35

If a recipe calls for 8 whole cloves of garlic, does it mean 8 whole garlics? Or does it mean 8 of the wedges?

Improve this question
4
  • mmmgarlic.com/clove-garlic-vs-head-garlic Commented Apr 7, 2015 at 2:44
  • 2
    Garlic on English Language & Usage. Commented Apr 7, 2015 at 9:08
  • 1
    This question just naturally begs for a photo in the best answer. Commented Apr 7, 2015 at 21:35
  • When the recipe says "whole", it may mean to keep each clove whole i.e. not sliced or chopped or minced. Commented Nov 2, 2020 at 19:53

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
67

Each "wedge" is a clove. The entire garlic is called a "head".

Improve this answer
9
  • 23
    The heads are also sometimes called bulbs. Commented Apr 6, 2015 at 22:03
  • 16
    And, let's face it, they are not all that standard, so a degree of common sense and how much you like garlic need to be applied to recipes that are written this way, or the results will be very different with large or small cloves... Commented Apr 6, 2015 at 22:39
  • 14
    It may be easier to remember this distinction if you realize that the word "clove", as applied to a "wedge" of garlic, comes from the same root as the verb "cleave" (and the corresponding participle "cloven", meaning "split" or "divided"). Commented Apr 7, 2015 at 8:24
  • 3
    It's very important not to mix this up! While at college one of my flatmates made a spag bol using 2 bulbs rather than 2 wedges. Not to be repeated :) Commented Apr 7, 2015 at 9:36
  • 3
    @Fetchezlavache I had to search for "spag bol" to find that it meant "spaghetti bolognese." Now the mental picture is complete. :) Commented Apr 7, 2015 at 14:22
14

For easy reference , I am posting the picture directly here. Reference : LINK

What is a garlic head and garlic clove ?

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    The strings also come one bulb wide in a plastic mesh. Commented Aug 13, 2018 at 22:15

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.