Garlic is prized as the stinking rose. There are three wide varieties: the white-skinned, intensely flavoured American garlic; the white-skinned mild-flavoured elephant garlic, which is not natural garlic; and lastly, the green garlic – which is young garlic before it begins to form cloves. The chemical properties of garlic give it relevance in the field of medicine. It is high in antioxidants and contains antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Garlic is a herb in the Allium family, which is the same family as onions and shallots. There are several species of garlic, each with its own unique pungent flavours. Over the years, people have learned to produce garlic teas, tinctures and mix them with honey to cure a wide range of ailments such as; gastric infections, colds, fever, diarrhoea, respiratory diseases, and some epidemics such as; cholera, influenza, typhus, and dysentery.
Granulated garlic is dried garlic that has been coarsely ground to a sand-like consistency. It is made by drying fresh garlic cloves in an oven, then grinding them into garlic granules with a spice grinder. This form of garlic is widely available in stores and local markets. It is preferred because, of all forms of garlic, it has the most extended shelf life.
Granulated Garlic Uses
Granulated garlic is often used as a seasoning for sauces and dry rubs because it distributes the garlic flavour in a dish without adding moisture.
You can: sprinkle granulated garlic over a slice of hot pizza to complement the umami flavours in the cheese; stir granulated powder into a chowder to allow the garlic flavour to shine through; prepare a rack of ribs for the smoker by adding granulated garlic to your dry rub; or coat your breadsticks with granulated garlic before baking for a unique texture and slight crunch.
Use in Different Types of Recipes
Garlic is used as a spice to add flavour, taste, and nutritional value to a meal. To get all the essential nutrients in garlic, you have to increase the quantity of consumption;100 grams of garlic cloves is rich in nutrients such as; vitamins B and C, dietary minerals, manganese, calcium, iron, and phosphorus.
Garlic Conversion
Ahead or bulb of garlic usually contains about 10 cloves. 1 clove equals 1 teaspoon chopped garlic, which equals ½ teaspoon minced garlic, which equals 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder, which equals ½ teaspoon garlic flakes. ½ teaspoon garlic flakes equal ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic, which equals ½ teaspoon garlic juice.
Granulated Garlic Substitute
Does your recipe call for granulated garlic, but you can’t lay a hand on any? Don’t panic; here is a list of other products to use in place of granulated garlic.
Garlic Powder
If you don’t have garlic granules, use garlic powder as a replacement. Being finely ground, you need only a small amount of garlic powder to substitute for the granulated form. If you need one tablespoon of granulated garlic, you can replace it with half a tablespoon of garlic powder. Garlic powder can be used in rubs and shakes, where you need a faster flavour release.
Garlic Salt
In some recipes, you can replace granulated garlic with garlic salt. If your recipe calls for ¼ teaspoon of garlic granules, you can use one teaspoon of garlic salt instead. In that case, avoid using extra salt. However, you cannot use garlic salt in large amounts due to the high salt content. Garlic salt consists of one part garlic granules and three parts salt.
Garlic Flakes
Garlic flakes are a great alternative to granulated garlic. In this case, you have to use double the amount of granules required. If you need a teaspoon of granulated garlic, use two teaspoons of garlic flakes. When soaked in water, these flakes can be used as a replacement for fresh garlic.
Garlic Juice
Garlic juice is now available in supermarkets. It is nothing other than the juice extracted from fresh garlic. If the recipe calls for a teaspoon of garlic granules, substitute it with ½ teaspoon of garlic juice. However, the flavour may vary slightly, as the juice is made of fresh garlic, and the granules are made from dried garlic. You can prepare garlic juice at home. Mince and press some peeled garlic cloves and sieve the juice.
Granulated Garlic vs Fresh Garlic
Granulated garlic is the dried, ground form of fresh garlic. It is a convenient option to have in a kitchen because fresh garlic can sprout and go bitter while the granulated garlic flavour remains constant during its shelf life. While fresh garlic only lasts 4-6 months, granulated garlic can last 2-3 years when stored properly. Fresh garlic has a more subtle and sweet flavour compared to granulated garlic, which has a more potent and concentrated taste. Use 1/4 tsp. of granulated garlic when substituting it for fresh garlic clove.
Granulated Garlic vs Minced Garlic
Granulated garlic is the dried form of minced garlic but is ground slightly finer than dried minced garlic. While both variations are a time saver in the kitchen, there are some instances where granulated garlic might be the better option for your recipe.
You will choose jarred minced garlic over granulated garlic if you have a recipe that benefits from the moisture and texture of minced garlic, like an olive oil bread dip. Granulated garlic would be better suited for soups and sauces than minced garlic because it will dissolve quickly into your liquid base.
Dried minced garlic and granulated garlic vary in their granule size but can be used differently. Use dried minced garlic in coarse herbal blends that show off the larger granules, but use granulated garlic is finely blended spice blends.
Granulated Garlic vs Garlic Powder
The only difference between garlic powder and granulated garlic is the granule size. While granulated garlic is coarsely ground to a sand consistency, garlic powder is finely ground to a flour consistency. Due to the size difference, garlic powder is more potent in flavour than granulated garlic because more of the surface area of the garlic is exposed to oxygen, releasing more of the sulfur compound. While you would need 1/4 tsp. of granulated garlic to substitute a clove of garlic, you would only need 1/8 tsp. of garlic powder to achieve the same flavour effect.
Choose granulated garlic over garlic powder if you want your recipe to feature a crunch with the garlic flavour, like a rotisserie chicken. You would want garlic powder over granulated garlic when you need your garlic product to dissipate and meld into the consistency of your recipe quickly without adding texture, like in a pasta sauce. Granulated garlic is also less likely to clump in the bottle than garlic powder. Be sure to sift the ingredient into your dish to avoid clumps.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Is fresh garlic better than minced?
Yes, fresh garlic is better than minced, unless you prefer your garlic with substantially less flavour. Fresh garlic has much more potent garlicky power than minced. In addition, fresh garlic has a hint of heat when raw.
Can I turn granulated garlic into garlic powder?
Yes, this is absolutely possible. Garlic conversion was discussed earlier in this article. If your recipe calls for powder garlic, but only granulated garlic, you can use them interchangeably. If the original meal calls for powder garlic, use twice the granulated garlic because a fine grind will pack a more potent punch per teaspoon.
What happens if you put garlic under your pillow?
A fresh clove of garlic placed beneath a pillow bestows a calming effect on the nervous system. This is because of the sulphurous compounds which are released from the garlic. If the garlic smell doesn’t put you off, this is a rewarding exercise.
You may use any of these substitutes in place of granulated garlic. These are all garlic products; hence you need not worry about the taste profile of your dish, so this is secured. Choose the best substitute but consider the texture of your end result.