Should one always use the whole garlic clove?
When using garlic cloves for pretty much anything, is it ever necessary to cut the slightly brown end off (that which connects to the head), or the middle out? Often times when I peel a garlic clove and cut into it I'll notice that the middle portion is slightly to moderately green and I'm always wondering if this should be discarded along with the brown end(s). If there are obvious blemishes in the garlic I'll remove those, but other than that is there a general rule of thumb?
Best Answer
The green in the center can have a bitter taste, and many chefs prefer to remove them. If the taste and color don't bother you, it will not cause problems for the dish.
The brown end tends to a have a harder consistency than the rest of the clove, so may cause a problem depending on how you cook the garlic. If you're cooking it in a manner that leads to a very soft and mushy piece of garlic, you'd be better off discarding it. (Boiling in soup, for example.) It probably would not make much of a difference if you were browning the garlic for a topping.
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Do you use the whole garlic clove?
Some find this green stem to be bitter and pungent, but it's still okay to use the clove \u2014 simply remove the green stem prior to cooking. In the spring and summer months, you can look for locally grown garlic at your farmers' market. This variety is usually much firmer and tends to be slightly milder in flavour.Do you have to cut off the ends of garlic cloves?
You can opt to slice off the ends, but it's not strictly necessary. Take your chef's knife or santoku knife and place the broad, flat side of the blade on the clove of garlic. Make sure you're using the part of the knife closest to the handle, since that's where the blade is the strongest.Can you eat the hard part of garlic?
Absolutely! Raw garlic scapes are perfectly edible, with a sharp garlicky-green flavour.What part of garlic should you not eat?
Garlic will be different depending on season, variety, and a host of other factors. But when using garlic raw, you should definitely remove the green germ.More answers regarding should one always use the whole garlic clove?
Answer 2
I only ever use the white parts of the clove; the hardened brown bit doesn't taste good, and the green bit is the sprout, which I don't think tastes good, either.
Answer 3
If you can get hold of fresh garlic bulbs with tender skins, the green sprout will not have had chance to grow, neither will the end of the clove be hard and brown. I suspect you could even mince the skin of a fresh garlic clove and get away with it.
Answer 4
Travelling through Europe I came across a few cultures that believed that lingering garlic breath is caused solely by the centre sprout, hence they remove it.
Answer 5
I am told that cutting garlic releases a bitter taste; therefore best to use whole.
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