Quick Answer
One clove of garlic typically weighs around 3-7 grams and is approximately 1 inch wide and 1.5 inches long. The size can vary a bit depending on the specific variety. Garlic cloves have a tan, white or purple outer skin that covers the individual segments inside. When sliced open, a clove of garlic will contain around 4-7 fleshy garlic segments or cloves. Each clove is covered with a thin membrane that holds it together.
What Does a Clove of Garlic Look Like?
A single clove of garlic is one of the small individual segments that make up a whole garlic bulb. Garlic bulbs contain anywhere from 10-20 cloves of garlic, depending on the variety.
Here are some key identifying features of 1 clove of garlic:
- Size: Approximately 1 inch wide and 1.5 inches long
- Weight: Around 3-7 grams
- Shape: Irregular oval shape with a tapered top
- Color: Ranges from tan, white, pink or purple
- Outer covering: Has a papery skin covering the clove
- Inside: Contains 4-7 garlic segments or individual cloves
The size of a single clove can vary slightly depending on the garlic variety. For example, elephant garlic cloves tend to be much larger than other types. But in general, a clove of garlic is around the size of the tip of your thumb.
Garlic Clove Outer Skin
The outer surface of a garlic clove is covered with a papery skin or peel. This acts as a protective coating around each clove.
The peel can range in color from white, tan, pinkish or even purple. Popular garlic varieties like porcelain garlic have a pure white outer skin. While purple stripe garlic has vibrant purple streaks on its skin.
This outer peel needs to be removed before you can use the garlic clove. It’s completely inedible. The peel can be pulled off by hand or cut off with a paring knife.
Underneath the tough outer peel is a thinner membranous covering around each clove. This sometimes needs to be removed as well before chopping or mincing the garlic.
Inside a Clove of Garlic
When you remove the papery outer skin from a garlic clove, this reveals the individual garlic segments inside. A single clove of garlic contains around 4-7 smaller cloves.
Each of these smaller cloves is covered with a thin membrane and grouped together into one larger clove. The membranes give the distinctive segmented look to a garlic clove when sliced open.
Fresh garlic cloves should feel firm when pressed. As garlic ages and starts to spoil, the cloves will become softened, wrinkled and moldy. Storing garlic properly can help extend its shelf life.
Garlic Clove Size Variations
While most garlic cloves are around 1 inch wide, the exact size can vary for a few reasons:
Garlic Variety
Some garlic types naturally produce larger cloves than others. Elephant garlic is the best example, with cloves around 2-3 times larger than regular garlic. But even among standard garlic types, the clove size can range from small to jumbo:
- Small cloves: Around 1 inch long
- Medium cloves: Around 1.25 inches long
- Large cloves: Around 1.5 inches long
- Jumbo cloves: Around 2 inches long
For example, varieties like German Red garlic tend to have larger cloves, while Purple Stripe garlic cloves are generally smaller. When substituting in recipes, 3-5 small garlic cloves would equal 1 jumbo clove.
Position on the Bulb
The size of garlic cloves also depends on where they are located on the whole bulb. Cloves on the exterior of the bulb tend to be larger and more developed. Interior cloves in the center of the bulb are often smaller and tightly packed.
For example, a whole garlic bulb may contain 4-5 large outer cloves and 10-12 smaller inner cloves. So the position impacts clove size.
Time of Harvest
Garlic that is harvested early may have smaller underdeveloped cloves compared to garlic harvested at peak maturity. Fully mature garlic allowed to reach its ideal growth stage will produce the largest cloves. Early harvested garlic can have cloves around half the size of fully grown garlic at harvest.
The timing of harvest and curing can significantly affect the final clove size. Properly cured garlic has time for the cloves to fully form and take on moisture.
How Much Does a Clove of Garlic Weigh?
On average, one clove of garlic weighs approximately:
- 3-5 grams for a small clove
- 5-7 grams for a medium clove
- 7-10 grams for a large clove
So in general, expect a clove of garlic to weigh between 3-7 grams or 0.1-0.25 ounces. Jumbo garlic cloves can sometimes weigh up to 15 grams.
For reference, a whole garlic bulb weighs around 50-150 grams depending on variety and size. Knowing the average clove weight makes it easy to substitute when a recipe calls for a certain amount of garlic by weight instead of by cloves.
Equivalents by Weight
Here is a quick guide if you need to substitute pre-minced or granulated garlic for fresh cloves by weight:
| Fresh Garlic | Pre-minced Garlic | Garlic Powder |
|---|---|---|
| 1 clove (3g) | 1 teaspoon (3g) | 1/4 teaspoon (1g) |
| 2 cloves (6g) | 2 teaspoons (6g) | 1/2 teaspoon (2g) |
| 3 cloves (9g) | 1 tablespoon (9g) | 3/4 teaspoon (3g) |
| 5 cloves (15g) | 1 1/2 tablespoons (15g) | 1 1/4 teaspoons (5g) |
Appearance of Different Garlic Types
There are over 600 varieties of garlic grown worldwide. The appearance can vary quite a bit between different garlic types in terms of size, color and flavor:
Softneck Garlic
Softneck garlic produces small, tightly formed bulbs with 8-12 smaller cloves per bulb. The outer skin is typically white or tan. Popular softneck varieties include:
- Silverwhite – White skin with pale, mild flesh
- Silverskin – White skin, firm texture
- Artichoke – Rich, nutty flavor with purple-tinged cloves
Hardneck Garlic
Hardneck garlic has a stiff central stalk and larger bulbs with 4-12 larger cloves. The skin can be white, purple or streaked. Some common hardneck varieties:
- Rocambole – Easy to peel, full garlic flavor
- Purple Stripe – Vibrant purple striped skin, spicy cloves
- Porcelain – Large creamy white cloves, sweet flavor
Elephant Garlic
Elephant garlic is actually more closely related to leeks. It has a milder, more leek-like taste. The cloves and bulbs grow much larger than regular garlic. Common uses are for pickling, grilling and roasting.
What Happens When Garlic Ages?
As garlic ages and starts to dry out, the bulbs and cloves will begin to shrivel and the skin becomes more papery and dried. Older garlic also sprouts more:
- 1-2 months – Still fresh, firm cloves
- 2-3 months – Cloves start drying out
- 4+ months – Shriveled cloves, sprouting
For the best flavor and aroma, use garlic within a few months of purchasing. Refrigerating can extend the lifespan for an additional 2-3 months. Freezing minced garlic or whole cloves is another way to preserve garlic for 4-6 months.
Conclusion
A single clove of garlic is one segment of a whole garlic bulb. It is identified by its small, oval shape about 1 inch wide and 1.5 inches long with a papery outer skin covering 4-7 smaller individual cloves. Cloves can range in size based on the variety, where they are located on the bulb and time of harvest. A clove weighs 3-7 grams, with larger hardneck varieties on the bigger side. As garlic ages, the cloves begin to shrivel and dry out. For maximum flavor and shelf life, consume garlic within 2-3 months of purchasing.