How Much Minced Garlic is in a Clove?

Garlic is a common ingredient that is used in a wide variety of recipes. However, the measurements used for adding it could vary from one recipe to the next. While some may use precise measurements by the teaspoon or larger, others call for a certain number of cloves.

If you are using fresh garlic cloves, how do you know how many cloves will produce a given amount of minced garlic? Conversely, if you are using pre-minced garlic, how do you know how much to use for a recipe that refers to cloves? This is your guide to using the proper amount of garlic in recipes.

Converting From Cloves to Minced Garlic

The amount of minced garlic that a clove will yield depends on the size of the clove. A small clove will produce about ½ teaspoon, a medium-sized clove will produce about one teaspoon, and a large clove will produce about 1 ½ teaspoons. The size of the cloves will depend on the size of the bulb, and this will depend on your preferences and what is available at the store that day.

Converting From Minced Garlic to Cloves

Sometimes, a recipe will call for cloves rather than a specific amount of minced garlic, then ask you to mince the cloves during preparation. If you are using prepared garlic, such as minced garlic in a jar or fresh garlic you have minced beforehand, you may be lost about exactly how much you should use.

Reversing the above conversions can help you determine how much to use. Most bulbs you will see at the store are of the medium-sized variety, and this is the size that many recipes will assume you are using. For this reason, it is best to use one teaspoon of minced garlic in substitution for one clove.

For reference, one medium clove is also equal to:

• Two teaspoons chopped garlic (rather than minced)
• One teaspoon garlic flakes or garlic juice
• ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Conclusion

Garlic is a common ingredient in many dishes for good reason. It has potential health benefits, such as:

• Boosting the immune system
• Lowering calorie counts
• Providing essential vitamins and minerals
• Reducing blood pressure
• Lowering the risk of heart disease
• Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia
• Improving bone health

It can also be used in a variety of ways. From seasonings for meat and vegetables to use in pastas, aiolis, and beyond, this versatile herb offers a plethora of ways to include it in your diet.

Knowing how many cloves you need to mince will help you to prepare recipes properly. Guessing will lead to culinary disaster – you will either have a dish that is under-seasoned or even bland, or you will have too much garlic and end up wasting it. Avoid both of these scenarios in your kitchen by learning how to measure out your garlic properly.