Head of garlic vs. Garlic cloves - what's the difference?

Garlic is the center of many savory recipes. However, when it comes to cooking at home, many people may confuse garlic bulbs and cloves.

Some varieties of garlic are available in different shapes and sizes, which can further blur the line between what is considered a garlic bulb or a clove.

Today we are going to settle this difference once and for all.

What is the difference between garlic bulbs and cloves? Garlic bulbs are made up of several individual garlic cloves. It can be considered a whole herb that is made up of several separate pieces, called cloves. Each clove can be separated from the bulb, leaving only the stem. 

But bulbs and cloves are more than meets the eye. Read on to learn more about this bulbous herb, how to use it, and the easiest way to remove the bulbous cloves.

garlic bulbs

Garlic is a bulbous herb, which means it grows with individual pieces clumped together. You can think of the bulb as a home for all the pieces of garlic, called garlic cloves.

These bulbs grow in the ground and can develop long roots and plants. They consist of a bulbous body that is surrounded by teeth and each of them can be separated, while the stem can be discarded. 

Garlic bulbs have no other purpose than to house the cloves, but you can also plant them in the ground and grow your own bulbs.

There is no clear story about the origin of garlic, but many historians believe that we started cultivating it around 4,000 years ago.

It has been used for centuries and can be found in almost every cookbook, so garlic has arguably been around since we started harvesting ingredients for cooking.

The bulb itself has an inedible stem, but it can be useful for many stock recipes where whole bulbs can be submerged in water and simmered for hours to extract their flavor.

A single garlic bulb can contain between 10 and 12 garlic cloves . There are also many varieties of bulbs. Some are bigger, some are smaller, and some also have teeth of different sizes.

For example, China, which is also the largest producer of garlic, exports large bulbs that have around 12 garlic cloves attached.

Each clove is also larger or “fatter” and often provides a mild but very pronounced garlic flavor.

Smaller garlic bulbs contain finer cloves that have a stronger flavor and can also be more difficult to process due to their skin.

The bulb is surrounded by a fibrous cap that protects the teeth and the bulb from the outside environment.

The best way to use the whole bulb is to first break down this stringy coating by soaking it in water for 10-15 minutes. This will hydrate and soften the skin, which will also make it easier to extract the flavors and peel the cloves.

Garlic cloves

As already stated, the garlic cloves are the individual parts that are attached to the bulbs. When you hear the word “garlic”, this is what most people mean!

The cloves can be easily separated from the bulb by breaking it in half.

It is important not to cut the bulb with a knife, but you can press lightly with the palm of your hand while the bulb is upright on the kitchen counter. 

The pressure will release all the cloves and you can peel them individually for immediate use. Another great way to remove the cloves is to crack the garlic bulb by holding it with both hands and giving it a slight twisting motion.

Once the teeth are extracted, you will need to peel the coating off with your hands or a knife. We recommend using a knife to pare the cloves. 

Using your hands is also a great and comfortable way to do it, but you may end up with a strong smell of garlic on your fingers and it may even sting a bit if you manage to get the garlic pulp on your fingernails.

Our recommended method is to use the side of any paring knife to first lightly crush the clove and then grab the peeled skin like a thread. This method is used by most cooks and makes peeling garlic less of a hassle.

Peeling garlic this way saves even more time when it comes to smaller, finer cloves.  Avoid cutting the top of the garlic - peel it as is or you’ll be wasting perfectly usable garlic. 

You can also opt for already peeled garlic cloves from the market. But be careful, as these cloves may be treated with different chemicals to make the peeling process easier, as they are rarely peeled by hand.

Manufacturers use industrial machines to process and peel the outer layer of garlic as quickly as possible. Ask the store representative or check the back of the package for more information on how the garlic has been processed in the factory.

How to use whole garlic bulbs

Whole garlic bulbs can be used to save time, as is a common practice in many restaurants who prefer to simmer whole garlic bulbs rather than peel the garlic cloves individually.

The bulbs add a compound garlic flavor and make it easier to strain and remove the garlic when not needed. 

For example, a great way to do this is to wrap the garlic along with a few spices and herbs in cheesecloth and hang it in a pot of water.

The water will soak the cheesecloth and draw out the flavors of all the ingredients, just like a tea bag!

This method is excellent for a number of recipes that do not call for visible spices and herbs. It’s also a great technique for making tasty soups and broths.

Garlic bulbs can be soaked in water for about 30 minutes to soften the outer layer and also make them easier to cook with.

If you want to get a little fancy and technical, you can also try fermenting the bulbs. The result will be a blackened bulb with dark cloves that taste surprisingly delicious and sweet.

This technique has been used for centuries and is one of the best ways to get more flavor out of this herb.

How to use garlic cloves

Garlic cloves are widely used all over the world. They are the base of almost all the savory dishes that exist.

The cloves can be mixed, chopped or used whole. The best way to get the most out of the flavor of garlic is to fry it. 

Fried garlic has a unique umami-laden flavor and crunchy texture that is often used as a garnish. It can also be mixed with other ingredients to make all kinds of sauces and even salad dressings.

Garlic can also be mixed and matched with another spice plant, ginger! Ginger and garlic create a duo like no other.

These two ingredients are called for in many recipes and their use is considered packaged in many cuisines, especially Chinese recipes!

Cloves can also be added whole and allowed to simmer to soften their outer shell. Large cloves, like those from China, can be fried whole and used as a presentation piece or in marinades.

Similarly, pickled garlic cloves are also a great option and can be used in a number of recipes.

Cultivation of bulbs with teeth

Garlic bulbs can also regrow with minimal soil or even just water. That’s right, you can re-grow multiple bulbs with just cloves and water in a regular container.

To do this, you just have to take a large container and let the cloves float on the water for 1 or 2 days . You will start to notice a green growth on top of the nails. This is called the sprout, which will become the garlic plant.

Once the bulb has germinated, simply lift it out of the water and plant it in moist soil. Covers all teeth except the bud.

Keep the soil moist by adding just a little water every few days. Do not flood the pot or the garlic may die.

Let the plants grow and dry out for up to 9 months and voila! You will have regrown multiple garlic bulbs with normal garlic cloves.

How to store garlic bulbs and cloves

Garlic is easy to store as long as you keep it away from moisture.

As we have already explained above, when exposed to water, garlic sprouts. Therefore, the best way to store whole bulbs is to keep them in a ventilated place, away from sunlight.

It can be a basket on your balcony or anywhere that is continuously exposed to light wind.

The air will help keep the garlic dry and also keep it fresh.

If you store garlic this way, it will stay fresh for up to 5 months, but we recommend that you use the bulbs as soon as possible to get the most out of their flavour. 

The blended garlic paste, which is processed by adding a few bulbs and a bit of water to aid the blending process, can be stored in an airtight jar in the fridge for about 1-2 weeks.

Make sure the fridge temperature is always at 40°F for best results.

You can also freeze the garlic paste in a freezer-safe container for several months, but we don’t recommend doing this, as the paste is likely to lose its flavor over time, and garlic is the type of herb that is best to use fresh if given the opportunity.

As we have said, ginger and garlic paste can also be combined and stored in the same way.

Many manufacturers also produce jars of ginger garlic paste that do not require refrigeration due to the addition of preservatives and additives.

This allows for easy storage, but you should try to avoid these processed herbs, as they can pose a health risk just for convenience.

Plus, you’ll likely end up refrigerating the jar after you open it, which defeats the purpose of having all those extra preservatives.

It’s best to make a custom ginger garlic paste at home.

Garlic can be thought of as different parts of a complete herb. The bulb contains cloves and the cloves can be separated from the bulb and processed individually. Each one has its use in the culinary and gathering world. 

The bulbs are best suited to being cooked whole for maximum flavor extraction, as well as providing the added convenience of not creating a mess.

On the other hand, cloves can also be used individually to garnish, flavor and cook different recipes.

Related questions

Now that you know the difference between bulbs and garlic cloves, here are a few related questions to help you tell the difference between the two!

What are garlic bulbs?

Garlic bulbs are different from garlic bulbs.  Although both are edible, the bulbils form on a garlic stalk like a flower, rather than growing underground.

They have a mild, slightly sweet flavor, but are rarely used in cooking, unlike their low-plant counterpart.

Do I have to peel the garlic bulbs and cloves before mixing or frying them?

Yes. Peeling is the way to go when it comes to using this herb because the skin never completely falls apart and is thick enough to survive even food processors.

If you want a smooth paste, we recommend peeling the garlic first.

The same applies to cooking garlic cloves; Always remove the skin before adding garlic to any recipe or you could end up with unwanted, inedible vegetable skin on your food.

How can you tell if garlic cloves and bulbs have gone bad?

Garlic is a dry herb, so if you notice any sort of slime or fungal growth on the bulb or on the cloves, it may be time to throw it out.

The texture of a healthy garlic bulb is firm or hard. You can check if the teeth and bulb are healthy by pressing the bulb at random points with your fingers.

If you notice any depression or moisture when pressed, it may indicate that the bulb has failed. 

Remember that under optimal conditions, garlic bulbs will keep well for 3-4 months or longer if kept in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and moisture.

What benefits does garlic have for health?

Garlic has endless health benefits. It is used in folk medicine and a lot of research is also being carried out to determine its benefits in modern medical science.

It is said to help numerous bodily functions and is also rich in minerals and vitamins.

Garlic is loaded with magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, calcium, and much more . It’s low in calories, but it’s the perfect ingredient to add to a number of healthy dishes.