Garlic Facts

Learn fun garlic facts, how garlic grows, what to look for when buying it, how to store it, and easy ways to cook with it. This page includes simple garlic recipes, a roast garlic video, and more garlic ideas for breads, dips, and flavorful cooking.

Fun Garlic Facts

Garlic is available all year.
Garlic grows underground much like onions.
It is planted in winter and harvested in summer.
Garlic adds strong flavor to many kinds of cooking.
A little garlic can change the flavor of an entire dish.

How Garlic Grows, Buying Tips, and Storage

When Garlic Is Available

Garlic is available all year.

How Garlic Grows

Garlic grows underground much like onions. It is planted in the winter and harvested in the summer time.

What to Look for When Buying Garlic

Choose garlic that is plump and firm. You do not want it to feel soft when squeezed. Avoid garlic with green sprouts.

Storage Tips

Store garlic in a cool, dark place with good ventilation.

Kid Tip: One bulb of garlic is made up of smaller pieces called cloves.

How to Cook with Garlic

Peel the papery outer skin from the garlic clove.
Mince the garlic with a knife or use a garlic press.
Sauté garlic in butter or oil for sauces, pasta, bread, vegetables, dips, or meat dishes.
Cook it gently so it becomes fragrant without burning.

Cooking Tip: A garlic press is a quick and easy way to mince garlic into very small pieces.

Food Science: Why Garlic Smells Stronger After Chopping

Why Does Garlic Smell Stronger When It Is Cut?

When garlic is whole, its smell is not as strong. But when you chop, crush, or press garlic, the inside cells break open. That releases natural compounds that create the strong garlic smell and flavor.

This is a fun example of how foods can change when they are cut, mixed, or cooked. It also connects well to our Food Science Experiments for Kids section.

Mini Activity

Explore a Garlic Bulb

Look at a whole garlic bulb.
Pull it apart and count the cloves inside.
Smell a clove before and after it is cut or crushed.
Talk about how the smell changes once the garlic is opened.

This is a simple way to help kids notice how ingredients change when they are cut.

Garlic Nutrition Facts

Garlic is a great source of manganese and contains vitamin B6 and vitamin C. It is also known for being used in herbal traditions.

Garlic is a great source of manganese.
It contains vitamin B6.
It contains vitamin C.
Garlic has been used often in herbal medicine traditions.

More Food Fact Resources

Recipes

Garlic Sauce Pasta

This simple garlic sauce is creamy, flavorful, and easy to pour over cooked pasta for a quick meal.

Category: Main Dish
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 10 minutes | Total: 25 minutes

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons parsley
Salt and pepper
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Sauté the butter and garlic together.
Take the pan off the heat, add the flour, and stir together to make a roux. The mixture will be thick.
Whisk in the chicken broth slowly.
Add the milk and parsley.
Add salt and pepper to taste and stir in the cheese.
Pour over cooked pasta.

Easy Add-In: Add chopped broccoli if desired.

Easy Garlic and Cheese Bread Sticks

These easy bread sticks are topped with garlic butter, parmesan cheese, parsley, and a little cayenne for extra flavor.

Category: Side Dish
Bake: 350°F
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 13 minutes
Yield: 1 package bread sticks

Prep: 10 minutes | Bake: 13 minutes | Total: 23 minutes

Ingredients

1 package refrigerated bread sticks
2 tablespoons garlic butter
2 minced garlic cloves
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil.
Lay the bread sticks on the foil.
Brush the top of each bread stick with garlic butter.
In a mixing bowl, stir together the cheese, parsley, and cayenne pepper.
Sprinkle the topping evenly over each stick.
Bake 13 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.

More Garlic Ideas

Easy Herb Garlic Bread

Try another simple garlic bread idea with herbs for an easy side dish.

Garlic Cheese Dip

Use garlic in a creamy dip recipe for snacks, veggies, or bread.

Garlic Sauce Pasta

Go back to the pasta recipe for a quick garlic-flavored meal.

Garlic and Cheese Bread Sticks

Use refrigerated bread sticks to make an easy garlic side dish.

Kids Cooking Video: How to Roast Garlic

Garlic Facts FAQ

When is garlic available?

Garlic is available all year.

How does garlic grow?

Garlic grows underground much like onions. It is planted in winter and harvested in summer.

What should you look for when buying garlic?

Choose garlic that is plump and firm. Avoid bulbs that feel soft or have green sprouts.

How should garlic be stored?

Store garlic in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place.

Why does garlic smell stronger after chopping?

When garlic is chopped, crushed, or pressed, the inside cells break open and release natural compounds that create the strong garlic smell and flavor.