Why You Should Keep Frozen Garlic Cubes On Hand

These days, it seems like there is a kitchen shortcut for everything. For example, there are shortcuts for making a quick and delicious lasagna and restaurant-worthy garlic knots. Even Ina Garten has a shortcut for crème anglaise. Some shortcuts seem worth it, while others might be a bit... questionable.

One shortcut that is not only genius but should also become part of your everyday cooking routine? Frozen garlic cubes. It's the ideal shortcut because it takes an ingredient many people cook with almost daily, removes a somewhat annoying kitchen prep step (goodbye, sticky garlic fingers), and provides them with ready-to-use garlic as needed. The best part is that you don't have to make the frozen garlic cubes yourselves!

Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Walmart carry Dorot Gardens frozen crushed garlic cubes. Target even has some under their Good & Gather label. Many Indian and Asian supermarkets, like Subhlaxmi Grocers, also carry them online and in stores. Whichever brand you choose, keep the cubes in your freezer. Whenever you need garlic, pop a cube into your skillet or pot. You'll be on your way to enjoying garlicky goodness in seconds without the hassles of chopping and crushing fresh garlic.

One key thing to remember when using frozen garlic cubes is that crushed garlic will burn faster than chopped or slivered garlic. Keep an eye on your pan while the cube is melting and sautéing, as you may need to stir a little more often or turn the heat down a bit to prevent garlic from sticking to the bottom of the pan. It's a small price to pay for convenience!

Once you have garlic cubes in your freezer, you can use them in numerous dishes. One cube of frozen garlic equals approximately 1 teaspoon of garlic, depending on the brand. Therefore, you can substitute one frozen cube for a medium-sized garlic clove.

Sauté some onions and, when they are close to being done, add a cube of frozen garlic to create a base for many different sauces. Defrost a cube (or three) and mix them with butter and herbs for garlic bread, or use them in our Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Gyro recipe. Use the cubes to amp up the flavor of homemade tomato soup, or add a cube to our Spicy Italian Wedding Soup recipe for a garlicky kick. If you only ever incorporate one hack into your cooking routine, make it this one. Frozen garlic cubes might not be life-changing, but they will certainly make your life easier — and a whole lot tastier.