Working on a recipe and need to know the cloves to minced garlic conversion, or vice versa - it's all here, plus additional garlic substitutes! I've included everything you need to swap out fresh garlic for jarred, minced garlic and more!
Choosing the perfect amount of garlic when swapping fresh for jarred is quick and easy as long as you have this handy guide!
Garlic is one of the most used ingredients in cooking. It can be the difference between a perfectly flavored dish and an underwhelming bland dish.
However, as popular and beloved garlic is in the kitchen it can be tricky to figure out exactly how much to use.
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How many cloves of garlic equal a teaspoon?
One recipe may call for a clove of garlic, while another recipe calls for a teaspoon of chopped garlic. Another recipe may ask for a teaspoon of garlic powder, while another one asks for 2 teaspoons of minced garlic.
Cloves, chopped, minced, powder. What does it all mean? More importantly, how do you correctly convert everything from that big bulb of garlic you grabbed at the store into varying teaspoon measurements?
Use the garlic conversion chart below! Using this chart, you will quickly know how much garlic, and what form of garlic, to use in any recipe.
Don’t stop at the chart though. Keep reading to understand why these conversions are so important to follow.
Quick Garlic Conversions
Here is a handy quick reference for how much of the many garlic products you can use when a clove (or cloves) of fresh garlic is called for.
- 1 clove of garlic = 1 teaspoon of freshly chopped garlic
- 1 clove of garlic = ½ teaspoon of store-bought minced garlic
- 1 clove of garlic = ½ teaspoon of garlic paste
- 1 clove of garlic = ½ teaspoon of crushed garlic
- 1 clove of garlic = ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 clove of garlic = ½ teaspoon of garlic salt
- 1 clove of garlic = ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 clove of garlic = ½ teaspoon garlic juice
- 1 clove of garlic = ½ teaspoon garlic flakes
Save this conversion chart to quickly reference anytime you are cooking, but don’t close your tab just yet! Quickly review the following notes for how to best use each form of garlic.
Due to garlic’s strong flavor, these notes will help you make the best choice for all your garlic conversions in the future.
Is Chopped Garlic the same as Minced Garlic?
The difference between minced garlic and chopped garlic is small. However, this small difference can make a huge difference in your recipe.
In fact, not paying attention to if the garlic is meant to be chopped or minced can ruin a recipe.
Chopped garlic results in larger pieces of garlic. This can be large chunks, slices, or roughly diced pieces.
When you peel and cut a clove of garlic at home you usually end up with chopped garlic. Chopped garlic pieces can still be seen when added to a recipe.
In contrast, minced garlic is finely chopped; sometimes to the point that it resembles a paste. The garlic you buy in a jar at the store is usually minced garlic.
You can also mince garlic at home by finely chopping it to the point that it is difficult to see individual pieces.
Why does it matter if garlic is minced or chopped?
Minced garlic will provide a more pungent flavor to your dish. This is a result of two things. The first is that more flavor is released from the “juice” of the garlic when it is finely chopped. The second is because there are so many small pieces of the garlic it ends up being distributed throughout more of the dish.
Therefore, if a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of chopped garlic and you use 1 teaspoon of minced garlic it is likely that your dish will have a stronger and more pungent garlic taste.
Sometimes minced garlic from a jar is not as strong as freshly minced garlic. In this case, you may need to add more garlic to get the desired taste.
However, always begin with the suggested conversions first. You can always add more if needed.
Garlic Paste vs Minced Garlic
Garlic paste is gaining popularity as a store-bought version of ready-to-use garlic. It is basically crushed garlic that has been made into a paste, rather than chopped.
Most garlic paste is available in tubes that can be found in the produce section of your local grocery store. It is a great substitute for minced garlic since the conversion is the same.
Another ready-to-use form of garlic popping up in stores is garlic cubes. These are sold in the freezer section in stores like Trader Joe’s.
They are literally just cubes of minced garlic that’s been pressed into cubes and frozen. If using these, read the conversion chart provided on the package for the best conversion rate.
Garlic Cloves to Tablespoon
What if a recipe calls for a tablespoon of chopped or minced garlic, instead of a teaspoon? Use these conversions to help you convert larger quantities of garlic.
The standard teaspoon to Tablespoon conversion for any ingredient is 3 teaspoons = 1 Tablespoon. Therefore, if 1 garlic clove = 1 teaspoon of chopped garlic then 3 garlic cloves = 1 Tablespoon of chopped garlic.
While the conversion rate for 1 clove of chopped garlic and minced garlic is different in smaller quantities, I suggest using the same conversion rate for both chopped and minced garlic when measuring in tablespoons.
Remember that minced garlic is MORE pungent than chopped garlic. As a result, when using large quantities of garlic, the flavor can quickly enhance and overpower a recipe.
Therefore, even though the standard conversion would be to use 6 cloves of garlic for 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, start with the conversions above: 3 garlic cloves for 1 tablespoon of minced garlic.
You can always add more if needed, but once the garlic has been added to a dish it is difficult to reduce the taste. It’s best to start with less and add more, a ½ teaspoon at a time if needed.
Garlic Powder and Garlic Salt Conversions
Garlic powder or garlic salt are popular ingredients in many recipes. In fact, many recipes will call for these instead of fresh garlic.
However, if a recipe does call for fresh garlic and you don’t have any on hand you can use the conversions provided above.
Garlic powder is made from dehydrated garlic that has been ground to a powder. It is a more concentrated flavor which is why you only use ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder for each clove of fresh garlic.
Garlic salt is granulated (dehydrated garlic) mixed with salt. Garlic salt adds extra salt to your recipe, so if you are substituting garlic salt for fresh garlic be mindful that you don’t over-salt the dish.
I recommend leaving out any additional salt the recipe calls for until after you have added the garlic salt and tested the taste. *Plus, let your dish cook so that the flavors can 'meld' before enhancing or adjusting seasoning.
What if you do have fresh garlic on hand, but the recipe calls for garlic powder? Use this conversion for swapping garlic powder to fresh garlic: 1 Tablespoon (or 3 teaspoons) of minced garlic = ¾ teaspoon of garlic powder.
In other words, you can use 1 garlic clove (of chopped garlic) for each ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder that a recipe may require.
What is granulated garlic, garlic flakes, and garlic juice?
Granulated garlic, garlic flakes, and garlic juice are probably the least familiar forms of garlic. However, all three of these forms can be used in place of fresh garlic.
Granulated garlic is similar to garlic powder. It is made from dehydrated garlic that has been processed and crushed. Imagine a consistency like salt.
Since it is not as finely ground as garlic powder it is less concentrated; therefore, you are able to use more of it.
Garlic flakes are slices of garlic that are dried. They have not been ground into a powder form.
These would be more widely used in a dish that calls for chopped garlic, rather than minced since it will result in large pieces of garlic in the dish.
Garlic juice is a real thing. It is the juice that is released from garlic when it is pressed. When you crush or mince garlic at home you will notice this juice that is released. Garlic juice is not widely sold or used, but it can be found if needed.
Whether your recipe calls for a clove of fresh garlic or a ½ teaspoon of garlic juice, the conversion chart above will help you get the perfect taste in your recipes using whatever form of garlic you have on hand.
Simply remember that with any form of garlic it’s best to start with less and add more as needed!
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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