This easy and flavorful Homemade Garlic Powder Recipe will fill your dishes with rich garlic flavor. Learn how to make garlic powder as an essential kitchen staple from scratch, adding rich garlic flavor to your dishes. Follow our step-by-step guide to create the perfect homemade garlic powder using the dehydrator.
Another great addition to my and your pantry, you will always enjoy having it. The powder is perfect to sprinkle around your dishes for that extra flavor when needed.
When your fresh garlic is turned into a fine powder, you can use it on any savory dish. This ingredient is versatile and perfect for rice dishes like chicken stir-fry. It adds a spicy flavor to the sides, such as coconut cauliflower rice.
Why You Will Love This Garlic Powder Recipe
Having garlic seasoning in your kitchen pantry is very important and helpful. Let me give you some reasons why you will love this recipe:
- Intense Flavor – commercial garlic powder cannot hold a candle to the strong taste of homemade. Your dishes are about to get an upgrade.
- Preservative-Free – say goodbye to mysterious additives. When you make it at home, you control what goes into your garlic powder – no hidden surprises.
- Budget-Friendly – making your garlic powder satisfying and lighter on the pocket. Plus, you get the satisfaction of creating something magical from scratch.
What Is Garlic Powder?
Ground garlic powder is made of dehydrated garlic and can be used as a seasoning to enhance the flavor of any dish. We usually have store-bought garlic powder for our pantry stocks, but the advantage of making garlic powder at home is that you can control everything and even make a healthier option.
Garlic powder is a finer and ground version of dried garlic. Making homemade garlic powder does not mean you should also grow garlic plants at home. Buy fresh garlic at the market and take the following steps to make its powdered version.
Learn How To Make Garlic Powder Using A Food Dehydrator
Having a food dehydrator available at home is essential, especially if you love making everything homemade, even your seasonings. As you will see below in the full instructions, the dehydrator is necessary for drying the garlic before powdering it.
I have prepared a video where you will see how to operate and assemble your chopped garlic onto the dehydrator trays. The dehydrator process is much easier than other drying options, such as sun-drying and drying garlic in an oven.
Tricks To Peel The Garlic
Peeling garlic can be made easier with a few tricks. You can crush a garlic clove with the flat side of a knife, causing the skin loosen for easy removal. Alternatively, you can microwave the cloves briefly to loosen the skin.
Another method involves shaking garlic cloves in a closed jar, causing the skins to separate. You can choose the method that suits you best for quick and efficient garlic peeling.
How To Make Homemade Garlic Powder Using Dried Garlic Cloves
Let us dive into the whole process of making homemade garlic from scratch. This process is straightforward as long as you have all the ingredients needed and the gadgets essential for drying and powdering the garlic.
Kitchen Gadgets:
- Dehydrator: If sun-drying is the least of your options for drying your garlic, using a dehydrator is the easiest and the most efficient way to dehydrate any vegetables or fruits.
- Blender: Essential for grinding the dried garlic until it turns to powder.
Ingredients:
- Garlic Bulbs: Opt for fresh garlic bulbs or homegrown garlic if you have a small garden at home. Ensure you use fresh ingredients, as we do not want bitter garlic powder.
- Olive Oil: Use for the dehydrator trays to help enhance the flavor of the garlic slices and prevent sticking during the dehydrating process.
*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
FULL INSTRUCTIONS WITH STEPS FOR MAKING GARLIC POWDER
First Step: Prepare and Slice The Garlic
Prepare the garlic you will use for drying and remove the papery skins from the head of garlic.
Peel and slice garlic into thin slices and set aside.
Second Step: Dehydrate The Garlic
Assemble the sliced and peeled garlic cloves in the dehydrator trays with a spray of olive oil. Place the trays on each other and dry the garlic for 5-6 hours. The drying time depends on how thin you cut your garlic cloves.
Third Step: Grind
Once the garlic is completely dehydrated, ensure no moisture is left in the garlic slices, and let the garlic cool for a while. Prepare your blender.
You can use a magic bullet blender for easy grinding, but you can choose what blender is available in your home. You can use a food processor, coffee grinder, mortar, and pestle.
Place the garlic flakes into the blender and grind until they are finely powdered.
Fourth Step: Store And Enjoy
After grinding your dehydrated garlic flakes, transfer the garlic powder into a small container to check if they are ground evenly.
You can make a large batch of garlic powder and store it correctly so it can last long.
TRICKS AND TIPS:
- Grinding – you have a lot of options when it comes to grinding the dehydrated garlic into powder. Use a food processor, coffee grinder, or anything available to do the same work.
- Picking garlic – when selecting bulbs of garlic in the market, choose those with crisp, papery skins, or you can sniff them out and feel the smell of garlic when it is fresh.
- Drying process – To dehydrate the garlic, you can sun-dry it if you do not have a dehydrator at home. Drying garlic in the oven is also an option. Just make sure that when drying, set your oven to the lowest temperature and allow the garlic to cool thoroughly after.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Substitute for Garlic Powder
If garlic powder is unavailable and you do not have time to make a homemade one, you can use garlic salt as a substitute. Substituting garlic powder with garlic and onion flakes or granulated garlic can also work. I made a recipe for you to learn the difference between garlic powder and granulated garlic so you can use them interchangeably.
How To Make Your Own Garlic Powder In The Oven?
As mentioned above, making fresh homemade garlic powder using the oven is possible. Follow the same steps, preparing your peeled cloves of garlic to make garlic powder. Slice into thin pieces and spread the garlic on a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Set your oven to a low temperature and dehydrate until the garlic is dry. You will know they are done once they break easily and turn crispy.
Can I Make Garlic Powder Without A Dehydrator?
Yes, of course. There are many ways to dehydrate your garlic; one of the easiest is an oven. You can also do the sun-drying process, where you can spread your garlic slices in a pan and then place them outside in a shaded area. Although this process can take time, it is better than having no other option.
What to Use Garlic Powder For?
Mix garlic powder with softened butter on your classic garlic bread and toast it until golden brown. Garlic powder is also perfect for 7 layer dip, pasta sauces like marinara or spaghetti. A teaspoon of garlic powder can enhance your ranch dressing mix, gluten-free mushroom soup, vegetable soup and chicken roll-ups.
You can also sprinkle a pinch of garlic powder on your oven-baked cauliflower rice for a simple but savory rice substitute. Garlic powder is also essential for making enchilada spices as it will be complete with the unique flavor that only garlic can give.
Add garlic powder to improve the flavor of your own breading blend.
How Do I Store Garlic Powder At Home?
For storing, same like our tomato powder, keep your garlic powder in an airtight container away from moisture and heat, like in a cool, dark cupboard or pantry. It is a great way to preserve garlic powder, so make sure the lid is tightly sealed after each use to maintain freshness.
With this storing process, your garlic powder can last long and retain its flavor.
Freezing powdered garlic is unnecessary because it can affect its texture and flavor. You can store your garlic powder the way I mentioned above to ensure the quality stays the same.
More Spice Recipes For The Pantry
Making my ingredients brings a lot of joy. Review some of my pantry spice recipes here on my best clean-eating blog.
Try our best enchilada spices that are perfect for any Mexican dish you want to achieve. This mushroom powder and Indian spices are game changers for having an umami flavor that is always available in your pantry. Know the difference between almond meal vs. almond flour and their uses to recipes.
You can also try our cranberry powder, which is rich in fruity essence and can be used to balance savory dishes with its sweetness.
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Homemade Garlic Powder
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 Pieces Fresh Garlic Cloves
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Video
Instructions
- Prepare the garlic you will use for drying and remove the papery skins from the head of garlic. Peel and slice garlic into thin slices and set aside.
- Assemble the sliced and peeled garlic cloves in the dehydrator trays with a spray of olive oil. Place the trays on each other and dry the garlic for 5-6 hours. The drying time depends on how thin you cut your garlic cloves.
- Once the garlic is completely dehydrated, ensure no moisture is left in the garlic slices, and let the garlic cool for a while. Prepare your blender. Place the garlic flakes into the blender and grind until they are finely powdered.
- After grinding your dehydrated garlic flakes, transfer the garlic powder into a small container to check if they are ground evenly.
Notes
- Grinding – you have a lot of options when it comes to grinding the dehydrated garlic into powder. Use a food processor, coffee grinder, or anything available to do the same work.
- Picking garlic – when selecting bulbs of garlic in the market, choose those with crisp, papery skins, or you can sniff them out and feel the smell of garlic when it is fresh.
- Drying process – To dehydrate the garlic, you can sun-dry it if you do not have a dehydrator at home. Drying garlic in the oven is also an option. Just make sure that when drying, set your oven to the lowest temperature and allow the garlic to cool thoroughly after.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
I had SO MUCH garlic from my garden this year and honestly had no idea what to do with it – my mom sent me this recipe to make my own garlic powder. I just finished the dehydration this weekend and the powder turned out great!! Thanks for the tips!
Now you will plant even more.
Finally! An easy garlic flavor I can make at home!
I have a TON of uses for this, thank you!
So happy you do
Didn’t know you could make this one at home.
The flavor turned out perfect – made a huge batch
I just tried this on a small scale and am delighted with the results! So happy about this as I have a bunch of garlic in my garden this year, and now I know what to do with it!
Homegrown garlic is the best ever to use for this recipe