How Many Teaspoons are in Four Cloves of Garlic?

Sometimes recipes can be confusing, especially when they ask you to convert ingredients into smaller measurements. You find yourself hoping that you didn’t put too little or too much of the ingredient in the recipe. Everyone who has ever cooked at home has had this issue. Many people get confused by certain common steps in recipes, such as the question, “How many teaspoons are equivalent to four cloves of garlic?” While clove sizes vary, one clove of garlic usually equals one teaspoon. Therefore, four cloves of garlic will come out to four teaspoons. When you measure with a teaspoon, you must remember that the number of teaspoons will depend on how finely the cloves are chopped. 

In this article, I will provide you with all the details regarding garlic and the intricacies of measuring it properly. 

How Many Cloves of Garlic Equal One Teaspoon?

All Garlic Cloves Are Not the Same in Size 

As you know, garlic heads come in different sizes. Ideally, one garlic head, or “bulb,” contains 10-12 cloves. However, the number can vary depending on the size of the bulb. Obviously, the smaller the bulb, the smaller the clove count, and vice versa.

You should also know that not all garlic cloves are not the same size or shape, even if you peeled them off from the same garlic head.

One Garlic Clove is Equal to How Many Teaspoons?

If you want to know how many teaspoons equal one clove of garlic, then the calculation is very simple.  One whole clove breaks down into 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of chopped garlic. 

When you are converting your garlic into teaspoons, you should remember to use a proper, standardized teaspoon. By doing so, you can avoid the mistakes that come with using incorrect measurements.

What about Four Cloves of Garlic?

Four cloves of garlic is toughly equal to four teaspoons. This calculation assumes the garlic cloves are on the smaller end of the spectrum. 

Since not all garlic cloves come in the same size, you need to be careful of how much you are adding to your dish. This is where tasting comes in. However, if you want the exact measurement, using a kitchen scale will be your best option. 

No kitchen device I have ever purchased gets as much use as my kitchen scale. When you are using a kitchen scale to measure, start by placing four garlic cloves on your scale to weigh them. Once you get the weight, divide it by four to know how many teaspoons each clove actually weighs. 

How Many Grams is Four Cloves of Garlic?

Usually, four cloves of garlic weigh approximately 28 grams. As I mentioned before, you must remember that the grams depend on the size of the garlic clove. If they are on the larger size, the weight can vary drastically.

Can I Use Garlic Powder Instead of Garlic Cloves?

Garlic powder is made from dehydrated, ground garlic. When compared with fresh garlic, it has a more mild flavor. Many people use garlic powder instead of garlic cloves, and it is absolutely fine to do so. While using garlic powder it the more convenient option, be aware that the flavor can vary and your dish may lack the punch it would otherwise have by using fresh garlic. 

Since garlic has a strong flavor, you should be careful when substituting it with something else. If you want to substitute with garlic powder, we need to analyze how much garlic powder is equal to one garlic clove. When you know how much powder to add for one clove you will be able to easily calculate for multiple cloves of garlic. 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder is equal to one garlic clove. With this basic calculation, you can determine that if a recipe calls for four cloves of garlic, you may substitute 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder. 

The freshness of the garlic powder you are using for your recipe also plays an important role. The freshness can impact the calculation. For example, if your garlic powder is old, the essence may not be as strong as freshly made garlic powder. That is why I suggest you taste how strong the flavor is before measuring or adding more. You should CONSTANTLY be tasting your dish throughout the cooking process.

What Other Substitutes Exist?

You can use minced garlic from a jar that is available in stores as well. You should add two teaspoons to get the equivalent of four cloves of garlic in this case. 

The last option is garlic flakes. Garlic flakes are made from dried garlic and have a little nutty flavor to them. If you are using garlic flakes, you should add 1/4 teaspoon of garlic flakes to equal four cloves of garlic. 

Note: You can use these substitutes, but the results can vary. Fresh garlic has a stronger taste. So if you are using these substitutes, it is always advised that you add them little by little instead of adding a large amount at once, just like with any aromatic.

A Recap of the Conversions

Wouldn’t it be convenient to have all the conversions in one place for easy access? Well you’ve come to the right place! I have made a list of all the conversions for one clove of garlic below. You can use this list and calculate accordingly for how many garlic cloves your recipe calls for. 

Tip: It is always better to use small garlic heads or bulbs when cooking. These small bulbs are called culinary garlic. You will be able to measure accurately, and you will be able to cook a perfect dish. For example, if the recipe mentions one teaspoon of garlic, you can easily chop one garlic clove. 

Note: The conversions for the substitutes are based on a culinary-sized garlic clove. 

Wrapping up!

Now that you know that four cloves of garlic is equal to four teaspoons, you can stress no more with garlic conversions. You must remember that when adding garlic cloves to your dish, try to add them little by little. If the flavor doesn’t come through, you can always add more. But when you add too much garlic to your dish, it will be impossible to rectify. Don’t forget to choose small garlic cloves when cooking, as they are easier to measure. 

As always, thanks for reading and make sure to keep your kitchen Hot and Salty!