New grater .... officially impressed

[Verve]

Cheers for the links, some useful info. Think I'll avoid getting a crusher or rocker then as I don't like a strong garlic taste in my food.

Stick to chopping seems the way forward for me!

[Zak33]

My understanding is that garlic (like onion) is made up of little capsules, each containing a little oil. The smaller the pieces, the more of this oil that's released.

So if you crush garlic, you end up with a very strong and pungent taste. If you chop it in large pieces, you end up with a milder, more subtle taste.

cooking time effects strength most.

Yes, size of lump effects it, too, but it's more complex that just the size of the chop.

But so does the piece you use. example: Cut a garlic clove in half legth ways.. pull out the piece that looks like it's about to grow into a shoot... and that's the bit that really makes your breath smell.

but roast a garlic clove gently and use that and it's mild and sweet.

[Moby-Dick]

going ever so slightly off topic - I have to admit to cheating a little with garlic and getting some of the frozen puree cubes from my local indian supermarket. not the same as roasting a bulb of it yourself , but it does depend on what you need to do with it. If I'm making a dry rub for the BBQ I'll use granulated garlic ( and a lot of it )