How to Peel Garlic 4 Ways (Peel Garlic Easily!)
Learn how to peel garlic 4 different ways to make your meal prep easy and quick! These four different methods include pressing, microwaving, boiling in water, and shaking in a jar. Whether you're peeling one clove or a whole bunch, learn all the tips and tricks to peel your garlic cloves the easy way in no time!
Servings: 4
Calories: 1kcal
Ingredients
- 1 garlic head
Instructions
Peel and Press
- Take the garlic head, root side facing up, place on a chopping board. Using the heel of your hand press firmly to break the cloves apart. Remove the cloves from the head.
- Using a sharp knife cut off the end of each clove where it was attached to the root.
- Working one clove at a time; place the flat side of the knife on the clove, blade facing away from you, and press firmly to break the skin away from the clove.
- Using your fingers, remove clove from the outer layer. Repeat until all garlic has been peeled. Use your garlic press to easily mince your garlic.
Microwave
- Take the whole head of garlic, root side facing up, place on a chopping board.
- Using the palm of your hand press firmly to break the cloves apart.
- Using a sharp knife cut off the end of each clove where it was attached to the root.
- Place the cloves into a microwave safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 20 seconds.
- Remove and allow to cool slightly. When cool, remove garlic clove from the skin. Repeat with remaining cloves.
Boiling Water
- Take the head of garlic, root side facing up, place on a chopping board. Using the palm of your hand press firmly to break the cloves apart.
- Using a sharp knife cut off the end of each clove where it was attached to the root.
- Place the cloves in a large bowl. Cover with boiling water and allow to sit for 5 minutes or until skins start to come away from the cloves.
- Drain the water and remove the garlic skin.
Shake in a Jar
- Take the whole bulb of garlic, root side facing up, place on a cutting board.
- Using the palm of your hand press firmly to break the cloves apart.
- Using a paring knife cut off the end of each clove where it was attached to the root.
- Place the cloves into a mason jar with a lid and vigorously shake until skins have loosened.
- Remove the cloves from the papery skin and repeat if any skins haven't been removed.
Notes
- The Press and Peel Method is the most effective way to peel garlic when using individual cloves for cooking. By pressing on the clove you’ll also flatten it slightly making it easier and quicker to chop and prepare for cooking.
- The Microwave Method: Make sure to allow the garlic to cool before handling it and make sure your bowl is microwave safe! Also, while the microwave method is great, keep in mind it does slightly cook the garlic.
- Best way to remove the smell of garlic from your hands is to wash them thoroughly with soap and water, rub lemon juice over your hands and rinse off with fresh water. The lemon will neutralize the smelly compounds of the garlic. (Just make sure you don’t have any cuts!)
- The Shake Method: This is a great method for storing and keeping whole cloves of garlic, however the cloves may get a little bruised from being shaken around in the jar! This is my favorite way to remove the skins from an entire head of garlic.
- The Boiling Water Method: Similar to the microwave method, ensure the garlic has cool before handling it. Keep in mind this process does slightly soften the garlic cloves.
Nutrition
Calories: 1kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 3mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g