fruit and vegetables with a peeler, a knife, your fingers or a quick blanch, keeping as much flesh as you can.