How to Mince Garlic

Don’t Mince Words…Mince Garlic.

In nearly every culture and cuisine, you’ll find recipes that rely on the flavorful punch of garlic to give them a zesty zip or mellow richness. Minced garlic is especially common, since many people love the taste of garlic but aren’t as keen about biting into a whole clove. So, what is minced garlic? Minced garlic refers to garlic that’s been diced very finely, to the point where it’s not quite a paste, but could become so with a little more prep. In cooking, minced garlic will give a recipe plenty of flavor, but blends into the background texturally. Knowing how to mince a garlic clove will serve you well the next time you’re cooking, and it’s as easy as 1-2-3.

How to Mince Garlic

1. First, break off the cloves from your head of garlic and separate them from any loose, papery skin.
2. To peel the cloves, rest the flat of a chef’s knife on top of them and press firmly on the flat of the knife with your hand to slightly crush the clove. Then, peel the garlic with your fingers – the papery skin should easily come away.
3. Slice off the root end of the clove, then finely chop the garlic until it’s minced, or until it reaches your desired size.

If you’re mincing multiple cloves, peel all of them and then mince together.

How Much Minced Garlic is in a Clove?

1 garlic clove will become about ½ teaspoon of minced garlic. 6 cloves will equal about 1 tablespoon of minced garlic.

Why Should I Mince My Own Garlic?

It’s easy to find pre-minced garlic in-store, and for many recipes, it will work just fine. But there’s a flavorful difference between jarred minced garlic and freshly minced garlic. Similar to its cousin, the onion, garlic is bursting with flavorful chemical compounds that change over time after mincing (and the garlic’s cells have been exposed to air). If you’re making a fresh pasta sauce or a flavorful pesto, freshly minced garlic will give your finished dish a different character than the jarred stuff.

Put Your Garlic Mincing Skills to the Test & Find More Tips

Why not practice your minced garlic mastery with our recipes? Check out meal planning selections, or browse 101 simple cooking tips to further build your skills in the kitchen.