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Serious Eats
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Overview
There it is, sitting on your shelf next to that old box of sea salt, a smelly little wonder substance that has been thought to help people avoid certain types of cancer, lower their cholesterol and amp up their immune systems during flu season. We speak of garlic, the beloved stinking rose and global-cuisine superstar. "Garlic is one of nature's best medicines," says Courtney Abrams, a health coach at Roslyn Wellness. "It contains a chemical called allin, which when chewed converts into allicin, an acidic compound that reacts with free radicals (those byproducts of digestion that mess with our DNA and cellular membranes) and destroys them." Some people should use it carefully: Avoid it if you are taking blood-thinning medication or are prone to stomach ulcers. Here are 10 hacks for getting the most out of your garlic, retaining its therapeutic properties and preparing it more easily.
Image Credit: Describe the Fauna
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2. Peel a Bunch of Cloves Quickly With the Shake Trick
Restaurant chefs have known for years that the easiest (and most fun) way to peel a bunch of cloves of garlic at one time is to shake them vigorously. First, smash the whole bulb of garlic, shoot-side up, with the heel of your hand to separate the bulbs. Toss the cloves in a glass jar with a screw-on lid or place in a bowl and cover with another bowl or hard lid, then act like you are mixing James Bond's favorite cocktail. The shaking should separate the skins from the cloves within 15 seconds, but take note of hack No. 1: This works best with dry garlic.
Read more: Bulletproof’s Dave Asprey on How to Biohack Your Best Self Image Credit: Describe the Fauna
1 of 12
Overview
There it is, sitting on your shelf next to that old box of sea salt, a smelly little wonder substance that has been thought to help people avoid certain types of cancer, lower their cholesterol and amp up their immune systems during flu season. We speak of garlic, the beloved stinking rose and global-cuisine superstar. "Garlic is one of nature's best medicines," says Courtney Abrams, a health coach at Roslyn Wellness. "It contains a chemical called allin, which when chewed converts into allicin, an acidic compound that reacts with free radicals (those byproducts of digestion that mess with our DNA and cellular membranes) and destroys them." Some people should use it carefully: Avoid it if you are taking blood-thinning medication or are prone to stomach ulcers. Here are 10 hacks for getting the most out of your garlic, retaining its therapeutic properties and preparing it more easily.
Image Credit: Describe the Fauna
Overview
There it is, sitting on your shelf next to that old box of sea salt, a smelly little wonder substance that has been thought to help people avoid certain types of cancer, lower their cholesterol and amp up their immune systems during flu season. We speak of garlic, the beloved stinking rose and global-cuisine superstar. “Garlic is one of nature’s best medicines,” says Courtney Abrams, a health coach at Roslyn Wellness. “It contains a chemical called allin, which when chewed converts into allicin, an acidic compound that reacts with free radicals (those byproducts of digestion that mess with our DNA and cellular membranes) and destroys them.” Some people should use it carefully: Avoid it if you are taking blood-thinning medication or are prone to stomach ulcers. Here are 10 hacks for getting the most out of your garlic, retaining its therapeutic properties and preparing it more easily.
Image Credit: Describe the Fauna
1. Store It in a Cool, Dark, Dry Place
3 of 12
2. Peel a Bunch of Cloves Quickly With the Shake Trick
Restaurant chefs have known for years that the easiest (and most fun) way to peel a bunch of cloves of garlic at one time is to shake them vigorously. First, smash the whole bulb of garlic, shoot-side up, with the heel of your hand to separate the bulbs. Toss the cloves in a glass jar with a screw-on lid or place in a bowl and cover with another bowl or hard lid, then act like you are mixing James Bond's favorite cocktail. The shaking should separate the skins from the cloves within 15 seconds, but take note of hack No. 1: This works best with dry garlic.
Read more: Bulletproof’s Dave Asprey on How to Biohack Your Best Self Image Credit: Describe the Fauna
2. Peel a Bunch of Cloves Quickly With the Shake Trick
Restaurant chefs have known for years that the easiest (and most fun) way to peel a bunch of cloves of garlic at one time is to shake them vigorously. First, smash the whole bulb of garlic, shoot-side up, with the heel of your hand to separate the bulbs. Toss the cloves in a glass jar with a screw-on lid or place in a bowl and cover with another bowl or hard lid, then act like you are mixing James Bond’s favorite cocktail. The shaking should separate the skins from the cloves within 15 seconds, but take note of hack No. 1: This works best with dry garlic. Read more: Bulletproof’s Dave Asprey on How to Biohack Your Best Self
Read more: Bulletproof’s Dave Asprey on How to Biohack Your Best Self
3. Peel a Few Cloves Quickly With Hot Water
4. Mince to Make It Stronger -- Slice to Keep It Milder
5. Allow It to Rest Before Cooking With It
6. Don’t Let Your Garlic Brown
7. Rub a Bowl With Raw Garlic for Mild Seasoning
8. Make Your Own Garlic Salt or Powder in the Oven
9. Rub Stainless Steel to Remove a Garlic Smell
10. Save and Reuse Garlic Skins
Name This Hack!
Garlic is a common ingredient in many dishes, but chopping or mincing garlic every time you want to use it can be time-consuming. By mincing garlic ahead of time and freezing it, you will have the right amount ready whenever you need it. Be careful when purchasing large amounts of garlic to mince and freeze, as each bulb of garlic contains 10 or more cloves, and most dishes call for only a few cloves of garlic. Unless you intend to eat garlic every night, you may want to try freezing just one or two bulbs to start.
Cutting board
Large kitchen knife
Blender
Olive oil
Plastic container approved for freezer use
Parchment paper
Serious Eats
