Cloves aren’t normally discussed as frequently as other spices but they offer great benefits in both whole and ground form. While you can grind them yourself you can also buy them already ground and whole, too.
The best way to grind cloves is mechanically with a spice or coffee grinder right before you need to use it. Short of that manually using a pestle and mortar is the next best option. You can also buy ground cloves in pouches if you’d prefer not to do the work yourself.
You might also want to have a few whole cloves lying around the house because they can be added directly to drinks and also stuck in ham or other meats stem first to add flavor.
Cloves Offer Numerous Benefits To Foods And Drinks
Cloves offer a number of benefits to both foods and drinks. A few facts about cloves in terms of their culinary advantages:
- Adds flavor and a pleasant smell to foods and drinks.
- Contains many nutrients including beta carotene.
- Very high in antioxidants including eugenol which has anti inflammatory properties.
- Used in commercial products such as toothpastes, soaps, perfume, incense and cosmetics.
- Commonly used in dishes during Halloween and Christmas, commonly in pumpkin pie recipes and festive drinks such as apple cider.
- A common spice used in a number of cuisines including Indian, Tanzanian, Indonesian and Vietnamese cooking.
Let’s delve deeper into cloves and discuss why you should grind them, why you might want to keep some whole cloves to use in foods and drinks and what benefits you can expect.
How To Grind Cloves For Use In Foods And Drinks
There are numerous ways you can grind cloves to use in powder form. You can use the following:
- Spice grinder
- Coffee grinder
- Pestle and mortar
- Blender
- Manually with a blunt object
Here’s some tips regarding each option:
Spice grinder
An electric spice grinder is ideal since it’s purpose built and uses a blade(s) whereas a good coffee grinder may use burrs instead. A good spice grinder can typically grind varying amounts of spices at one time depending on the capacity but up to 90 grams is a reasonably large size.
A spice and nut grinder is a multi-purpose tool you can use for various grinding requirements and tends to work quickly in under one minute.
Coffee grinder
If you already have a coffee grinder and don’t want to buy another appliance, you can use it to grind whole cloves. Just be careful to properly clean the grinder before using it so your cloves don’t smell like coffee and after use so that your coffee doesn’t smell like cloves.
As an aside, you can sprinkle a bit of ground cloves in your coffee to enhance the taste.
Pestle and mortar
A pestle and mortar can be used to crush many foods including garlic, nuts, pesto and of course spices like cloves. It’s a very manual method and for a hard, dry, crunchy spice like cloves, will take more work than using a pestle and mortar for garlic.
You might find it easier to remove the stem and simply using the head (bud) of the clove since the stem is very hard and thin and might be difficult to manually crush.
Blender
A blender is lower on the list only because many blenders have large capacities and blades that are meant more for mixing liquids and cutting up water-based foods like fruits and vegetables. As a result, some blenders might be too big for crushing small cloves.
Using a flat blade similar to the one found on a spice or coffee grinder is your best bet if you have it available as part of your blender.
If you’re going to use a mechanical option like a grinder, use one that has metal parts as the plastic ones can break and may also retain the smell and taste of the cloves.
Manually with a blunt object
There are several ways you can do this. If you place your cloves in a sealable plastic bag you can try crushing it with the bottom of a coffee mug or even a wooden meat tenderizer if you’re handy. A wooden rolling pin might also suffice.
Keep in mind that you might not achieve the consistency you are after however.
Of the listed objects, the wooden meat tenderizer might be your best bet in you’re in a pinch and have no access to a mechanical grinder.
What Part Of The Clove Do You Grind?
You can grind the entire clove depending on what choice of grinder you use. The clove that you buy in the store consists of the bud (head) and nail (stem). While the whole clove can be easily ground in an electric grinder, the stem can be difficult to completely grind in a pestle and mortar or other manual method.
There is some debate as to whether or not to use the whole clove to crush or if you should remove the stem. If you are removing the stems, it will add a bit of extra work but could make sense if you’re manually crushing cloves with a pestle and mortar. The stems are quite hard and dry and will take more work to crush into a consistency similar to the bud.
If you have a mechanical spice or coffee grinder, you can use the whole clove and add to the flavor of your dish.
What Can You Use Cloves For?
In general terms, cloves can be used in both whole and ground form in foods and drinks and also to make essential oils and other commercial products. Raw cloves have a bitter taste to them and are very strong so only a small amount is required.
Perhaps the most succinct way to describe how cloves taste? Like Christmas.
But cloves can also used in other spices and are often used beyond just festive recipes for Hallowe’en and Christmas dishes due to their smell and the taste that they provide. Cloves are commonly used in spice blends including garam masala and pumpkin pie spice among others.
Cloves add a slightly sweet and bitter flavor to food and drinks and also add a unique aroma too. Cloves are often combined with other spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice and citrus.
In foods, you can add a small handful of cloves to meat dishes like a stew. Whole cloves are also studded into hams before cooking. Recipes for a whole ham usually involve using around 1/4 cup of whole cloves and scoring the ham with a knife diagonally. The cloves are then pushed stem first into the meat in the cuts, and cooked.
What if you have only have ground cloves on hand already and need to use them instead of whole cloves?
Use the following rule of thumb: ¾ teaspoon of ground cloves replaces 1 teaspoon of whole cloves.
Tips for Grinding Cloves: Dos and Don’ts
When it comes to grinding cloves, there are some important tips to keep in mind to ensure the best results. Here are some dos and don’ts to consider:
Dos:
- Use Fresh Whole Cloves: For the best flavor and aroma, it’s recommended to use fresh whole cloves rather than pre-ground cloves. Whole cloves retain their flavor and potency for a longer time.
- Start with a Small Batch: If you’re grinding cloves for the first time or trying out a new method, start with a small batch to get a feel for the process and to avoid wasting a large quantity of cloves.
- Use a Dedicated Spice Grinder: Invest in a dedicated spice grinder or coffee grinder specifically for grinding spices. This will help prevent cross-contamination of flavors and ensure consistent results.
- Grind in Short Bursts: When grinding cloves, it’s best to grind in short bursts rather than continuously running the grinder. This allows the cloves to be ground evenly and prevents the grinder from overheating.
- Store Ground Cloves Properly: If you have excess ground cloves, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place to maintain their freshness and flavor for a longer period.
Don’ts:
- Don’t Overgrind: Avoid overgrinding cloves as it can result in a powdery texture and may release excessive oils, leading to a bitter taste. Aim for a coarse to medium grind for the best flavor.
- Don’t Grind Damp Cloves: Moisture can affect the grinding process and result in clumping. Ensure that the cloves are completely dry before grinding them.
- Don’t Grind Other Spices Simultaneously: Avoid grinding cloves along with other spices in the same grinder unless you want their flavors to mix. It’s best to grind each spice separately to maintain their distinct flavors.
- Don’t Forget to Clean the Grinder: After grinding cloves, clean the grinder thoroughly to remove any residue and prevent flavor contamination in future uses.
By following these dos and don’ts, you can achieve the best results when grinding cloves and enhance the flavor and aroma of your culinary creations.
Summary Of Clove Grinding Methods
Here’s a comparison of grinding cloves using different methods in table form:
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Spice grinder | – Specifically designed for grinding spices | – May be expensive especially name brands |
| – Provides consistent and fine grind | – Requires additional equipment | |
| Coffee grinder | – Widely available and affordable | – May leave residual coffee flavor |
| – Can achieve a fine grind | – May not be as efficient for grinding spices | |
| Pestle and mortar | – Traditional method with a hands-on approach | – Requires physical effort and time |
| – Allows for control over the coarseness of the grind | – May not achieve a very fine grind | |
| Blender | – Quick and efficient grinding | – May result in uneven grind |
| – Can handle larger quantities of cloves | – May require additional liquid for blending | |
| Manually with a blunt object | – Requires minimal equipment | – Inconsistent grind |
| – Can be done with readily available household items | – Requires more effort and time compared to other methods |
Please note that the effectiveness of each method may vary depending on the specific equipment used and personal preference.
Final Thoughts
When buying spices like cloves, choose the smallest quantity possible as spices do have a shelf life and the flavor will decrease over time. It’s best to grind cloves right before you use them rather than well in advance.
A mechanical method to grind cloves such as a spice grinder or coffee grinder is your best bet since it will be quicker, less work on your part and also offer the best chance you’ll end up with a fine grind.
And if you couldn’t be bothered to grind cloves yourself?
You can always buy a pouch of cloves that has already been ground and use them instead.