How To Slice Garlic Paper Thin (2 Effective Methods)

To slice garlic paper thin, remove the papery skin, then cut it using a kitchen knife or a mandolin. The thinner the edge, the easier it is for you to get super-thin slices. These are two common ways to achieve thin-sliced garlic for your recipes.

Garlic is a super-popular component in the home kitchen with many health benefits and dozens of uses in recipes worldwide. Still, many have struggled to get desired thickness cuts to bring the recipe the flavor it is deserved.

So, join us today to know how to slice garlic paper thin, how to differentiate between the sliced, minced, and crushed form, plus tips to preserve it properly.

Best Ways To Slice Garlic (With Instructions)

Preparation stage

Choose a good bulb without hollow or dehydrated cloves and sprouting. Then, take the number of cloves you need, peel off the skin, cut off the root ends, and quickly wash them under running water.

How to remove garlic’s skin: Put all the cloves on a clean and flat surface (like a cutting board), place the flat surface of the knife over, and gently press toward the cloves until you hear a slight crushing sound. Then the skin will be loose and easily removed.

Now you have your cloves ready for the cut. Next, there are two ways on how to slice garlic paper-thin, as demonstrated below.

Method 1: Using a kitchen knife and a cutting board.

Choose a small and thin-edge knife to allow paper-thin cut and not obstruct your view of the clove.
Place the cutting board on a flat and balanced surface and ut the peeled garlic clove on it.
Use one hand to keep one side of the clove, and the other grasp the knife. Gradually run the knife crosswise on the clove to your wanted thickness.

Bonus tips:

Many have used a razor blade to achieve super-thin slices. You can try it if you have a razor edge at home. Still, remember that tiny garlic pieces can get burnt real quick, and you should be cautious when cooking with these pieces.
If you are new here, consider cutting the first half of the clove for your current session, and store the second half for other recipes. The first half is easy to cut since you have the rest to hold on to. Still, if you want to slice the rest, place the cut surface down on the board to keep it stable and then slice from the above down to the board.

Method 2: Using a mandolin.

A mandolin often comes with a super-thin blade fixed with a small gap to the working surface, plus a white compartment mounted on a rail allowing the cloves inside to glide through the blade. Here are the steps.

Fill the white compartment with 2 to 3 cloves, depending on the size.
Attach the plunger to the compartment to allow you to press the cloves into the blade.
Slide the compartment over the blade on both sides to cut the garlic into super-thin slices.

Difference Between Sliced, Minced, And Crushed Garlic

Sliced garlic

It can be delivered by hand-cutting or a mandolin, as mentioned. Consider this type if you want to consume garlic along with other components and get a mild scent.

Typically, you will cook sliced garlic for about 1 minute until it turns golden or light brown.

Minced garlic

It can be made by pressing or hand-chopping, resulting in a similar form to crushed garlic but is more extensive. Consider this type if you want a medium taste that can release in a long period.

Since it can get burnt quickly, whether you fry it beforehand or add it to the recipe at the end of the cooking process, 30 seconds would be enough.

Crushed garlic

It is recommended to use a garlic press to deliver crushed garlic, although you can chop it with a knife. This form releases flavor intermediately with the biggest amount of essential oil among the three types.

Crushed garlic is best for marinating and making sauce. Typically, people love to quickly fry it with onion to achieve a strong enough flavor before mixing them into the recipes.

Do You Cut The End Off Garlic?

People tend to cut off the root end of garlic as it is pretty fibrous and hard compared to the rest of the clove. Besides, cutting the end off allows us to peel the papery skin off easier.

How To Store Unused Garlic

Store at room temperature: This method is recommended for unpeeled garlic. You should locate it in a mesh bag or loosely woven basket and hang it on the wall at room temperature and moderate humidity.
Refrigerate it: This method is excellent for peeled and chopped garlic. Just put them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for a week.
Freeze it: To freeze garlic, remove the skin, chop it into pieces or blend it until evenly minced. Then, position it in an ice cube tray or a silicone sheet.

Notes: At room temperature, garlic tends to be dehydrated in the winter when the moisture content is low. So, consider changing to the last two methods during this time.

How Do You Tell If Garlic Is Bad?

When it changes the color: Spoiled garlic often turns yellow or brown alongside growing brown spots. Another cue is the green root growing from the center of the clove, which is bitter and should be removed.
When it changes the smell: Its initial scent is pretty spicy and aromatic. Once you notice a weird smell, chances are it has turned sour.
When it changes the texture: Good garlic should be firm when touching and pressing. Once it becomes soft and mushy, it’s no longer suitable as it used to be.

Can You Eat The Root End Of Garlic?

The root end of garlic is tough and fibrous, thus should be removed from the clove. Still, if you don’t have any problem with its texture and color, simply retain it since it doesn’t affect your health.

How Much Garlic Is Too Much For Your Diet?

It is recommended to consume from 1 to 2 cloves per day maximum. Avoid over-eating garlic to prevent your body from side effects such as heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, and bad breath.

What is the best way to store sliced garlic?

There are a few different ways that you can store sliced garlic.

One way is to place the garlic in a jar with olive oil.

The olive oil will help keep the garlic from drying out.

Another way is to place the garlic in a sealed container in the freezer.

This will help keep it fresh for a longer period of time.

Lastly, you can also place the garlic in a sealed container and store it in the fridge.

This will help keep it fresh for about a week.

Whichever way you choose to store your garlic, just make sure that it is in a sealed container to prevent it from drying out.

Is it better to mince or slice garlic?

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to mincing or slicing garlic.

It really depends on your personal preference.

If you want the garlic to release more of its flavor, then you may want to mince it.

However, if you want the garlic to be a little bit more subtle, then you may want to slice it.

Ultimately, it is up to you how you want to prepare the garlic.

Just make sure that you are using the correct method for the dish that you are preparing.

What are some recipes that use sliced garlic?

There are many recipes that use sliced garlic.

Some examples include soups, stews, pasta dishes, and even chicken recipes.

If you are looking for ideas, then you can browse through a cookbook or search for recipes online.

There are plenty of recipes to choose from, so you are sure to find one that suits your taste buds.

How can I get more flavor out of my sliced garlic?

There are a few different ways that you can get more flavor out of your sliced garlic.

One way is to prepare the garlic in advance.

This will allow the flavors to develop over time.

Another way is to roast the garlic.

This will create a delicious, savory flavor.

Also, you can also add garlic to a dish towards the end of cooking.

This will allow the flavor to remain intact without being too overpowering.

Whichever method you choose, just make sure that you are using the correct techniques to bring out the best flavor in your garlic.