According to the Mayo Clinic, a small amount of garlic each day can help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Other studies show that garlic helps to counteract anything from the common cold to acne to high blood pressure. In order to get these benefits from garlic, you first need to know how to cook with it.
Cooking with garlic is easy, once you know a few basic techniques. When selecting garlic at the grocery store, look for garlic that is plump and firm, not soft and shriveled. Many recipes call for garlic to be minced. Mincing garlic only takes a few minutes and adds heaps of flavor and nutrients to any meal. Crushing or mincing the garlic releases more essential oils than simply chopping it up. To mince garlic, follow these simple steps.
- Free the cloves from the garlic by pressing the palm of your hand down on the head of the garlic. You will need to press pretty hard to get the cloves to loosen up.
- Peel the cloves. In order to peel the cloves, first press the side of your knife down on the clove to loosen the skin. Once the skin is loose, you can use the knife or your fingers to peel the excess skin from the clove.
- If you are using a knife to mince the garlic, press the side of the knife against the whole, peeled clove to soften it. You can then use the knife to chop the clove into very fine pieces.
- If you have purchased a garlic press, simply place the whole, peeled clove into the press and give it a squeeze. You will have nice, minced garlic to use in any recipe. (You can purchase a garlic press for about $10 from any local department or cooking store.)
Garlic equivalents are as follows:
- 1 small garlic clove equals 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic equals 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 medium garlic clove equals 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 large garlic clove equals 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 extra large garlic clove equals 1 tablespoon minced garlic
Keep those measurements in mind when you are cooking with garlic at home. Knowing garlic equivalents will help you purchase exactly what you need at the grocery store.
To store your whole garlic, keep it in a dry, cool place, such as a cupboard or pantry. If the garlic starts to sprout, you can use the sprouts for salads. To store your fresh, minced garlic, you can put it in a zip loc freezer bag and store it in the freezer.
Jennifer Brister - I am a freelance writer currently located in Northeast Louisiana. My interests include music, love and theoretical physics. I have been ...
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