Not all garlic heads are created equal. We group bulbs into four grades by weight and typical clove count:
| Grade | Weight per Bulb (g) | Typical Cloves | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | < 30 | 6–8 | Petite bulbs with small cloves—ideal for delicate dishes. |
| M | 30–40 | 8–10 | Standard supermarket size—versatile and reliable. |
| L | 40–50 | 10–12 | Large, plump cloves—perfect if you love bold garlic flavor. |
| XL | > 50 | ≥ 12 | Extra‑large, hearty bulbs—best for roasting whole heads. |
Different varieties bring unique flavors, storage qualities, and bulb sizes:
| Variety | Type | Avg. Bulb Weight (g) | Clove Size | Flavor Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artichoke | Softneck | 30–40 | Small | Mild and sweet; stores well. |
| Silverskin | Softneck | 20–30 | Small | Sharp bite; excellent shelf life. |
| Rocambole | Hardneck | 40–50 | Medium | Rich, complex “garlicky” notes. |
| Porcelain | Hardneck | 50–60 | Large | Pungent heat; robust intensity. |
| Purple Stripe | Hardneck | 35–45 | Medium | Sweet undertones; decorative streaks. |
Choose a variety based on your flavor goals: Porcelain for spicy roast, Artichoke for gentle sautés, Rocambole when you crave deep garlic complexity.
Understanding common conversions makes recipe adjustments a breeze.
Weight Units
1 pound (lb) = 454 g
1 ounce (oz) ≈ 28.35 g
Clove Weights
Small clove ≈ 2 g
Medium clove ≈ 3 g
Large clove ≈ 4 g
Volume Measures
1 clove minced ≈ 1 teaspoon (tsp) ≈ 5 mL
1 tablespoon (Tbsp) = 3 tsp = 15 mL
Peeling Loss
Raw cloves lose about 10–15% weight after peeling.
Peeled weight≈Raw weight×0.85 \text{Peeled weight} \approx \text{Raw weight} \times 0.85
Here’s a handy table mapping common kitchen measures to garlic weight and cloves:
| Utensil | Volume (mL) | Approx. Garlic Weight (g) | Equivalent Cloves |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⅛ tsp | 0.6 | 0.4 | ~ 0.1 |
| ¼ tsp | 1.25 | 0.8 | ~ 0.3 |
| ½ tsp | 2.5 | 1.5 | ~ 0.5 |
| 1 tsp | 5 | 3.0 | 1 |
| 1 Tbsp | 15 | 9.0 | 3 |
| ¼ cup (~60 mL) | 60 | 36.0 | 12 |
| ½ cup (~120 mL) | 120 | 72.0 | 24 |
Assuming minced garlic has a density of about 0.6 g/mL.
| Grade | Weight Range (g) | Example Avg. Weight (g) |
|---|---|---|
| S | < 30 | 25 |
| M | 30–40 | 35 |
| L | 40–50 | 45 |
| XL | > 50 | 55 |
Use the “Example Avg.” column for rough calculations; adjust if your bulbs run smaller or larger.
| Grade | Avg. Bulb Weight (g) | Calculation | Bulbs per Pound |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 25 | 454 ÷ 25 | 18.2 ≈ 18 |
| M | 35 | 454 ÷ 35 | 12.97 ≈ 13 |
| L | 45 | 454 ÷ 45 | 10.1 ≈ 10 |
| XL | 55 | 454 ÷ 55 | 8.25 ≈ 8 |
| Clove Size | Weight (g) | Calculation | Ounces (oz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 2 | 2 ÷ 28.35 | 0.07 |
| Medium | 3 | 3 ÷ 28.35 | 0.11 |
| Large | 4 | 4 ÷ 28.35 | 0.14 |
| Grade | Avg. Bulb Weight (g) | Avg. Clove Weight (g) | Calc’d Clove Count (g/g) | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 25 | 2.5 | 25 ÷ 2.5 = 10 | 6–8 |
| M | 35 | 3 | 35 ÷ 3 ≈ 11.7 | 8–10 |
| L | 45 | 3.5 | 45 ÷ 3.5 ≈ 12.9 | 10–12 |
| XL | 55 | 4 | 55 ÷ 4 ≈ 13.8 | ≥ 12 |
| Cloves Minced | Volume (tsp) | Volume (Tbsp) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 tsp | 0.67 Tbsp |
| 3 | 3 tsp | 1 Tbsp |
| 4 | 4 tsp | 1.33 Tbsp |
| 5 | 5 tsp | 1.67 Tbsp |
| Clove Size | Raw Weight (g) | Peeled Weight (g) | Minced Volume (tsp/mL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 2 | 1.7 | 0.7 tsp (3.5 mL) |
| Medium | 3 | 2.6 | 1 tsp (5 mL) |
| Large | 4 | 3.4 | 1.3 tsp (6.5 mL) |
| Clove Size | Total Weight (g) | Total Volume (tsp) | Tbsp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 2 × 2 = 4 | 0.7 × 2 = 1.4 | 0.47 Tbsp |
| Medium | 2 × 3 = 6 | 1 × 2 = 2 | 0.67 Tbsp |
| Large | 2 × 4 = 8 | 1.3 × 2 = 2.6 | 0.87 Tbsp |
| Clove Size | Total Weight (g) | Total Volume (tsp) | Tbsp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 4 × 2 = 8 | 0.7 × 4 = 2.8 | 0.93 Tbsp |
| Medium | 4 × 3 = 12 | 1 × 4 = 4 | 1.33 Tbsp |
| Large | 4 × 4 = 16 | 1.3 × 4 = 5.2 | 1.73 Tbsp |
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