Produce
Garlic
Garlic has not been sampled by USDA’s monitoring programme in any year this site ingests, so it carries no residue verdict. It is peeled clove by clove, costs pennies per meal, and does more for the flavour of a healthy list than any other single item.
Organic upgrade priority
Residue data does not apply
- →Pesticide residue monitoring does not apply to this food in the same way.
Key numbers
- Nutrient density
- 74/100
- Per calorie, across the whole database
- Typical price
- $0.89
- per head · organic +45%
- Servings a week
- 4
- Per person, at typical purchase volume
Nutrition
Per 3 cloves (9 g).
13
calories
0.6 g
protein
0.2 g
fiber
—
sugar
- Allicin (when crushed)
- Manganese 4% DV
- Vitamin B6 3% DV
How to wash garlic
Peel each clove; nothing on the outside of the head reaches what you eat.
Washing reduces surface residue and soil. It does not remove systemic compounds taken up into the plant, and no soap, vinegar, or commercial produce wash has been shown to beat 30 seconds of plain running water by a margin worth paying for. Full washing guide.
Buying and storing
- ◆Crush or chop garlic and let it sit for ten minutes before heating. That gap lets alliinase form allicin, which heat would otherwise destroy on contact.
- ◆Sprouting green shoots mean the clove is old, not spoiled. Pull the shoot out if you find it bitter.
Common questions
›Is garlic a healthy choice?
Garlic has not been sampled by USDA’s monitoring programme in any year this site ingests, so it carries no residue verdict. It is peeled clove by clove, costs pennies per meal, and does more for the flavour of a healthy list than any other single item. A 3 cloves (9 g) serving provides 13 calories, 0.6 g protein, and 0.2 g fiber, scoring 74/100 on nutrient density.
›Does garlic need to be organic?
Pesticide residue monitoring does not apply to garlic the way it does to fresh produce, so this site does not assign an organic upgrade priority. The label buys you a defined set of production standards rather than a measurable change in residue evidence.
›How should I wash garlic?
Peel each clove; nothing on the outside of the head reaches what you eat.
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