I swore by fresh garlic but the jarred stuff saved my Tuesday night

My 7-year-old was melting down over homework and I had 15 minutes to get dinner on the table, so I grabbed the jar of pre-minced garlic I bought as a joke. The flavor was shockingly solid and let me actually finish the stir-fry. When do you think it's okay to use the shortcut stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

hugo_schmidt1mo agoProlific Poster

My friend Mark tried jarred garlic last month when his kitchen pipes burst. He said it was the only reason his family ate a hot meal that whole week. Sometimes the "right" tool is just the one that works.

claire_walker28d ago

Mark's story actually makes a really good point. I remember last winter when I had the flu for a week and could barely stand up, jarred garlic was the only thing getting dinner on the table. Sure, fresh is better most of the time, but when you're dealing with a burst pipe or a sick family, convenience wins every time. I've found that some brands are way better than others too, the cheap stuff definitely has that weird taste but a mid-range jar can be totally fine. People act like using jarred garlic is a crime against cooking, but honestly, fed is fed.

karen_perry381mo ago

I mean, I get that it saved your night, but "shockingly solid" is not how I'd describe it. The jarred stuff always has that weird, tinny aftertaste to me. It's like the flavor is flat and a little bitter compared to fresh. I'd rather smash a clove with the side of a knife in ten seconds than use the pre-minced. Maybe it's just me, but I can always tell the difference, and it ruins a dish.