Roasted garlic is golden, savory, soft, and sweet. The best way to roast garlic to achieve this delicious, mellow flavor is with one secret: a low temperature. Our recipe will show you exactly how to make the best roast garlic in the air fryer.
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At Two Cloves Kitchen, we take garlic very seriously. Our recipes feature garlic, our food philosophy is built around garlic, heck, our LOGO is garlic. It's safe to say garlic is our love language.
So, we tested this recipe countless times with different factors to ensure we delivered the best possible result. We used varying temperatures, more or less oil, foil or no foil, peeled and unpeeled, whole roasted garlic versus cloves.
The factor we found to be most important was temperature. Cooked at too high a temperature, the garlic became too dark and, therefore, bitter.
If cooked for a shorter period of time to avoid burning, the garlic would not be fully cooked.
This is how we arrived at our magic formula: 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 40 minutes, then 10 minutes rest in the air fryer while it is off. The residual heat gently softens and finishes roasting the garlic.
Now, keep in mind that air fryers, like ovens, can vary in size and in actual temperature.
We recommend you check the garlic before you reach the 30-minute mark. You may need slightly less than 30 minutes, and you may need slightly more. It's always better to err on the side of caution when cooking garlic.
What You'll Need
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- Garlic A whole head of fresh garlic is needed for this recipe.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil The quality of olive oil matters less for this recipe. Here is a favorite brand of mine that I keep on hand.
- Kosher Salt I always recommend using kosher salt. Table salt increases the likelihood of oversalting your food because it is more concentrated. Diamond Crystal kosher salt coats food evenly and makes it easier to add salt incrementally.
How to Make
Step One: Cut your head of garlic crosswise to expose the interior of the cloves (removing about ¼ to ½ inch of the top). Check out the expert tips below for tips on minimizing waste.
Step Two Place the garlic on a piece of tin foil. Drizzle or brush the cut side of the garlic with olive oil, trying to get the oil into the crevices between the cloves and coating the top of the garlic completely.
Step Three Close up the foil and place in the air fryer basket.
Step Four Roast garlic in air fryer for 30 to 40 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit, checking before the 30-minute mark to see if it is done.
Remove from the air fryer basket, peel back the foil, and insert a paring knife into a clove to see if it is cooked through.
The garlic above is not ready just yet. While the knife was inserted without much resistance, it is too pale and its flavor will not be fully developed.
You should see a golden brown (not dark brown) color. The garlic should be fragrant and easy to squeeze out of its skin. Use caution here! The foil and the garlic will be very hot.
At the 30- to 40-minute mark, turn off the air fryer but do not remove the basket. Let the garlic sit inside for 10 minutes or more to finish cooking.
Step Five Once the air fried garlic has finished roasting, remove from the air fryer basket, discard the foil, and let the garlic cool for a few minutes before serving.
FAQ
The secret is to cook your garlic at a low temperature for a longer period of time. Garlic does not respond well to high temperatures. For perfectly soft, golden, mellow, and sweet roasted garlic, patience is key!
It should be a soft golden or golden brown (not dark brown) color, fragrant, and easy to squeeze out of its skin.
A simple way to test for doneness is to use a paring knife. Insert the paring knife into the flesh of the clove and, if you meet no resistance, it is ready.
Yes it does. Be sure to place your garlic in an airtight container, and move to the fridge within 2 hours of cooking for proper food safety. Check out the "How to Store" section below for more info on storing roasted garlic.
Yep. Let the garlic cool completely, remove all the skins, and freeze on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a gallon plastic bag or other airtight, freezer-safe container and use within 2 to 3 months.
It can. It's best to store cooked garlic in an airtight container in the fridge for no longer than a week.
Expert Tips
- If you are sensitive to fresh garlic or sautéed garlic, roasted garlic may be for you. It is much milder, sweeter, and has none of the sharpness of other garlic preparations.
- When making roasted garlic in the air fryer, keep in mind that air fryers can vary in size and temperature, just like ovens. Check your garlic before the recommended cook time has elapsed to ensure it is not getting too dark.
- To avoid waste, take the top section you cut off and mince the remaining pieces of garlic to use in another meal. I recommend using right away or storing in an airtight container for about a day.
How to Store
Fridge Roasted garlic can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
There is no need to reheat refrigerated garlic. Just add to the dish you are making. If you would like room temperature garlic, leave it out on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour.
Be sure to cool the garlic and move it to the fridge within 2 hours for proper food safety.
Freezer Once cooked, garlic can be removed from its skins, frozen on a sheet tray, then transferred to an airtight, freezer-safe container like a locking glass or plastic storage container or a gallon plastic bag.
If needed, you can thaw in the microwave for a few seconds or in the fridge overnight, but you do not need to thaw the garlic to use it. If adding to a meal, feel free to add directly to the pan while you cook.
A note on frozen garlic: Freezing garlic may alter the texture and taste of your garlic. It is likely to be milder than freshly roasted garlic.
How to Make a Meal
If you are wondering when to use roasted garlic, try these suggestions for meals, sides, and snacks:
Charcuterie or Cheese Board Arrange different meats and cheeses, nuts, crackers, veggies, and dips on a pretty board and serve with some roasted garlic. I love to add Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Almond Pesto!
Soups Try making a favorite soup, like this Chicken Pastina Soup, and serve with a piece of baguette spread with roasted garlic. You can also stir some chopped roasted garlic directly into a soup, like this Creamy Tomato Soup.
Vegetable Sides This garlic is fantastic mixed with veggie sides, from sautéed zucchini to seared mushrooms. Try some vegetables made in the air fryer, like Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower, Air Fryer Tomatoes, or Asparagus in the Air Fryer!
Potatoes Roasted garlic and potatoes are a match made in heaven. Try adding some chopped roasted garlic to mashed potatoes, this air fryer baked potato recipe, or Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes.
Roast Chicken I made this Basic Roast Chicken in culinary school and will never make it any other way. Spread some roast garlic on the cooked chicken and bask in its deliciousness. This chicken leg quarters recipe is absolutely wonderful, too!
Aioli Add to this aioli and spread on sandwiches, wraps, or drizzle over lots of different meals like grain bowls, eggs, salads - whatever you like!
Toast Try spreading on some Air Fryer Toast!
More Recipes You'll Love
Here are some other amazing air fryer recipes:
Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Roasted Garlic
Ingredients
- 1 head garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Cut the head of garlic crosswise, exposing the flesh of the cloves, about ¼ to ½ of an inch.
- Place on a piece of tin foil. Drizzle or brush with olive oil, ensuring the olive oil gets between the cloves.
- Seal the tin foil in a ball and place it in the basket of the air fryer. Cook at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Turn off the air fryer and let the garlic sit inside for about 10 minutes.
- Check for doneness before 30 minutes have elapsed by carefully removing from the basket, peeling back the foil, and examining the color and texture.
- Poke a paring knife into one of the cloves. If there is no resistance, the color is golden brown, and the garlic is fragrant, it is ready to serve! If not, seal the foil ball again and return to the air fryer and continue with instructions.
Notes
- Approximate calories are for one full head of garlic.
- Roasted garlic can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Be sure to transfer to the fridge within 2 hours for proper food safety
- Once cooked, garlic can be removed from its skins, frozen on a sheet tray, then transferred to an airtight, freezer-safe container like a locking glass or plastic storage container or a gallon plastic bag and stored for 2 to 3 months.
- There is no need to reheat roasted garlic. Just add to the dish you are making. If you would like room temperature garlic, leave it out on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour.
- To avoid waste, take the top section you cut off and mince the remaining pieces of garlic to use in another meal. I recommend using right away or storing in an airtight container for about a day.
- When making roasted garlic in the air fryer, keep in mind that air fryers can vary in size and temperature, just like ovens. Check your garlic before the recommended cook time has elapsed to ensure it is not getting too dark.
James Strange says
Going to try this weekend, but I will do more than one clove.
Emily says
I use roasted garlic all the time in my hummus. This was perfect because I didn't have to heat up my whole house with my oven. Thanks! Turned out great!
Genevieve says
I love that it doesn't heat up the house. Hummus is a wonderful idea - I'll have to give it a try!
MacKenzie says
Love this idea. Fresh roasted garlic is so good. Can’t wait to try this air fryer version.
Genevieve says
Hope you enjoy!
Sharon says
Yummm-mo! This was so delicious mixed into our mashed potatoes for dinner tonight. Thanks!
Genevieve says
Sounds fantastic - thanks, Sharon!
Paula says
Oh goodness, why haven't I thought about garlic in the air fryer?! This was so good and quick. Thanks for another great recipe!
Genevieve says
Thank you so much, Paula!
Glenda says
The air fryer is my favorite way to roast garlic. It was one of the first things I tried after buying my air fryer. Absolutely love it!
Genevieve says
Thanks Glenda! So glad you enjoyed it.