Have you ever asked yourself or your friend how to roast garlic cloves in the microwave? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.
Normally, roasting garlic cloves takes about an hour in the oven, but sometimes we at-home chefs just can’t spare the time. If you have a recipe that calls for roasted garlic cloves yet find yourself pinched for time, look no further than your trusty microwave.
Our article will cover all you need to know about roasting garlic in the microwave, including:
- How to roast garlic in the microwave
- Tips for the best roast garlic
- Drying garlic in the microwave
- Preventing burned garlic
- And more…
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How to Roast Garlic in a Microwave
To roast garlic in the microwave, you want to first slice the top off of the head of garlic and set it aside. Put the rest in a microwave-safe bowl with two tablespoons of water.
Drizzle olive oil to cover the top of the garlic completely and add a pinch of salt.
Next, put the top half of the garlic back on and cover the bowl with a lid or plate that’s safe for the microwave. Microwave on medium heat for around eight or nine minutes or until the garlic is very soft.
Once it has cooled, simply squeeze out the cloves from the skin into another bowl. Discard the skin and enjoy your buttery soft roasted garlic cloves.
Tips
- Depending on your microwave’s wattage, you may have to play around with the amount of time to cook the garlic. It is better to use less time than more at first to experiment as you can always pop the garlic back in the microwave, but you can’t undo an overcooked clove.
- If your recipe doesn’t call for a whole head of garlic, you can easily store the rest to last 1-2 weeks. Put it in a small, tightly covered container and douse the garlic in olive oil, completely covering the garlic. Keep the container in the fridge.
- When the garlic is used up, don’t forget to use your garlic-infused olive oil as a bread dip or a salad dressing.
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What happens to garlic when it’s roasted in the microwave?
On a scientific level, when the garlic is heated, its enzymes will be partially inactivated.
The pungent taste and smell of garlic come from these enzymes, so roasting garlic in the microwave will be slightly duller, but most people say it’s so minuscule, you can’t taste the difference.
Also, when the water in the garlic is heated, its cells rupture, breaking the bond between the outside skins and the interior clove.
This makes it easier to squeeze out the soft garlic clove.
Why roast garlic in a microwave?
The main reason someone would rather roast garlic in a microwave over any other way is the ease of use and time constraints.
Roasting garlic in the microwave is super easy and only takes a few minutes. You can also use this cooking method for certain recipes and dishes.
Some dishes that can be cooked using microwave-roasted garlic are: angel hair pasta, garlic butter sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, cheesy ravioli lasagna, chicken fettuccine alfredo pasta, tomato salad, a small lasagna, and baked ziti pasta. Italian lovers rejoice!
Is it better to roast garlic in a microwave or a conventional oven?
If you are short on time or need a huge quantity of roasted garlic, the best way to get it is through the microwave.
Roasting garlic in a conventional oven will take about an hour and, although it gives it that nice brown finish, it won’t be that much different from microwaved garlic.
Using the microwave to roast garlic will diminish the scent and flavor a bit so it’s less pungent than using a conventional oven, but this is so minor, no one will likely notice.
Can you dry garlic in a microwave?
Luckily, you can save yourself time and effort by drying garlic in a microwave. Most people want to dry garlic to create garlic powder and this can be done in a jiff.
First, pop the entire clove in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds. This makes it easier to peel. Once the garlic is peeled and washed, spread it on paper towels to soak up the excess water.
Next, slice the garlic and place it in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate, and microwave for five minutes at around 850 watts. Allow it to sit with the microwave door open for 1-2 minutes and cook again for five minutes.
Let them cool again for 1-2 minutes and remove any cloves that are already dried.
Cook the remaining wet garlic pieces for another 2-3 minutes until dry and then you can grind them into a powder.
How much time does garlic take in the microwave?
To completely roast the garlic cloves, it will take about eight to nine minutes depending on the wattage.
To make them easier to peel, it only takes about 15-20 seconds.
How do you know when roasted garlic is done?
If the clove in the center of the garlic head, can be pierced with a knife, and is completely soft, the entire head is completely roasted.
When the garlic is done roasting, it should easily slide out of its skin and be soft enough to spread like butter.
How do you roast garlic without burning it?
It’s better to start with less time and heat and increase both slowly to ensure you do not burn your garlic in the microwave.
As most microwaves take around 8-9 minutes to fully roast garlic, start with only four minutes and check the garlic.
If it still feels hard, it needs more time. Increase it by one to two minutes and keep checking the garlic until it’s soft.
How to Roast Garlic in the Microwave | Microwave Roasted Garlic >> Check out the video below:
In Summary
Roasting garlic can elevate even the simplest meal, but you don’t have to be a master chef or slave away in the kitchen all day to get that famous flavor.
Instead, use the tips in this article to get a perfectly roasted garlic clove from your microwave in minutes.
The time this hack will save you in the kitchen can go toward creating delicious garlic dishes such as garlic mashed potatoes or baked ziti. Bon appétit!