Garlic: What You Don't Know about Pressing Garlic

It's probably safe to say that garlic is a staple in many kitchens, it's strong taste and aroma lending to some of the best main dish recipes from lasagna, pasta and stir fry recipes. This article on "Garlic: To Press or Not to Press," is an interesting recipe test, on whether there is any difference between minced and pressed garlic.

In the test kitchens at Fine Cooking the chefs are alway hard at work trying out and testing new recipes. When it comes to garlic, which they use plenty of most will say that they mince over using the press. Some say that a press creates a better garlic flavour, but in the test kitchens no one seems to use them, so this chef wanted to see if there really was a difference in the recipe. For the test a garlic toast recipe was used by cutting the garlic clove in half and pressing one side, and mincing the other by hand. Next the garlic was mixed with amounts of butter and salt and spread on some crusty bread and baked until both sides were toasty. To read the results of the garlic toast recipe test you'll want to go to the Fine Cooking website.

Garlic whose close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek and chive, has been used by humans in all sorts of recipes for over 7,000 years. Native to central Asia, garlic has long been a staple in recipes in the Mediterranean region. Garlic has also been traced back to the Ancient Egyptians, for use in food recipes and medicinal purposes. Garlic has long been known to help in the prevention of the common cold, along with other beneficial health benefits. Garlic scapes are removed to focus all the garlic's energy into bulb growth. The scapes can be eaten raw or cooked, they give a nice burst of garlic flavor to whatever you add them to.

This recipe site has plenty of recipe ideas and inspirations. You will also find lots of how to's and tips for the kitchen such as techniques, test kitchen tips, food science, baking guide and grilling guide. Some of the recipes you will find on this site include Roast Chicken with Chanterelles and Peas recipe, Grape Clusters with Brie, Gorgonzola, and Honey recipe, Korean Barbecue at Home, A Kansas City Barbecue, A Game-Day Chili Menu, Roasted Beet and Carrot Salad with Aged Gouda and Sunflower Seeds recipe, Gluten Free pizza tart recipe, Barley Salad with Peas and Asparagus recipe, Millet Salad with Avocado and Citrus recipe, Spelt Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and Zucchini, fruit crisp recipe, chocolate strawberry cheesecake, a British Gastropub dinner, bistro style dinner, a hearty soup and sandwich supper, Yucatan grilled fish tacos, grilled vegetable tacos with cilantro pesto, sardines Veracruz with roasted tomato confit and olive tapenade recipe and more. Some of the healthy cooking tips you will find are eating gluten free eating, a secret ingredient for healthier eating, the dish on fish, the raw deal and other tips.