A whole garlic head is the entire bulb of garlic, still encased in its papery outer skin. Before peeling, it appears as a single, unified unit.
Understanding the Garlic Head
The garlic head, also sometimes referred to as a bulb, is a complete, unseparated cluster of garlic cloves. Think of it like a tightly packed bundle. This outer layer, a dry, papery skin, protects the individual cloves inside. Once this outer skin is removed, you reveal the numerous cloves – the individual segments we commonly use in cooking.
Key Features of a Garlic Head:
- Papery Skin: The protective outer covering.
- Cloves: The individual segments within the head. These are the parts typically used in recipes.
- Bulb Shape: The overall shape is typically round or somewhat oblong.
Example:
Imagine you buy garlic at the grocery store. The entire thing you pick up, before you even begin to peel it, is a whole garlic head.
The provided reference states: "A clove of garlic is not the same thing as a head of garlic. The head is the entire bulb that's covered in papery skin." This clearly defines the whole garlic head as the complete, unpeeled bulb.
