What is a garlic head? What is a head of garlic? That is what we are going to discuss in this garlic care guide.
SUMMARY
What is a Head of Garlic
The complete garlic bulb is referred to as a “head” or “knob.” Clove is a small, isolated part of a garlic head.
Garlic is a pungently odoriferous allium family member (like onions and leeks). Because of its strong flavor, garlic is more commonly used as a spice or flavoring than as a vegetable.
Garlic has huge papery heads that grow in clusters. Following directions incorrectly results in greatly overgarlicing things, which is a rookie mistake.
Read also: WHAT DOES BLACK GARLIC TASTE LIKE?
Keep in mind that the enormous bulb of garlic you purchase is NOT a single clove. A “head” or “knob” is the full garlic bulb. Clove is a small, isolated part of a garlic head.
Garlic Storage
If you store fresh garlic heads in a cool, dark spot, they will last a long time. They should not be kept in the fridge because they will sprout and become bitter.
They can be frozen without harm, or just kept in a dark, dry place away from moisture. Garlic braids should be hung to avoid the cloves being crushed.
The garlic must be dried or processed if you wish to preserve the cloves individually and be ready to use.
Crush or chop prepared garlic with a little water in a food processor, then freeze in ice cube trays so you can remove cubes as needed. Otherwise, it can be frozen whole or in olive oil.
Read also: WHAT DOES A GARLIC CLOVE LOOK LIKE?
Never leave the garlic in olive oil to sit on the counter or store it at room temperature. Garlic is frequently contaminated with botulism spores, which are nearly impossible to remove because they are produced in the ground.
These bacteria are innocuous in their natural state, but because they are anaerobic bacteria, they will multiply if the conditions are “appropriate”—for example, submerged in oil and held at room temperature.
Because spores cannot grow in the cold, keep the garlic frozen or refrigerated, or better yet, store it in vodka, wine, or vinegar instead of oil.
Garlic preparation
Countless chefs have struggled to peel a garlic clove from the bulb, ending up with hard, astringent garlic juice on their hands as they fumble with the fine, paper-like skin.
The quickest way to get the clove out of the bulb is to hold it in your hand and gently pierce it in the center with a paring knife, pulling the clove out from the skin as you go.
In contrast, prospective cooks are taught to grip the top (or point) of the clove and press the coarse base against a hard surface (such as a cutting board) until the paper “cracks,” allowing it to be easily peeled from the clove.
The greater the flavor of fresh garlic, the finer you cut or crush it, the better. This is due to the fact that the flavor components are released when cell walls are broken.
It’s typically crushed using the side of a knife (which also helps with peeling) or finely minced and used to season other dishes, particularly Italian and French ones.
You may also use a garlic press or pound the garlic in a pestle and mortar with a pinch of salt to help reduce it to a smooth pulp.
Find also: WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARLIC
With a considerably milder result, it can also be utilized in slivers or entire cloves. Roasting whole cloves change the flavor drastically, becoming sweeter and less aromatic as they cook.
Buying garlic pre-crushed or prechopped in a jar is one way to sidestep the difficulty of determining how much garlic to use in a dish and how to prepare it without spoiling a chopping board or stinking up the kitchen.
The garlic aroma cannot penetrate the glass, so this sort of preprepared garlic lasts for a long time in the fridge or freezer.
Because the “garliciness” diminishes over time, it is softer and generally sweeter than fresh garlic.
The garlic smell can be removed by putting your hands in the water and rubbing them on any stainless steel utensil.
Measurements
When used in cooking, garlic is frequently measured in “cloves”. A word of caution, though: the weight of an average clove can vary from 1 gram (0.035 oz) to 6 grams (0.21 oz) depending on where you are in the world, not to mention the taste differences. It’s also worth thinking about where the recipe came from.
Find also: WHAT ARE GARLIC SUPPLEMENTS GOOD FOR?
Although one clove of fresh garlic can easily weigh up to 6 grams (0.21 oz) in stores, pre-packaged minced garlic manufacturers in North America consider 2.5 grams (0.088 oz) per clove. Two garlic cloves are contained in one teaspoon of minced garlic.
Garlic-infused recipes
Garlic is used in many recipes, but the ones listed below have garlic as a key ingredient. For more garlic recipes, click the “What Links Here?” tab on the sidebar.
