How to Roast Garlic in the Oven

When it comes to cooking any kind of meal, garlic adds so much flavor. Whether it’s minced, crushed, made into a paste, sautéed, or baked, it can truly level up any dish. However, the flavor of garlic can change when it’s cooked differently. Raw garlic is spicy and pungent. When it’s sautéed, it develops a nutty aromatic flavor. When it's roasted, it develops a soft, buttery texture. It turns sweeter and is less harsh on the palate. If you’re wondering how to make roasted garlic in the oven, then know that it’s so easy and super healthy! By going through this guide on how to roast garlic in the oven, you’ll learn how to easily and quickly roast tons of garlic to enhance the flavor and nutrition of your meals.

Roasting garlic in the oven takes very little prep. You can roast it with or without foil. You can add a little ingredients with some olive oil, salt, and pepper, or add a ton of fresh herbs to liven it up. This garlic recipe is extremely flexible and can be used in so many ways.

Ingredients for Roasted Garlic

Bulbs of Garlic: Depending on the recipes you make, you can roast one or several heads of garlic at one time. You can even roast the individual cloves if you don’t want to bake a lot of garlic.

Salt: Salt is essential in bringing out the buttery and sweet flavor of roasted garlic. I usually sprinkle salt over garlic bulbs that I’ve cut in half. Use as little or as much salt as you need.

Freshly Cracked Pepper: Freshly cracked pepper is another essential ingredient to bring out the flavors of roasted garlic.

Olive Oil: I usually use one or two tablespoons of olive oil per bulb of garlic. Adding olive oil will prevent the garlic from drying out in the roasting process, add moisture, and make it easier for the cloves to come out of their skins at the end of the cooking process.

How to Roast Garlic in the Oven - Method

If you’re wondering how to roast garlic in the oven, then know that it’s super easy and simple. You can roast garlic in 4 easy steps:

Step #1 – Cut the Garlic Bulbs in Half

Taking a sharp knife and a cutting board, lower your knife ⅓ of the way down from the top of the garlic bulb to the center. Slice off the top, so all of the garlic cloves are exposed. Instead of cutting the top third off, you can cut the top half off. I prefer cutting the top third off, as it leaves more garlic cloves, making it easier to squeeze out after the cooking process.

*Tip: Take the first couple of layers of skins off the bulb to make this step easier and cleaner.

Step #2 – Sprinkle with Olive Oil and Seasonings

Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle salt and pepper over the cloves of the bottom half of the bulb. You can add additional seasonings in this step, like herbs, spices, or butter.

Step #3 – Wrap in Foil or Parchment Paper

Taking a square piece of foil or parchment paper, place the bulb of garlic (with the garlic top) and place it in the center of the square. Fold the paper or foil upward, wrapping it around the garlic bulb and enclosing it fully.

Step #4 – Roast in the Oven

Place the foil packets into a baking dish. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 40 minutes.

Optional Ingredients and Add-Ins

Fresh Herbs: You can add fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or sage. If you’re roasting garlic with foil, put them next to the bulbs in the foil packet. Otherwise, place the fresh herbs in the pan, making sure it mixes with the oil. This way, the natural oils from the herbs will mix with the oil in the cooking process, making it more flavorful.

Dry Spices: If you don’t have fresh herbs on hand, you can add dry herbs instead. Dried thyme, sage, and rosemary can work just as well if you don’t have the fresh stuff on hand. You can also add red pepper flakes, freshly grated nutmeg, or oregano to your foil packets.

Butter: If you want your roasted garlic to be extra buttery and creamy, add some butter. Put a 1-inch slice or one tablespoon for every bulb.

How Long Does it Take to Roast Garlic?

Garlic will roast anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the temperature you bake it at. I usually bake my garlic for 40 minutes at 400°F. If you bake your it at 350°F or lower, I recommend leaving it in the oven for 60 minutes. The lower and longer you roast garlic, the sweeter it will be. This slow and low process will caramelize the natural sugars in, getting rid of the natural bitter taste.

How Long Does Roasted Garlic Last?

By itself, whole roasted garlic can last as long as 1-2 weeks in an air-tight container in the back of the fridge. However, it can last up to 6 months if you freeze it.

Once you take the roasted garlic bulbs out of the oven, let them cool, and squeeze the cloves out. Then, mash the garlic into a paste with a fork or mortar and pestle. Put them in ice cube trays, and freeze until they’re frozen – about 2-3 hours or overnight. You can then, take them out of the ice tray and store them in a Ziploc freezer bag to use in recipes for later.

How to Store Roasted Garlic

When you're learning how to roast garlic in the oven, it's important to learn how to store it properly to ensure maximum freshness. You can store roasted whole garlic in a number of ways. You can leave the cloves in their skins and store them in an air-tight container in the back of the fridge. You can put the whole garlic bulbs in a Ziploc bag and either refrigerate or freeze them.

Additionally, you can squeeze the garlic out of their skins, mash up the garlic into a paste, and put them in ice cube trays to freeze. Once they’re frozen, you can store them in a Ziploc bag in the freezer.

How to Use Roasted Garlic in Your Meals

You can use roasted garlic in a variety of dishes, including soups, stews, dips, sauces, and spreads.

• Use them in soups, like tomato soup, potato leek soup, and Greek-Style lentil soup.

• Roasted garlic mashed is great to put on top of pizza, or spread it onto the dough as a paste.

• Eat the roasted garlic cloves as a snack by itself.

• Spread the roasted garlic cloves on artisan bread, with freshly grated cheese, such as parmesan or gruyere. Or make garlic bread with it.

• Add to pasta sauces and dishes, like marinara sauce, ricotta pesto pasta, Alfredo, pasta salad, and more.

• Add into salad dressings, like ranch, balsamic vinaigrette, and green goddess dressing.

• Mix into mashed potatoes to make garlic mashed potatoes.

• Add to roasted chicken, sheet pan dinners, or any food you like!

How to Roast Garlic in the Oven: FAQs

Roasted Garlic Recipes

• Garden Garbanzo Bean Salad with Creamy Garlic Dressing
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Midnight Pasta with Roasted Garlic
• Roasted Garlic Pasta Salad

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