How to Peel and Cut Garlic (Minced, Sliced, Crushed)

Learn how to peel and cut garlic with these super easy techniques that anyone can apply for maximum garlicky flavor in a variety of dishes!

close up image of 3 garlic knobs and a knife.

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How to Peel and Cut Garlic (Minced, Sliced, Crushed)

Garlic is a common ingredient found in the majority of savory recipes. The fragrant aroma and unique taste add sweet, savory flavor, and lots of depth. A little goes a long way to transform any ordinary meal into a truly mouthwatering experience! Similar to onions, it’s an ingredient I just can’t do without!

You may wonder what all the fuss is about if you’re used to buying pre-minced garlic. It may be convenient to use store-bought minced, sliced, and crushed garlic. However, there’s no comparison to using freshly prepared garlic in your butter, pasta, bread, steak bites, and so much more!

How to Peel Garlic

Loosen the garlic bulb: Place the garlic bulb on a cutting board with the roots facing down. Press down using the palm of your hand while gently rocking the bulb forward and back.
Separate the cloves: Separate the loosened garlic cloves with your fingers.
Trim: Take as many garlic cloves as you need for the recipe you’re following. Trim off the root ends and the tips with a sharp stainless steel chef’s knife.
Peel: Place a garlic clove under the flat side of your knife with the sharp blade edge turned away from your body. Give the flat top of the knife a whack with your other hand. This will loosen the papery skin, which you can then peel away and discard.
Repeat: Continue peeling cloves for as many as you need. Lightly smashing the garlic clove also releases a lot of the garlic flavor and oils!

How to Cut Garlic

Slice: To slice your garlic, simply slice the garlic clove lengthwise in thin slices of your desired size. Thinly sliced garlic is great for sauteing with as it won’t easily burn like finely minced garlic can.
Mince: Having sliced your garlic, you now have the option to mince it. For a very fine mince, I recommend using a garlic press. Place the sliced garlic into the garlic press and press it down through the holes of the press.
If your knife skills are up to it, you can mince your garlic from slices by holding the tip of the knife with one hand. Then, rock the blade back and forth until the garlic is in small pieces.
Crush: To crush garlic, apply the same technique used to prepare the cloves for peeling. You can apply more force when whacking the knife after having first removed the skin.

top down image of a cast iron skillet with minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes.

How to Cook with Garlic

Minced garlic can burn easily on the stovetop. When sautéing vegetables in a frying pan, soften the vegetables in oil first. Then, add the minced garlic.

Keep the garlic moving in the pan, especially if cooking on medium-high to high heat. It burns quickly when left to sit still.

Another way to cook with garlic without any possibility of it burning is by using garlic-infused oil.

To make your own garlic oil, simply heat a generous amount of oil over low heat. Then, add slightly crushed whole peeled garlic cloves. Allow the cloves to brown and caramelize. All that delicious garlic oil and flavor will seep into the oil, which you can now use to cook your stir fry or brown ground beef.

Serving Suggestions

Raw cut garlic can be added to pesto, sauces, and garlic butter. These all make for delicious condiments to many main meals.

I love adding freshly minced or chopped garlic to homemade steak marinade and chicken marinade.

Add your freshly prepared garlic to your pizza base, Olive Oil Bread Dip, Slow Cooker Green Beans, and Italian Sausage Soup.

Have fun experimenting with using garlic in all your favorite savory recipes. The options are endless!

How to Store Peeled and Cut Garlic

Garlic is best used right away. However, to prepare in advance, you can store peeled and cut garlic in an airtight container in the fridge for up to six hours. Any longer than that, and it’s likely to become bitter!

Freeze cut or minced garlic for up to three months. I like to freeze it in an ice cube tray before transferring it to an airtight container. Then, you can pull out individual cubes for quick portions!

Quick Tips

Uncut garlic cloves do not have an aroma. If your garlic gives off a smell before cutting it, it likely has damaged or brown spots.
To save time, you can use a zester to mince your garlic. However, the garlic will resemble more of a paste than defined minced pieces.
I recommend only mincing your garlic just before you add it to your dish. Minced garlic can become more potent when left for a while, which can make the flavor somewhat overpowering in the dish.

Did you find this guide on how to cut garlic helpful? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!