How this calculator works
One medium clove of fresh garlic weighs about 3 g and yields roughly one teaspoon when chopped, or half a teaspoon when finely minced. Drying removes water and concentrates the flavour, so much smaller volumes of the dried forms are needed: about half a teaspoon of flakes, a quarter teaspoon of granules or one eighth of a teaspoon of powder per clove. Garlic salt is garlic powder mixed with salt, often about one part garlic to three parts salt, so it takes about three quarters of a teaspoon to match a clove. Clove size varies, so treat the result as a starting point and taste as you cook.
Formula
cloves = amount / teaspoons per clove. teaspoons of another form = cloves x teaspoons per clove for that form. The teaspoons-per-clove values used here are 1 for chopped, 0.5 for minced and flakes, 0.25 for granulated, 0.125 for powder and 0.75 for garlic salt. Fresh weight = cloves x 3 g.
Worked example
A recipe asks for 3 cloves of garlic. That is 3 teaspoons chopped, 1.5 teaspoons minced, 1.5 teaspoons of flakes, 0.75 teaspoon of granulated garlic, 0.375 teaspoon of garlic powder or 2.25 teaspoons of garlic salt. The fresh garlic weighs about 9 g.
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Frequently asked questions
How much garlic powder equals one clove?
About one eighth of a teaspoon. Garlic powder is roughly eight times as concentrated by volume as chopped fresh garlic, so using a full teaspoon in place of a clove would be far too strong.
Can I use garlic salt instead of garlic powder?
Only if you reduce the salt in the recipe. Garlic salt is mostly salt by weight, so it brings much less garlic flavour per spoonful. The calculator uses about three quarters of a teaspoon of garlic salt per clove, and the recipe's added salt should be cut accordingly.
Does jarred minced garlic work the same as fresh?
Jarred minced garlic is convenient but often milder and more acidic than freshly minced garlic. Use the same volume as fresh minced garlic as a starting point, then adjust to taste. Some jars are packed in oil or water, which also changes how they brown.
How many cloves are in a head of garlic?
A typical head has 10 to 12 cloves, but size varies widely. Weighing is more reliable: a medium head is roughly 30 to 40 g of peeled cloves at about 3 g each.