The Lazy Cooking Shortcut I’ll Never Apologize For

What I’m about to say might be disturbing to some people and, for that, I am truly sorry. But I’ve remained silent for too long. This has to be said: Jarred garlic isn’t that bad. In fact, it’s the lazy cooking shortcut I rely on again and again—and I’m not giving it up anytime soon.

Yes, Fresh Garlic Is Better (But That’s Not the Point)

Let’s get this out of the way—it is better to peel and mince fresh garlic. Garlic in a jar is way less flavorful than its au naturale counterpart, and is sealed up with preservatives you’re not gonna find in a fresh head. If you have the time and means, you should absolutely mince or press to your heart’s content.

But will substituting a tablespoon of the jarred stuff ruin a recipe? Absolutely not!

Why Jarred Garlic Works for Busy Home Cooks

My mother, the best cook I know, almost exclusively uses jarred mince garlic. Her food is seasoned to perfection—anyone who says differently can meet me in the parking lot. What makes her cooking so special isn’t what she uses, but how she uses it.

She knows her flavors well and knows just how much (or how little) to employ. That kind of skill comes from years of cooking, not from perfect knife work. And for busy home cooks, jarred garlic means fewer steps and dishes and one less thing standing between you and dinner.

The Bottom Line

My issue isn’t with the decision to use fresh garlic, it’s with the snobbery that comes with it. Some people don’t have the time/energy (or just plain don’t want) to peel, chop, or press and that’s totally fine. Use fresh garlic when you want to; use jarred garlic when you don’t. Cooking should fit into your life, not the other way around. 

And if that means reaching for the jar so you can get dinner on the table faster, I fully support that decision. In reality, it’s a perfectly adequate, cheap, and long-lasting substitute for fresh, albeit with a bit less flavor. And for those who say otherwise, in the wise words of Taylor Swift: “You need to calm down.”