A common ingredient in a wide range of dishes from salad dressings to stir-fries, garlic is even easier to work with than you may think.
 
What to Look For :

Each bulb, or head, of garlic contains a cluster of cloves that are connected at the root but separated by papery skins. Look for firm heads covered with dry, unblemished skins. Avoid bulbs with soft spots or green shoots protruding from the top, a sign of age.
 

How to Store

Unpeeled garlic will keep for up to three weeks when stored in an open container in a cool, dry place; do not refrigerate.
 

Prepping and Cooking

Garlic that’s crushed, chopped, or minced gives dishes a sharper flavor than whole or sliced cloves. Cooking mellows all cuts.