Head
A 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.
Also called Heads, Head of garlic, Bulb of garlic.
A head is one whole vegetable that grows as a tight, round mass of leaves, buds or cloves. Recipes use it for garlic, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, radicchio, celery root and fennel. In the UK a head of garlic is often called a bulb. Sizes vary, so a recipe that also gives a weight is easier to follow.
How to do it
For cabbage, lettuce and radicchio:
- Pull off any damaged outer leaves.
- Cut the head in half through the stem, then into quarters.
- Cut out the hard core at an angle.
- Slice or shred the leaves.
For cauliflower and broccoli, turn the head upside down and cut the florets away from the main stem. Peel and slice the stem too. It is sweet and tender inside.
For garlic, press down on the head with the heel of your hand to break it into cloves. To roast a whole head, cut the top off to expose the cloves, drizzle with oil, wrap in foil and roast at 200°C (400°F) for 35 to 45 minutes, until soft.
How to use it
These are typical sizes in shops:
| One head of | Rough weight | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Garlic | 40 to 60 g | 10 to 15 cloves |
| Iceberg or romaine lettuce | 400 to 600 g | 6 to 10 cups torn leaves |
| Green or red cabbage | 900 g to 1.4 kg (2 to 3 lb) | 8 to 12 cups shredded |
| Cauliflower | 600 g to 1 kg | 4 to 6 cups florets |
| Broccoli | 300 to 500 g | 3 to 4 cups florets |
When a recipe says "1 small head", aim for the low end of the range.
How to store it
Keep lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli whole and wrapped in the fridge. Cabbage keeps for weeks, lettuce and broccoli for a few days. Keep garlic heads dry and at room temperature.
Common mistakes
- Using a whole head of garlic when the recipe meant a clove. Read twice: "1 head" and "1 clove" are very different.
- Washing a head of lettuce and storing it wet. Dry it before it goes into the fridge.
In recipes
You will see "1 head garlic, cloves peeled", "½ head red cabbage, finely shredded" and "1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets". A bunch is different: it is several loose stems tied together.
Related terms
- CloveA 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.
- CoreTo core is to cut out the tough center of a fruit or vegetable, such as the seeds of an apple, the stem of a tomato or the heart of a cabbage.
- BunchA bunch is fresh herbs or vegetables sold tied together. Sizes vary from shop to shop, so here is roughly how much a recipe means by one.
- StalkIn most recipes a stalk of celery means one rib, not the whole bunch. Here is what stalk means for celery, lemongrass, rhubarb and broccoli.
- ShredTo shred is to cut, grate or pull food into long, thin strips, as with cabbage for slaw, cheese on a coarse grater or slow-cooked meat pulled with forks.