How To Mince Garlic

When it comes to mincing garlic for a recipe, many people automatically reach for a garlic press. It's quick and easy and keeps your hands from stinking of garlic. But a garlic press often leaves more of a mushy paste than distinct pieces, so if precision is important to you, here's how to do if chef style:

  1. After peeling your garlic clove, lay it on your cutting board on its flat side to keep it from rolling. Cut off the roots.
  2. Going from root to tip, cut the garlic in thin lengthwise strips.
  3. Turn the garlic 90-degrees and cut strips in the other direction. You will be left with a pile of thin sticks.
  4. Chop up the pile of sticks. The best way to do this is to leave the tip of your knife against the cutting board at all times. Using a rocking motion, move the heel of the knife up and down as your go through the pile. Mince the garlic as finely as you need.
  5. For a rougher cut, skip the cutting into strips and just start chopping the whole clove.

To Get The Garlic Smell Off of Your Hands

  • Rub your stinky fingers across a stainless steel kitchen utensil under running water.
  • Pour a little bit of baking sida or salt between your hands and scrub under cold water
  • Toothpaste or mouthwash can get rid of garlic smell on your hands as well as your breath. Just squeeze toothpaste or pour mouthwash on the offending fingers, rub, and rinse.

Now that you know how to mince garlic, it's time to make garlic bread.