How to Mince Garlic with a Knife, Garlic Press, Grater or Food Processor

Minced garlic is a common ingredient in a whole range of recipes, like stir-fry, pasta sauce, braised meat and aioli, to name a few. That makes knowing how to mince garlic an invaluable kitchen skill for all home cooks. While you’re at it, find out how long garlic lasts.

The best method for mincing garlic is the subject of much debate; for example, many professional chefs reject the garlic press in favor of knife-mincing, but lots of home cooks swear by this handy tool. The truth is that there are several ways to mince garlic, each with pros and cons as well as differences in the way garlic looks and tastes.

What Happens When You Cut Garlic?

Everyone knows that garlic has a pungent flavor, but it may surprise some to learn that a whole, uncut clove added to cooking liquid or sauces will only lend a mild garlic flavor. It’s a different story if that clove is cut, smashed or minced. Cutting releases acids and enzymes in the garlic that produce an intense garlic aroma and a sharp, often tongue-searing flavor. The more it’s processed, the stronger the garlic flavor becomes, especially with methods that release a lot of juices from the garlic.

6 Ways to Mince Garlic

There’s a method here for cooks of every skill level. And remember: don’t toss the garlic skins. Save them to infuse flavor into a stock or broth.

Method #1: Knife Mince

How To Mince Garlic Using The Knife Mince Technique; Step 2 Of 2; Dice Garlic Taste Recipes

Hold a garlic clove on a cutting board, angling your knuckles forward to protect your fingertips from the blade. (That’s an important part of how to hold a knife.) Use a sharp knife to cut the clove into several thin slices. Stack the slices and cut through them again to make thin strips, then run your knife through these to dice into tiny cubes.

Texture/Flavor: A small dice with pieces uniform in size. The mince has a dry texture and a flavor that’s fresh and sharp but less intense than methods that release a lot of juices from the garlic.

Pros: Knife-minced garlic produces equal-sized pieces that will all cook at the same rate, so you won’t be surprised by a large, undercooked piece.

Cons: Mincing takes longer than other methods, which can be a drawback in recipes using lots of garlic. It may feel intimidating for cooks who haven’t yet mastered their knife skills.

Method #2: Knife Smash

How To Mince Garlic Using The Knife Smash Technique Taste Recipes

Lay the flat side of your knife onto the clove, then either smack it or press down with your hand until the clove is flattened. Then, rock your knife blade back and forth through the smashed garlic until it’s chopped into small pieces.

Texture/Flavor: More rustic and rough. Smashing the clove releases more juices, so the garlic is more intense and spicy.

Pros: It’s a little faster than knife-mincing since you don’t have to slice the clove up first.

Cons: Somewhat messier, since lots of garlic juices are released onto the cutting board.

Method #3: Garlic Press

How To Mince Garlic Using A Garlic Press Taste Recipes

Put a peeled clove inside the garlic press. (You can use unpeeled cloves with some models.) Squeeze the handle of the tool to press the garlic out through the holes.

Texture/Flavor: Small, liquidy bits of garlic. Very spicy and even fiery on the tongue.

Pros: Quality garlic presses are easy to use and process the cloves quickly. You don’t have to handle the raw garlic as much.

Cons: Cheap presses leave a lot of garlic behind, wasting parts you’d otherwise use. They can also be a pain to clean. This is the only kitchen tool on the list that does just one job—so multitasking tools may be better investments.

Method #4: Fine Grater

How To Mince Garlic Using A Fine Grater Taste Recipes

Rub a peeled clove of garlic on the sharp Microplane grater surface, holding it over a bowl to catch juices and garlic bits. Use a fork or rubber spatula to scrape excess garlic out of the grater.

Texture/Flavor: Puree-like and liquidy, which makes the garlic aggressively spicy and also bitter-tasting.

Pros: It’s quick and easy to grate the whole garlic clove, and this tool may already be in your drawer since it’s also used for citrus zest and grating hard cheeses.

Cons: The bitterness may not be noticeable in slow-cooked dishes, but it could affect the flavor of quicker recipes like stir-fries or uncooked sauces like aiolis.

Method #5: Ribbon Grater

How To Mince Garlic Using A Ribbon Grater Taste Recipes

Rub cloves of peeled garlic over the long, thin blades of the ribbon grater, with a bowl or plate underneath to catch the garlic. Tap the grater to shake off the excess.

Texture/Flavor: Thin flakes of garlic. Grating releases liquid, so garlic flakes have an intense flavor, though without the bitterness of finely grated garlic.

Pros: Grates a clove quickly enough that you can do it while cooking.

Cons: Everyday box graters don’t include this type of surface, so you may need to purchase one.

Method #6: Mini Food Processor

How To Mince Garlic Using A Mini Food Processor Taste Recipes

Add peeled garlic cloves to the bowl of a mini food processor. Attach the lid, then pulse until the cloves are minced.

Texture/Flavor: A finer dice than knife mincing but with less uniform pieces. The garlic pieces are spicier than from a knife-mince, but not as liquidy or fiery as from a garlic press.

Pros: It’s a fast way of mincing several garlic cloves with minimal handling, and the mini food processor has lots of other kitchen uses, too.

Cons: More parts to wash than in other methods.

What’s the Best Way to Mince Garlic?

Of all these methods, the one I like the best is the ribbon grater. It produces flaky bits that have lots of garlic flavor and easily meld with food during cooking. It’s also a quick enough method that I can grate garlic right over a hot pan to lightly saute in oil or add to sauce. (Like in this easy Caramelized Onion & Garlic Pasta!)

For recipes that call for several cloves of minced garlic, I rely on the mini food processor—a favorite appliance in my kitchen for this and other tasks like chopping onions or making pesto.

You may prefer another method from this list, and that’s OK. These tools are relatively inexpensive and there’s one to fit every level of cooking comfort. It’s worth trying out a new-to-you technique to expand your kitchen skills and maybe find a new way to mince garlic.

Recipes for People That Love Garlic

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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 Go to Recipe Also, learning how to store garlic means you'll always have these essential cloves on hand for your next recipe.

Chicken & Garlic with Fresh Herbs Recipe photo by Taste Recipes

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.

How to Mince Garlic 6 Ways

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