Garlic has many culinary uses. The cloves are separated, peeled and then used whole, or chopped or crushed. If the garlic is old, be sure to remove the bitter ‘germ’ from the centre of the clove.
But if you need firm, sliced, or diced garlic for your recipe, I'd recommend rolling the cloves on your countertop instead. If you do the latter, you may want to put a towel between your hand and ...