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How to Roast Garlic

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Garlic is a flavorful member of the onion family. Roasting mellows the flavor and turns the already soft garlic to somewhat creamy. Roasted garlic makes a delicious spread for bread and a wonderful addition to many recipes. Here’s how to roast garlic easily.

A mason jar and fork with roasted garlic.
Roasted Garlic in the Oven

I love garlic but I absolutely adore roasted garlic. In our family, spreading roasted garlic over fresh crusty bread or focaccia is one of our favorite appetizers.

I grew up eating garlic regularly. And the truth is, garlic is very good for your health. So, I try to add it as much as I can to our diet. And of course, the easiest way is to use roasted as compared to raw garlic.

For those of you that have never tried roasted garlic, the main difference you will see is, that, unlike raw garlic, which has a slightly pungent and strong garlic flavor, roasted garlic is smooth, creamy, and slightly sweet with a mild garlic flavor.

Why make roasted garlic?

  • Roasted garlic has so much potential. From using it as a spread-over toast to replacing regular garlic in any savory recipe.
  • And the best part is, that it gets ready in just 45 minutes.
  • Also, you can replace raw garlic in any recipe with roasted garlic. It’s that simple.
  • Try it over roasted potatoes such as rosemary roast potatoes.
  • Or, add it to mashed potatoes to make roasted garlic mashed potatoes.
  • And when making sandwiches and wraps, use a light smear of roasted garlic to take it to the next level.
  • Also, mash the roasted garlic and combine it with olive oil to make wonderfully mild garlic oil. This is perfect when you want a light flavor of garlic, like on toast!
A mason jar with roasted garlic cloves.
Roasted Garlic in the Oven

Ingredients and substitutes

  • Garlic – Choose a whole head that won’t fall apart easily when you cut the tips off. This way it will cook evenly.
  • Olive oil – This softens the cloves as they cook preventing them from burning.
  • Salt and pepper – These are optional but I think necessary.
Ingredients for roasting garlic.
Roasting garlic in the oven

Roasted garlic recipe


  • Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C/ Gas Mark 6.
  • Peel and discard the loose outer layers of the garlic skins. Cut the top 1/4 head of the garlic bulb so you can see the individual flesh of garlic.
    Pro tip – Do not remove all the outer layers of skin as it protects the individual cloves from getting burnt.
  • Cut an aluminum foil large enough to wrap around the garlic head like a foil packet. You can also use a baking pan instead of foil.
    Pro tip – I find that the steam created inside the aluminum foil helps soften the cloves and make them creamier.
  • Place the garlic head on the aluminum foil. Add the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap the foil around it so the cloves are covered.
  • Then, place on a baking tray and into the oven for 30 to 40 minutes. The garlic cloves will be softened and soft when pressed with a fork.
Progress pictures roasting the garlic bulbs.
Roasted Garlic in the Oven
  • Cool the cloves for at least 15 minutes or until cool enough to touch.
  • Next, pick each individual clove of garlic using the tip of a paring knife or fork. Alternatively, squeeze the whole head towards the open side so all the clove puree comes out.
    Pro tip – Make sure the garlic head is cooled enough when you squeeze so you don’t get a burn.
  • Store in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I like to add some olive oil to the jar to prevent it from drying out.
Aluminum foil with garlic heads roasted in the oven.
Roasting garlic in the oven

Tips for success

  • Remove the papery outside layers of the garlic bulb to get some toasted skin on the cloves.
  • Alternatively, keep the outside of those papery layers to get a smoother creamier garlic spread.
  • Be generous with the olive oil. It helps keep the cloves nice and moist. 
  • Also, don’t forget the salt. It’s what breaks down the garlic and makes a wonderfully creamy spread. 
  • Store the garlic cloves in a pool of olive oil. The oil gets infused with the garlic flavor so you can use the oil as garlic oil. 
  • Plus the oil softens the garlic cloves and makes them spreadable. 

Variations

  • If you don’t want to use a large package, you can wrap individual whole garlic bulbs in pieces of parchment paper or aluminum in a muffin tin.
  • Alternatively, you can wrap the individual garlic cloves (instead of the whole bulb) in a large piece of aluminum foil and bake as above.
A mason jar with roasted garlic cloves.
Roasted Garlic in the Oven

How to use roasted garlic

  • My favorite combination is mashed roasted garlic with salted butter. You can make the extra spread and keep it in the refrigerator for weeks. Use it to make garlic rolls and garlic chicken.
  • I love roasted garlic as a dip with a slice of crusty bread.
  • Also, drizzle it over focaccia or spread individual cloves of garlic over toasted bruschetta and crostini.
  • Drizzle roasted garlic oil over your favorite flatbread such as naan or pita bread.
  • Use roasted garlic in your favorite pasta dishes because it is milder than regular garlic.
  • Similarly, use roasted garlic clove or oil in your salad dressings, as well as in your favorite hummus.
  • Add some thyme, rosemary, or fresh herbs to make roasted garlic-flavored olive oil.
Roasting garlic in the oven

Frequently asked questions

How long will this roasted garlic keep?

These roasted garlic cloves will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can add a bit of olive oil to the jar to increase its shelflife for 3 weeks or more.

How is roasted garlic different from raw garlic?

Raw garlic has a strong garlicky smell and pungent flavor. Roasted garlic has a mild garlic flavor, and is sweeter rather than pungent in flavor.

Is roasted garlic the same as black garlic?

No, they are completely different. Black garlic is made by keeping garlic heads at a certain temperature for a few weeks. It can be cut, minced, and blended. Roasted garlic is made by roasting garlic in the oven on high heat.

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A mason jar with roasted garlic cloves.

How to Roast Garlic

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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Coooking Temperature: 400°F/200°C/ Gas Mark 6
Calories: 4kcal
Adjust Servings Here: 2 servings

Description

Garlic is a flavorful member of the onion family. Roasting mellows the flavor and turns the already soft garlic somewhat creamy. Roasted garlic makes a delicious spread for bread and a wonderful addition to many recipes. Here's how to roast garlic easily.

Video

Ingredients 

  • 1 A whole head of garlic (I used 4 garlic bulbs)
  • 1 tbsp Olive oil
  • ¼ tsp Salt
  • ¼ tsp Pepper
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Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C/ Gas Mark 6
  • Peel and discard the loose outer layers of the garlic skins. Cut the top 1/4 head of the garlic bulb so you can see the individual flesh of garlic.
    Pro tip – Do not remove all the outer layers of skin as it protects the individual cloves from getting burnt.
  • Cut an aluminum foil large enough to wrap around the garlic head like a foil packet. You can also use a baking pan instead of foil.
    Pro tip – I find the steam created inside the aluminum foil helps soften the cloves and make them creamier.
  • Place the garlic head on the aluminum foil. Add the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap the foil around it so the cloves are covered.
  • Place on a baking tray and into the oven for 30 to 40 minutes. The garlic cloves will be softened and be soft when pressed with a fork.
  • Cool the cloves for at least 15 minutes or until cool enough to touch.
  • Pick each individual clove of garlic using the tip of a paring knife or fork. Alternatively, squeeze the whole head towards the open side so all the clove puree comes out.
    Pro tip – Make sure the garlic head is cooled enough when you squeeze so you don't get a burn.
  • Store in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I like to add some olive oil to the jar to prevent it from drying out.

Recipe Notes & Tips

  • Remove the papery outside layers of the garlic bulb to get some toasted skin on the cloves
  • Alternatively, keep the outside of those papery layers to get a smoother creamier garlic spread.
  • Be generous with the olive oil it helps keep the cloves nice and moist. 
  • Also, don’t forget the garlic. It’s what breaks down the garlic and makes a wonderfully creamy spread. 
  • Store the garlic cloves in a pool of olive oil. Then oil gets infused with the garlic flavor so you can use the oil as garlic oil. 
  • Plus the oil softens the garlic cloves and makes them spreadable. 

Using roasted garlic 

  • Replace raw garlic in any recipe with roasted garlic. It’s that simple.
  • Try it over roasted potatoes such as rosemary roast potatoes,
  • Or add it to mashed potatoes to make roasted garlic mashed potatoes.
  • When making sandwiches and wraps use a light smear of roasted garlic to take it to the next level.
  • Mash the roasted garlic and combine it with olive oil to make a wonderfully mildly garlic oil. This is perfect when you want a light flavor of garlic such as on toast!

Conversions Used

1 lb = 453 grams, 1 cup = 240 ml, 1 stick = 113g, 1 tbsp= 15 ml, 1 tsp= 5 ml,

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
How to Roast Garlic
Amount per Serving
Calories
4
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
5
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Sodium
 
177
mg
7
%
Potassium
 
6
mg
0
%
Carbohydrates
 
1
g
0
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
1
g
2
%
Vitamin A
 
9
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
3
mg
0
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you

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9 Comments

  1. Noreen Gamble says:

    Hi Veena,
    Can I freeze the roasted garlic with a little olive oil?

    1. You can freeze roasted garlic with olive oil. Just thaw in the fridge overnight for best results. Thanks

  2. 5 stars
    Done these all my life, and have always cut the ????? head or end of where the little roots show, are you calling that the top, or that part or the end where the cloves just come to a small point.???? So hard to see what your cutting . Don’t think it makes much difference and going to try the pointed end once and see what happens. Thanks Veena

    Stony

    1. Stony, this is the clearest short I can get in the video and I’ve done it three times. The bottom is the root that holds the head together. If you cut that the whole bulb will fall apart and it won’t be easy to squeeze the soft garlic cloves out. This way even after roasting the head stays in tack. But, again no matter which side you cut. It will still roast wonderfully.

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