All About Garlic > Hints and Tips

Antiseptic

• to prevent bad breath, eat a bunch of parsley or strawberries, a remedy whose results are, admittedly, a bit random. Considering that garlic has such a strong flavor, it has to be suppressed with a stronger flavor, e.g., by chewing anise or cardamom seeds or a coffee bean.

Digestion

• Some people claim, with good reason, that they have difficulty digesting garlic. To begin with, some stomachs tolerate cooked garlic but not raw, and vice versa.
• On the other hand, if you use garlic with brown or yellowish patches, it will be much more difficult to digest because at this point the clove contains toxins.
• Above all, it's important to remove the indigestible germ in the center of the clove. For some people, it's essential. It's also the main cause of bad breath.

Reducing its strength

• to appreciate garlic's flavor without having to face its aggressive side, heat the unpeeled cloves of garlic in a moderate oven until the flesh is very soft and spreadable; 
• or place the chopped garlic in a strainer and run under cold water; dry well with paper towels or a folded kitchen towel before using.

Eliminating garlic odor

• to remove the odor of garlic from a kitchen knife that you've used to peel or chop garlic, rinse it in very cold water instead of hot water. 

Peeling garlic

• crush the clove by pressing on it firmly with the side of a heavy wide-bladed knife: the skin will come off easily.

Powdered garlic

• dry the cloves for a few minutes in the oven and grind them to granulate the garlic. Use as a condiment in low-salt diets to enhance the flavor of foods. 

Garlic press pros and cons

• Although practical, a garlic press unfortunately increases garlic's acrid quality and makes it more aggressive. 
• It's preferable to chop garlic with a knife, in a mortar or in a blender (for large quantities). 
• If you use a garlic press, remember to clean it after every use, otherwise the dried residue will impart a very unpleasant taste to your next recipe. Use a toothbrush to clean the holes effectively.
• Buy a good quality garlic press, otherwise the tool can impart a metallic taste to the garlic.