Roasting a head of garlic doesn’t get any better or any easier than roasted garlic in the microwave. So simple that my 7 year old makes it for me!
Microwave garlic is fast, its simple and its perfect for quickly peeling garlic, using for garlic bread or even for minced garlic for future homecooked recipes.
I adore garlic and I went even more garlic crazy in the 13 years that I lived in Portugal.
Its like every savoury food item in Portugal starts with extra virgin olive oil, onion and garlic and I started every dish with it.
Then a neighbour introduced me cooking heads of garlic in bulk. She was a lovely elderly lady (sadly she has since passed) and I would watch her wrap garlic in foil and bulk cook on the outside grill.
I then thought, would this work with the air fryer? And our air fryer roasted garlic recipe was born.
So when I started cooking more and more with the microwave, I wanted to transfer our air fryer garlic to microwave garlic. Of course, you can’t use foil in the microwave like with the air fryer, and me and Sofia came up with the best microwaved garlic recipe ever and wanted to share it with you today.
Put the trimmed head of garlic in a microwave-safe bowl, add 2 tablespoons water to the bowl, drizzle the olive oil over the garlic and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Put the reserved top back on the garlic and cover the bowl with a plate. Microwave on medium heat until the garlic is very soft, 8 to 9 minutes.
Why Microwave Roast Garlic?
The garlic squeeze of course.
When you cook roasted garlic in the microwave, you can just squeeze out the garlic and it saves peeling and grating your garlic.
It also creates a roast garlic paste that you can use in any recipe that calls for garlic puree, minced garlic etc.
It is also the fastest way to roast garlic and you can then use the garlic in many, many recipes.
You can even store the garlic for meal prep to make your cooking even easier.
Would you like easy & amazing microwave recipes from microwave experts? Click here and join the Recipe This Newsletter. We will then send you the BEST microwave beginner recipes direct to your email inbox along with other useful microwave resources.
Bulb – You will need a full garlic bulb, or as you might call it a head of garlic. Though you can do up to three garlic bulbs at once.
Water – The head of garlic sits in a bowl with water in the microwave, so you will need a large bowl and plenty of water.
Oil – Then after removing the tops off the garlic you will need a little extra virgin olive oil. This stops the garlic from drying out and makes it soft and squeezy.
Optional – You can also add some salt and pepper over the garlic with the oil, but this is optional.
Then for the kitchen gadgets that we have used in this microwaved garlic recipe it has just been our Panasonic Microwave Oven. We have this one and its wonderful for many types of microwave recipes.
How Long To Roast A Head Of Garlic?
Garlic in the microwave takes JUST 8 minutes. That gives you perfect soft garlic that is ready to squeeze out of the cloves.
You can then allow it to cool and then use the garlic in your recipes.
How to Microwave Garlic – Real Simple
FAQ
Is it safe to microwave garlic?
Does microwaving garlic change the flavor?
How long does garlic take to soften?
Can You soften garlic in the microwave?
But all the long work of softening the garlic will already be done — in the microwave, with less energy and heat. 1. Cut the top off each head of garlic, exposing the cloves within. 2. Place the garlic heads in the baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
Is cooked garlic good for you?
Cooked garlic has the same health benefits as raw garlic, such as reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, promotes cancer prevention, has antibiotic properties and prevents Alzheimer’s and dementia.
What happens if you cook garlic in the microwave?
Preservation of flavor: When cooked in the microwave, garlic retains much of its natural flavor and aroma, enhancing the overall taste of your dish. Ready to unlock the secret to delicious microwave-cooked garlic?
How long do you cook garlic in a microwave?
Drizzle olive oil over the top and a little into the water. This keeps the garlic moist. Cook on 40% POWER for 5 minutes. Carefully check the garlic to see if it’s soft, if the middle is still hard, cook for up to 2 more minutes at 40% POWER. Once again, I have checked and rechecked this with a 1000-watt microwave. Your cooking time may vary.