If you've ever wondered about eating garlic clove skin, we've got the answer.
Can You Eat Garlic Clove Skin?
Updated on Sep. 26, 2024
If you’re anything like me, you put garlic in absolutely everything. Especially, adding some nicely roasted garlic can take your dish to a whole new level. After all, there’s very little a few good cloves of garlic can’t fix—and I always add more than the recipe calls for!
When I first started cooking, my first hurdle came when I had to figure out how to peel garlic. I’ve come a long way since, but as I try to cut down on food waste, I’ve definitely begun to wonder whether I really have to throw out all that garlic skin. I even began to wonder—can you eat garlic clove skin?
Also, learn how to store garlic so that you’ll always have these essential cloves on hand for your next recipe.
Yep, You Can Eat Garlic Clove Skin—Sort of
I wouldn’t recommend it eating it as is, because garlic clove skin is tough, papery and fibrous—not exactly the best snacking material. But garlic skin has plenty of extra spicy, garlicky flavor, so there are plenty of instances where you can use it. If you’re making a sauce that you’re going to strain anyway, just smash the clove and leave the skin on to add maximum flavor. If you’re mincing garlic for a recipe, save the skin and throw it into a stock or broth later.
Garlic is also great for colds or warming you up in general, so stick the skin in some soup! Just make sure you wrap it all up in cheesecloth, so you can get the flavor without having to fish it out of the finished product. Some bakers also use a mortar and pestle to grind garlic skin and add it to their breads for a mild garlicky flavor. Find out if you can eat the rind on brie.
Garlic Skin Has Health Benefits, Too
If the flavor wasn’t a good enough reason, garlic skin also has plenty of good-for-you nutrients, much like the clove itself. It’s chock full of vitamin A, which is important for vision, immunity and more, and vitamin C, which helps your body heal and is a powerful antioxidant. Garlic skin is also packed with anti-inflammatory phenylpropanoid antioxidants. Have you heard about garlic scapes? Learn how to cook garlic scapes to celebrate their short season.
So the next time you start on some homemade garlic bread, don’t forget to save the skin. And make sure you grab a garlic keeper to store any leftover cloves!
Up Next: Our Favorite Garlicky Recipes
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Garlic Lemon Shrimp
You'll be amazed that you can make this simple, elegant pasta in mere minutes. Serve with crusty bread to soak up all of the garlic lemon sauce. —Athena Russell, Greenville, South Carolina
Also, learning how to store garlic means you'll always have these essential cloves on hand for your next recipe. 
Chicken & Garlic with Fresh HerbsThe key to this savory chicken is the combination of garlic, fresh rosemary and thyme. I like to serve it with mashed potatoes or crusty Italian bread. —Jan Valdez, Lombard, Illinois. Looking for variations? Learn how to make creamy garlic chicken.
Garlic Butter Steak BitesIt takes only a few minutes to enhance a simple sirloin steak. This recipe uses not one but two forms of garlic to really make those flavors shine. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan
Pasta and Veggies in Garlic SauceBig garlic flavor and a little heat from red pepper flakes help perk up this fresh-tasting pasta dish. It's wonderful with chicken and beef entrees. —Doris Heath, Franklin, North Carolina
Garlic Parmesan WingsTake a bite out of these perfectly seasoned chicken wings. Golden brown and crispy, the skin is flavored with garlic powder, parmesan cheese and herby parsley. Enhance the flavors by dipping it in a garlic parmesan or sriracha mayo sauce, or stick to the classics like bleu cheese and ranch. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Skillet Potatoes with Red Pepper and Whole Garlic ClovesYou'll be surprised that a skillet potato recipe this simple has so much flavor. I love how the whole garlic cloves turn sweet after being caramelized. Yum! —Anita Osborne, Thomasburg, Ontario
Garlic KnotsThese novel garlic knots are handy because they can be made ahead of time and reheated when needed. —Jane Paschke, University Park, Florida
Tomato-Garlic Lentil BowlsAn Ethiopian recipe inspired this feel-good dinner that's tangy, creamy and packed with hearty comfort. —Rachael Cushing, Portland, Oregon 
Garlic-Dill Soda BreadIt's amazing how bread can be made in a slow cooker, which is why this recipe is awesome—who knew it could be so simple! Let the inviting aroma of dill and cheese fill your kitchen. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Chicken with Garlic SauceSkip the takeout order and make this 30-minute Chinese chicken with garlic sauce recipe at home. It'll take the same amount of time—without spending extra money or leaving the house!
Onion & Garlic BiscuitsBake a dozen of these oniony, herby biscuits for a little something new in the holiday bread basket. They're also awesome with a bowl of chili, soup or stew. —L. Dorow, Fairmont, Minnesota
Greek Garlic ChickenLively flavors of the Greek Isles come through in this mouthwatering chicken entree. I created this dish so my husband and I could have a nice dinner after a busy day out and about. —Margee Berry, Trout Lake, Washington. If you like this, then you must try Chinese chicken with garlic sauce.
Orzo with SpinachAdd color and flavor to your plate with creamy orzo with spinach. This dish is a balance of comfort and sophistication, perfect for entertaining or a cozy night in.
You can take your dishes to a whole new level by learning how to roast garlic.
Garlic-Ginger Turkey TenderloinsThis good-for-you entree can be on your dinner plates quicker than Chinese takeout—and for a lot less money! Ginger and brown sugar flavor the sauce that spices up the turkey as it bakes. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen 
Garlic Green Beans with GorgonzolaI updated this green bean holiday side dish by adding a touch of white wine, fresh thyme and green onions. It's delicious, easy to make and my family loves it! —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Mozzarella Mushrooms with Garlic ToastI came up with this dinner using ingredients I had on hand. It turned out to be so delicious, my wife and I now make it for special occasions. —Marc Bushee, Moorhead, Minnesota
Garlic Salmon LinguineThe garlic-seasoned main dish calls for handy pantry ingredients, including pasta and canned salmon. I serve it with asparagus, rolls and fruit. —Theresa Hagan, Glendale, Arizona 
Lemon & Garlic New PotatoesThis is a simplified version of a dish my Costa Rican host sister used to make when I was in the Peace Corps. It has become a favorite side dish at my house. —Katie Bartle, Parkville, Missouri
Gingered Short Ribs with Green RiceI love the flavors of Korean cuisine, so I created short ribs for the slow cooker. The dish is beautiful, too! —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Garlic-Mashed Rutabagas & PotatoesMy family absolutely loves mashed potatoes. I created this recipe to lighten up the calories and sneak in a serving of rutabagas. If you have the time, boil the potatoes in chicken broth to add even more flavor. —Rosemary Tatum, Sterlington, Louisiana
Garlic Lover’s ChickenThe garlic and lemon are great together on this breaded chicken. I've served this several times for special-occasion dinners. —Janice Steinmetz, Somers, Connecticut 
Onion-Garlic Bubble BreadI've relied on this bread recipe often over the years. Frozen dough hurries along the golden pull-apart loaf. It's wonderful with Italian dishes, especially spaghetti and lasagna. —Charlene Bzdok, Little Falls, Minnesota
It may also be a nice side to these tasty San Francisco style Vietnamese American garlic noodles.
Garlic-Apple Pork RoastThis is the meal I have become famous for, and it is so simple. The garlic and apple flavors really complement the pork. It's especially good with steamed fresh asparagus and roasted red potatoes. —Jennifer Loos, Washington Boro, Pennsylvania 
Tortellini SoupThis quick, easy rustic Italian tortellini soup recipe is flavorful and comforting. Italian sausage, spinach and tender cheese tortellini simmer in a rich tomato broth, creating a soup that cooks for only 20 minutes.
Au Gratin PotatoesOnce you've tried homemade au gratin potatoes, you'll never reach for the boxed stuff again.
Garlic Crescent RollsThe simple comfort of warm crescent rolls gets dressed up with a brush of herbed garlic butter and a shower of Parmesan cheese.
Garlic-Chive Baked FriesYes, you do want fries with that—especially these crispy, golden fries, full of garlic flavor and just a little bit of heat. —Steve Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin 
Butter SteakThis garlic butter steak recipe is the restaurant-quality steak you've been looking for. The pan-seared steak is deliciously rich and garlicky, and the butter makes it oh, so tender—even if you use a budget cut like top sirloin or flat iron steak.
Creamy Lemon PastaSilky strands of fettuccine tangle in a lemon-garlic sauce in this creamy lemon pasta. Pops of fresh tomato, garlic and parsley add flavor, and a finishing sprinkle of lemon zest shines through the richness of the sauce.
Honey-Garlic Glazed MeatballsMy husband and I raise cattle on our farm here in southwestern Ontario, so it's no surprise that we're fond of these saucy meatballs. I know your family will like them, too. —Marion Foster, Kirkton, Ontario. If you enjoyed this recipe, then learn how to make honey garlic chicken.
Garlic Shrimp & Orzo SaladI enjoy cold pasta salads and rice salads, so I decided to make one with orzo, a rice-shaped pasta. Feel free to add other favorite veggies—like asparagus and green beans—and serve with rolls or pita bread. —Valonda Seward, Coarsegold, California
Garlic Lemon ButterThis tangy flavored butter offers a nice change from plain butter and gives a refreshing new taste to an ear of corn. When I serve this on the side during fresh corn season, the same question always gets asked—"What's in the butter that makes it so delicious?" —Margie Wampler, Butler, Pennsylvania
