Say you’re preparing to cook a tender London broil as the star to your delicious feast and it calls for 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. You then find yourself looking at the garlic bulb on your kitchen counter, wondering how many cloves of garlic you need to get a tablespoon of minced garlic. Cooking directions may ask for 1 clove of minced garlic, while others might say 2 teaspoons. This could leave you stumped and have you searching online for conversions in the middle of cooking. Of course, measurements can be confusing when recipes describe them in varying ways and the tools you have in your kitchen may also be limited. So, knowing how to convert measurements in the kitchen using tools that are available to you will be an important culinary skill.
Luckily, we got the answer for you! Read below to find an easy cloves-to-minced-garlic conversion chart. We’ve also provided a guide on how to mince garlic, as well as the many substitutes you can use if you don’t have it on hand. Lastly, try the recipes below that are made better with this prized kitchen staple.
—N.G., Des Plaines, Illinois Typically, 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic from a jar equals one fresh garlic clove, minced.
Substitutes to Minced Garlic in Dishes
On another note, if you don’t have fresh garlic cloves on hand, no need to worry! There are still other ways you can impart the distinct and pungent flavor of garlic we all know and love! Here are a few alternatives to minced garlic you can use in your kitchen:
- Garlic Paste – This ready-made version of garlic can be easily found in stores. People often grab one of these off the shelves for convenience. One squeeze and you have all that flavor in paste form!
- Garlic Powder – This alternative is popularly used in many recipes next to fresh garlic. Garlic powder is more concentrated in flavor and sweeter in smell due to the drying process. But it is still less potent compared to the fresh kind.
- Garlic Salt – This swap is basically garlic powder combined with salt. You can use ½ teaspoon to replace one garlic clove. Do note that opting for garlic salt will add ⅜ teaspoon of salt to your dish. So, remember to adjust your seasonings accordingly.
- Granulated Garlic – Also made from dehydrated garlic. This is just a rougher or coarser version of the garlic powder that we’re used to. It’s less concentrated than garlic powder but you can use more of it if needed.
- Garlic Flakes – Another substitute that you can use if you really can’t find any other version in your pantry is this dried type. Garlic flakes are essentially dried slices of garlic and are larger in size compared to other varieties. This characteristic makes it better suited for dishes that require bigger pieces of garlic.
With these alternatives in mind, you can still add the essential taste that garlic brings to a dish even without freshly minced garlic. Just refer to the garlic clove conversion guide for measurements we made just for you!
Crushed vs Chopped vs Minced
Although there isn’t much of a difference between crushed garlic, chopped garlic, and minced garlic apart from their sizes, this tiny detail can greatly alter a dish if you choose one over the other without paying attention to the recipe.
To be more specific, crushed garlic is basically cloves that have been pressed to make a paste. Alternatively, chopped garlic is rough in size and can have big chunks while minced garlic is finer in texture. The apparent size difference is important to take note of whether you want bigger or finer pieces in the food. Of course, you wouldn’t want to get a huge bite of garlic in a smooth and creamy mashed potato!
How much jarred minced garlic equals 1 clove?
FAQ
How much minced garlic in a jar equals 1 clove?
Can you use jar minced garlic instead of cloves?
How much is 2 cloves of garlic from a jar?
Is minced garlic in a jar the same as raw garlic?
How much is 1 clove of garlic in minced garlic?
One garlic clove is equivalent to approximately 1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic. To convert garlic powder to minced garlic, remember that one clove of garlic is equivalent to 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder is equivalent to 1 tablespoon of minced garlic.
Is garlic powder just as effective as a garlic clove?
In terms of flavor profile, garlic powder is much stronger as it has been dried and granulated. Around 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder is the same as a garlic clove. The health benefits of garlic would remain the same if it is pure garlic powder.
How many cloves of minced garlic should I add?
Cooking directions may ask for 1 clove of minced garlic, while others might say 2 teaspoons. This could leave you stumped and have you searching online for conversions in the middle of cooking.
How many cloves of garlic in 1 tablespoon?
Basically, in 1 tablespoon there are usually 3 teaspoons. Thus, if there is ½ teaspoon of minced garlic from 1 clove, you would need 6 cloves of garlic for 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Minced garlic packs a big punch to any dish despite its size. In fact, the smaller the mince is, the more its flavor intensifies.