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I just Googled Garlic

And got 72,700,000 results. I love it and wonder why anyone would use any thing other than fresh garlic. Powdered Garlic, Garlic Salt, Pre-peeled, Pre-crushed….Why?

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  1. . . . and only 27,200,012 were porn.

    I'm with you when it comes to using fresh garlic. You will likely see, however, others disagree with us.

    4 Replies
    1. re: MGZ

      Did you try “Garlic Porn”? LOL

      1. re: Woodfireguy

        and dont google ginger....
        u dont wanna know what people do with it....

      2. re: MGZ

        Powdered garlic on pizza FTW!

      3. It comes down to ease of use. If I want a taste of garlic on a steak, for example, I'd turn to garlic powder or salt. Fresh garlic simply wouldn't work in that situation unless I was doing a marinade, and there's not always time for that.

        Many times I'm cooking something on the fly, and I want a bit of a garlic taste, but don't have the time to peel, chop and saute the garlic to soften it. That's when I get a quick spoonful of minced garlic in oil from the fridge.

        I love fresh garlic but I'm glad I have other options to turn to in various situations.

        3 Replies
        1. re: Chris VR

          I get where you’re coming from. I’m of the opinion that processed garlic products have nothing good to offer other than convenience. Have you tried putting some Chimichurri on your steak? Not a time saver but great garlic flavor.

          1. re: Woodfireguy

            I love Chimichurri, especially in the summer when I'm swimming in parsley. I don't typically put garlic powder on steak, but my parents like it that way. They wouldn't go for the Chimichurri, though!

        2. For much of the OP's list, the use of one doesn't preclude the use of the other (in my kitchen, anyway). I always have fresh on hand, and put it in the appropriate dishes, but sometimes a dish needs a little extra something. Sometimes that little extra something is a dash of soy, or worcestershire, and sometimes it is a bit of granulated garlic. I use garlic salt on or in popcorn, chicken salad, and the like. The salts and powdered aren't used as a substitute for fresh, but as an ingredient in their own right, with very different flavors than fresh garlic has.

          I never use the peeled and minced stuff, but my boyfriend sometimes will sneak some into the shopping cart, simply because he *hates* peeling and chopping garlic. If he doesn't have any in the fridge, he'll do without it rather than get out the cutting board, if I'm not home to do it for him.

          7 Replies
          1. re: onceadaylily

            That’s interesting. What favor profiles are you getting that you can,t get from fresh? To me, garlic powder taste like a weaker version of fresh garlic that’s been slightly browned in olive oil.

            1. re: Woodfireguy

              I agree with you about the powdered garlic (it has a dryness to it that I dislike). I don't use powdered garlic, just granulated garlic and garlic salt. To me, those two have a deeper flavor, similar to roasted, but without the sweetness of actual roasted garlic, which is nice for the quick fix of a lacking dish, or in something that I wouldn't want to add minced garlic in (like popcorn), where the texture qould be misplaced, and the flavor not spread out enough. The salt and granulated versions are my white girl version of a cheater MSG fix. But all brands of those two products are not created the same; I have had fantastic and horrible jars of both of those items.

              When I was growing up, my mom used powdered garlic to make garlic bread. She started buying those jars of mince when I was a teenager, and she had just married an Italian-American. That was her concession to his heritage. ;)

              1. re: onceadaylily

                Got it. If her husband is happy, then I’m happy. Isn’t garlic powder finely ground granulated garlic? Not sure on that one.

                1. re: Woodfireguy

                  I think so, but I've always thought that granulated seems to have a more pronounced taste, without the texture that I find unappealing (the powder even *smells* dry to me, floury, in a way). And I've always thought garlic powder would be more likely to have additives, but I could be wrong.

                  And my stepdad is as happy as he's gonna get in that regard. Mom is a very busy lady, and she likes a very 'convenient' kitchen.

              2. re: Woodfireguy

                I use garlic powder (and, for that matter, onion powder) for one thing and one thing only: as elements of my rib rub, prior to slow smoking. I don't think using fresh garlic & onion would work the same.

                EDIT: just read the rest of the thread and see that I am not alone in this practice.

                1. re: BobB

                  Your not alone. I see GP and OP in alot of rubs and it does work well there. OK, that's one reason why. I don't use rub's myself but have tasted them on a lot of low and slow BBQ

                  1. re: BobB

                    Yep. Penzey's granulated garlic gets a lot of play in my smoker over the summer months.

              3. When fresh garlic burns it gives off a bitter taste that many do not enjoy, including me. However dried garlic, garlic salt, garlic powder don't give off the same bitterness. Have you ever tried freshly ground dried garlic and salt for red oak style bbq?

                3 Replies
                1. re: scarmoza

                  Yes, it does get bitter if you over brown it or burn it that's for sure.I have not tried the ones you mentioned. I guess that my dislike for processed garlic comes from being Italian. You can get so many different flavor profiles from fresh garlic by the way you slice, crush, dice, brown or roast it, why bother with the rest. That just me, but I enjoy hearing every ones opinion. Thanks for replying

                  1. re: Woodfireguy

                    Santa Maria Style BBQ (aka Central Coast BBQ, Red Oak Grilling) also has Italian roots. Once you've tried it, you will find love and understanding for the dried garlic forever.

                    1. re: scarmoza

                      Thanks...I will keep an eye out for it.

                2. Completely off topic, can you still get the peeled whole cloves in large bottles ? Have not seen them in some time.

                  5 Replies
                  1. re: Delucacheesemonger

                    I've been seeing it bagged. Costco has bags of California peeled cloves in their refrigerated foods section.

                    1. re: ferret

                      Thanks, that was where used to get the jars, will look again

                      1. re: Delucacheesemonger

                        I think I remember someone on CH saying they had found it at Trader Joe's. If I'm remembering correctly, it prompted a few comments similar to this OP. ;)

                      2. re: ferret

                        Tiny aside - that bag will stink up the fridge so fast! Even when I mason jarred it, the smell came through the plastic lid I used. Beware!

                      3. re: Delucacheesemonger

                        I've gotten it several times at H Mart at astonishingly low prices, if you live near one of those.