What is the best way to chop garlic?
Part of our Best Guides for Beginning Cooks. Click to see more answers to your questions.
There are several ways to chop garlic. Follow the directions in the recipe, and find the method that best suits your taste.
Smash and chop. Place the clove of garlic on a cutting board and lay the side of a knife on top of it. Gently press down on the blade with the heel of your hand to smash the clove. The papery skin will slide off. Then, use the knife to finely chop the smashed garlic.
Mince garlic. First separate a clove from the head of garlic and remove the papery skin. Smashing gently with a the side of blade as described above, (or just pushing with the palm of hand or rolling between your two hands) will make the skin easier to remove. Next slice the clove into thin strips with a sharp knife. Turn the knife on its side and use a rocking motion to finely chop the strips of garlic. Cutting with a sharp knife will help the garlic release its flavor and aroma.
Use a garlic press. You can crush a peeled clove of garlic by placing it in the press and squeezing the handle. This will produce finely minced garlic.
