Measuring and converting minced, fresh and chopped garlic to equal parts. This guide is about how much garlic to use for different measurements.
I find most recipes that include garlic. Usually state the amount of garlic in cloves. This is easy to figure unless the only garlic you have is already minced.
On the other side if a recipe asks for a certain amount of minced garlic. Then you need to figure out how many fresh cloves to use. Same goes for chopped or even powder garlic.
Here is an easy guide to help measure and prepare garlic.
How Much Minced Garlic Equals One Clove?
A good chart below gives the various amounts of garlic and what it is equal to. This is a general guide since garlic heads can vary in sizes. The standard garlic size in the U.S. is between 1 to 2 inches.
Under the USDA garlic grades and standards. U.S. No.1 grade garlic bulbs must not be any smaller than 1 1/2 inches diameter.
The chart below gives a estimation for a garlic bulb that is medium size. Not too small but not a extra large bulb.
| Fresh Garlic | Minced | Chopped | Powder |
| 1 Clove | 1/2 Teaspoon | 1 Teaspoon | 1/8 Teaspoon |
| 2 Cloves | 1 Teaspoon | 2 Teaspoon | 1/4 Teaspoon |
| 3 Cloves | 2 Teaspoon | 1 Tablespoon | 1/2 Teaspoon |
For a recipe which uses one clove of garlic. Use 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of minced garlic. One medium sized garlic clove that has been minced will weigh out to around 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons.
If you are unfamiliar with the terminology here is a quick rundown. In this order garlic will go from one phase to the next.
Garlic head and garlic bulb are used interchangeably. Both are referring to the whole vegetable.
Garlic Prep Types
Fresh:
Refers to individual cloves pulled from the bulb. A bulb of garlic is the complete vegetable. A bulb of garlic typically holds about 10 cloves.
Some will hold more depending on the variety. There is two different types of garlic, soft neck and hard neck. There is around 600 different varieties of garlic.
Chopped:
Garlic cloves that have been lightly chopped. This is larger pieces than minced. Around the size of a small pea, but the clove is no longer in one piece. Chopped garlic contains separated pieces of the clove, usually after only cutting each one time.
Minced:
Garlic cloves which have been finely chopped. Much smaller pieces than just chopped. Minced garlic has been sliced and cut more than one time.
Minced garlic can be bought at most grocery stores. Since it is kept in a jar it keeps for longer than fresh garlic. A lot of people buy garlic this way, and when needing to use it for a recipe. They want to know how much to use to equal one clove.
Powder:
A dried garlic powder is the finest of the types. Usually it is sprinkled on as a seasoning. The taste of garlic powder vs fresh garlic is different. Powder being more mild in flavor.
How Many Cloves of Garlic in a Cup
Around 30 – 50 whole cloves of garlic will equal one cup. So it would take more than one head of garlic to fill one cup measurement. Again this does depend on the size of the bulb.
Since 1 cup equals 48 teaspoons. One clove of garlic equals between 1/2 and 1 full teaspoon. It could take around 48 to 100 teaspoons to equal one cup. Depending on the size of the garlic to begin with.
How Many tbsp is a head of garlic?
A standard U.S. No.1 grade garlic bulb or head that is 1 1/2 inches diameter. Containing 10 cloves of garlic will measure out to around 4 tablespoons.
How Much Garlic Powder Equals One Head of Garlic?
There isn’t a best answer to this question. Garlic powder is best used as a seasoning. Rather than a substitute for fresh garlic. Also you need to use a lot of garlic powder to equal the same amount.
Using the chart above you get 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder per one clove. A head of garlic can contain around 10 cloves. This equals around 1.25 teaspoons of garlic powder per head of garlic.
Brands of garlic powder will list the amount of powder equivalent to one clove of garlic.
I use the 1/8 tsp measurement but some have it listed as 1/4 teaspoon. Which would be double, or about 2 pinches compared to one.
A pinch is a cooking measurement meaning what you could fit between your fingers.
Is Minced Garlic In A Jar As Good?
Comparing jarred garlic vs fresh garlic for what is better. Each one has pro’s and cons but I would say fresh wins.
Minced Garlic Jarred
provides the convenience for preparation. As it is already chopped and ready to cook with. It also will last much longer than a fresh bulb of garlic. The processing that the garlic goes through does take away some of the flavor.
Pros
- Convenient (ready to cook or use)
- Lasts Longer (unopened – 2 years, opened 12 – 18 months)
Cons
- Processed (could contain preservatives)
- Minced Only
Fresh garlic
Requires a lot more preparation. You need to peel the garlic and then figure out how you want to cut it. Also it will need to used sooner because it does go bad. Although a fresh garlic bulb unpeeled can last for up to 6 months.
Pros
- Taste better
- Fresher (non processed)
- Can be prepared anyway (minced, chopped, crushed, whole cloves)
Cons
- Requires Preparation (peeling, cleaning, chopping)
- Does not last as long (especially once peeled)
The overall taste can be subjective. Some say there is no noticeable difference between the two.
Does Garlic Need To Be Peeled?
Have you been taking the time to peel garlic before using a press? You might think its a waste of time after peeling the garlic to then use a press. Why not just follow up with a knife and mince garlic the old fashioned way?
Well, the neat thing about using a press is you don’t have to peel the garlic.
That’s right you do not have to peel each clove of garlic. Just place the papery clove in the press and watch the fresh garlic squeeze out. Notice the peel does not come with it.
This Garlic Press on Amazon does a excellent job and no peeling is required.
I personally still peel my garlic before using a press. As some of the garlic does get stuck in the peel. Also just to make sure that no extra peel does end up in the finished garlic.
How To Peel Garlic Quickly
Since I still like to peel my garlic most of the time. I like to get it done as easily and quickly as possible. Peeling it by hand does leave that great garlic smell on your fingers.
Which seems to linger on the finger longer than scientifically possible.
So the traditional way is to smash the garlic with a knife blade. Breaking the peels grip for easy removal.
I think a faster and less messy way is to use a Garlic Easy Tube Roller. Also called a peeling tube. Made out of silicone the design is very simple. So they should last forever.
You can use the roller to peel more than one clove of garlic. I can fit up to three into them at once, making it a fast process.
Do this over a trash can for easy clean up. Place the cloves inside the roller tube. Hold the tube in between the palms of your hand. Then rub both hands up together up and down quickly.
Like you are rubbing your hands to get them warm. This doesn’t take more a few seconds. The clove will come out perfectly peeled. Shake the roller off some more into a trash can.
References:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/garlic-grades-and-standards