New Cook needs advice?

Question

I have recently discovered the wonderful world of cooking. I have been trying new things and watching cooking shows for over 3 months now. But, my question is: A: How do you prepare garlic cloves to be minced? I bought one garlic thingie at the supermarket and am not sure how to peel it. B: How long does garlic stay good in the fridge? Someone help!! Thanks! :)

Answer 1

Congrats on learning to cook. I have been cooking for over 30 years. Garlic "thingys" are called a head of garlic. The individual parts are called cloves. To prepare a clove, just peal away the skin and select how ever many cloves you want. Lay the clove on a cutting board and whack it with the flat side of a big knife. It will split the skin right off it. Then, just remove the skin, and run your knife through it by keeping the tip of the knife on the board at all times, and running the section of the knife behind the tip back and forth through the garlic. Simple. Here is a tip. To remove the smell of garlic from your hands, simply run your hands over your stainless steel sink-the steel neutralizes the oder. Good luck with your cooking!

Answer 2

Cooking is wonderful. I just discovered it and have learned so much. On Food Network there is a show called Good Eats with Alton Brown and they have an edition on garlic. Watch it this is where I got my information. Hope you get some good advice from my answer.
A. Sure you can use the flat side of your knife and smash it that works to get the skin off. But you can also just place the whole thing, skin and all in the mincer. Then just take the skin out once you have minced the garlic. You really don't have to peel it but you can if you want to.
B. 6 Months is about right. After that it looses its flavor and moistness. NOTE -- if you have already minced the garlic you have to use it. It will only stay fresh in the fridge for one day covered in oil if it is already minced. Bacteria will grow on the garlic if it is longer. The reason you can buy minced garlic soaked in oil in a jar from the store is that they use special preservatives to keep the bacteria from growing.

Any more questions just ask!!

Answer 3

I have a garlic press let's me put the whole clove , skin and all, in and only the garlic is pressed out. Garlic will stay minced in the fridge a couple of weeks. But everything in the fridge will smell like garlic. I just prepare the exact amount that I need. The whole head stays in the cabinet where it stays nice and dry. Congrats on your new skill/ hobby.

Answer 4

If you watch the cooking shows, they peel the outer layer of the bulb to get the individual cloves off. Take a large knife and using the flat side and your hand on top, crush down on the clove. This will make the skin come right off. Do this carefully so as to not cut yourself. This is the technique chef's use because it is fast. They do make a garlic peeler you can find at professional cooking stores and sites. It is like a rubber tube you place the clove in and roll it back and forth and it sort of peels the garlic for you. Good luck!Cooking is fun.

Answer 5

It is easy to peel garlic. First separate the garlic cloves from each other. With the help pf a knife slit the top of each clove and then the peel can come of either with the knife or with your hands also. To be able to preserve garlic in the fridge, after peeling it can stay for 8 days in the fridge, more than a month also in the freezer, and if u preserve in oil or lemon and salt can stay even longer. If not peeled it can stay either outside or in the fridge for a month.

Answer 6

To remove skin from garlic:
Take a wooden spoon and cover the clove with the concave side. Press down hard on the spoon.
Or, use the bottom of an unopened can (soup, etc.). Put the clove on the work surface and give it a good whack.

Storing: Garlic stays fresh for weeks when stored in a cool, dry, dark place with plenty of air circulation. In other words, keep them out of your refrigerator and instead in something like a metal mesh basket hung in a dark pantry.

For indefinite storage, peel and store the cloves in a glass jar filled with olive oil.

http://www.easycook.com/garlic.php

Answer 7

Place an individual garlic clove (skin and all) on your cutting board, place the flat side of the blade of a large knife on the garlic clove and then smash it with your hand. That loosens the skin and it should peel right off. I've seen Rachael Ray do it thousands of times = )

Answer 8

What I do is take a clove and smash it with the flat of a knife, clove knife flat hit with heel of your hand, remove skin film and mince. No contraption needed. Peeled garlic in oil lasts about 6 months in the fridge, airtight container