How to Oven Roast Garlic

Garlic is a classic ingredient in most dishes. With its powerful taste, it can elevate a meal from just good to the best. With just the power of a few simple ingredients and an oven, a professional chef or home cook can make incredible roasted garlic. If you’re looking for step-by-step instructions, Parts Town is here to show you how to oven roast garlic.

Does Roasting Garlic Make it Taste Better?

Oven roasting garlic caramelizes the natural sugars, enhancing the flavor with a mild sweetness while also mellowing out the sharp bite to create a perfectly balanced flavor profile. Roasted garlic is also a lot softer, making it spreadable or mashable with ease. The roasting process also allows you to infuse it with herbs and spices, adding layers of complexity that plain garlic doesn’t have.

What is Roasted Garlic Good For?

From mashed potatoes and compound butter to sandwich spread and pizza sauce, there are many ways to use oven-roasted garlic. Although the earthy, nutty flavor would work well in many recipes, food blogger Ginnie of HelloLittleHome.com says that enjoying it on its own by spreading it on a piece of bread and sprinkling it with a little salt can be delicious as well.

Supplies

• Whole Head of Garlic


• Olive Oil or Neutral Cooking Oil


• Oven


• Tin Foil 


• Knife


• Spoon


• Baking Sheet


• Oven Mitts


• Optional Supplies (see below)

If you want to take your oven-roasted garlic to the next level flavor-wise, you’ll also need:

• Butter


• Salt and Pepper


• Herbs and Spices (such as thyme, rosemary or red pepper flakes)

Directions

• Step 1. Preheat the oven – Set the oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and allow 15-20 minutes to reach the proper temperature.


• Step 2. Slice the garlic in half – Cut the whole head of garlic in half across the middle lengthwise.


• Step 3. Place the garlic on a piece of foil – Put both garlic halves, cut side up, on a piece of aluminum foil set on a baking sheet. Make sure the foil is large enough to wrap the garlic completely.


• Step 4. Drizzle oil across the top – Pour a small amount of olive oil or neutral cooking oil over the top of the garlic halves. 


• Step 5. Use flavor enhancers (optional) – Add extra herbs, spices or melted butter if desired. 


• Step 6. Wrap up the garlic – Fold the aluminum foil to seal the garlic completely.


• Step 7. Bake the garlic – Roast the garlic in the oven for about 30 minutes. The garlic is done when it’s light brown, soft and fragrant.


• Step 8. Let the garlic cool – Allow 5-10 minutes for the garlic to cool down before unwrapping it.


• Step 9. Serve the garlic – Unwrap the foil and scoop out the roasted garlic cloves. Be sure to wear oven mitts in order to minimize the risk of burns.