Whether you are looking for a quick alternative to garlic powder because you ran out, or you want to try a substitute for health reasons, you are in luck. This article will look at everything you should know about this seasoning and then offer insight on the best garlic powder substitute to fit your needs.
Whether you’re making a lasagna or seasoning a cut of meat, there are several choices, and one is sure to fit your needs.
What is garlic powder?
One of the most flavorful seasonings for dishes like grilled chicken, pizza, pasta, and sauce is none other than garlic powder. This is a form of garlic that is ground and dehydrated to offer a long shelf life when stored appropriately. While this type of garlic can last a long time, sometimes people run out of it.
To continue cooking a delicious, garlicky meal, you will want to have access to a garlic powder substitute to complete the process. The good news is that there are 6 fantastic substitutes for the seasoning that you can use instead.
How healthy (or unhealthy) is it?
Garlic powder isn’t always as strong as fresh garlic, but it does offer several health benefits. One of the components of garlic powder is amino acid glutamate, which provides an umami flavor.
It offers many trace nutrients such as B6, manganese, and phosphorus. Keep in mind that as garlic powder ages, it can lose some of its potency, so you should always take a look at the expiration date before using it to get the best results.
Nutritional Breakdown
Garlic powder | Amount (per 100 g) | % Recommended daily intake |
Calories | 361 kcal | 17% |
Total fat | 0.4 g | 0.7% |
Saturated fat | 0 g | 0% |
Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
Protein | 15 g | 29% |
Carbohydrates | 74 g | 27% |
Fiber | 0 g | 0% |
Vitamin A | 0 ug | 0% |
Calcium | 0 mg | 0% |
Iron | 0 mg | 0% |
(Based on nutritional information from CalorieKing.)
What recipes are garlic powder used in?
The fantastic thing about garlic powder is that it can be used in a wide variety of dishes. You can make breading using garlic for extra flavor, add garlic to potatoes of all sorts, include garlic in meatballs and hamburgers, or even use it as a seasoning to spice up your popcorn.
Garlic is used in many pasta dishes, mixed in chili, and used when making meatloaf. There are probably more dishes that benefit from garlic powder than there are that don’t, at least in terms of savory recipes.
Why do we need garlic powder substitutes?
Several reasons exist where you might want to have a garlic powder substitute on hand. One of the most common reasons is simply because you could run out of the seasoning. With so many alternatives available, there’s no reason not to have a substitution around in case this happens to you.
Also, some recipes actually taste better or are more easily created using a substitute rather than garlic powder. Whatever the reason you have to incorporate a substitute, you’ll find several of them below.
Note:
🌱 = vegan
1. Granulated garlic🌱
Best for: stews, stir fry, marinades, rubs, and seasoning blends.
Granulated garlic might seem similar to garlic powder, but the two have some differences. Garlic powder is a product made of cloves of garlic that are ground into a fine powder, while granulated garlic uses garlic cloves that are ground into granules.
This creates a difference in texture that might make one better than the other for a specific recipe. When substituting with granulated garlic, you’ll want to use about twice as much as you would of the garlic powder.
Advantages
Granulated garlic is going to be the closest substitution to garlic powder, so there’s not much that needs to be done differently to use it besides changing the measurements. It blends in with dishes like pasta and adds a bit of texture to go with the typical garlic aroma. It also has health benefits through the inclusion of vitamin B6 and iron.
Disadvantages
A small downfall of granulated garlic is that it takes longer to incorporate into a dish than garlic powder. Granulated garlic takes a few minutes, while garlic powder dissolves into a meal in mere seconds. You’ll also find that granulated garlic has fewer health benefits than some of the other alternatives we talk about in this article.
Nutritional breakdown
Granulated garlic | Amount (per 100 g) | % Recommended daily intake |
Calories | 361 kcal | 17% |
Total fat | 0.4 g | 0.7% |
Saturated fat | 0 g | 0% |
Carbohydrates | 74 g | 27% |
Fiber | 0 g | 0% |
Salt | 29 mg | 2% |
Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
Calcium | 0 mg | 0% |
Iron | 0 mg | 0% |
Vitamin C | 0 ug | 0% |
(Based on nutritional information from CalorieKing.)
2. Garlic salt🌱
Best for: dips, beef dishes, mashed potatoes, and pasta.
Garlic salt is another alternative to garlic powder, which is essentially regular garlic powder with the addition of salt. In most cases, it is about one-quarter garlic with three-quarters salt.
If you are going to use garlic salt in a dish that calls for garlic powder, you’ll want to use about twice the amount listed. However, the additional salt content means you should be cautious about how much you add to get the flavor you desire.
Advantages
One advantage of a garlic salt substitution for garlic powder is that a dish requiring salt and garlic powder can be created using a single seasoning, rather than having to juggle two different ingredients. Garlic salt is also a healthy option that can lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, lower blood sugar, and be anti-inflammatory on the body.
Disadvantages
The most significant drawback of this substitution is that there is a tremendous amount of salt in the seasoning. If you choose to use it, you will want to lower the amount of regular salt that you use or omit it entirely. Not doing so can lead to a dish that is saltier than you wish, even if you only use the garlic salt on its own.
Nutritional breakdown
Garlic salt | Amount (per 100 g) | % Recommended daily intake |
Calories | 0 kcal | 0% |
Total fat | 0 g | 0% |
Saturated fat | 0 g | 0% |
Cholesterol | 0 g | 0% |
Carbohydrates | 0 g | 0% |
Protein | 0 g | 0% |
Salt | 35484 mg | 1868% |
Calcium | 34 mg | 3% |
Potassium | 191 mg | 5% |
Iron | 0 mg | 0% |
(Based on nutritional information from USDA.)
3. Minced garlic🌱
Best for: pasta, sauces, meat, poultry, and vegetables.
Minced garlic is a substitution that contains finely minced garlic cloves. If you are creating a dish that requires sautéing, minced garlic is a fantastic substitute for garlic powder.
The powdered form of garlic, as well as granulated garlic, will not sauté as well as you expect and can quickly burn in the pan. When using minced garlic, use about half of the amount that is recommended for garlic powder.
Advantages
Using minced garlic will give you the same flavor as garlic powder while being in a fresher form. This is especially the case if you mince the garlic on your own. It handles sautéing with ease so you can prepare dishes in a pan on the stove without burning or strange odors.
Some of the health benefits of minced garlic include lower cholesterol and blood pressure, along with the reduced risk of some types of cancer.
Disadvantages
While minced garlic works well for some dishes, it may not do the job for others. As an example, adding it to a meat rub can result in improper blending. Because of that, it might not stick to the meat you plan to cook. Also, this ingredient is more concentrated than garlic powder, so it’s easy to overdo it.
Nutritional breakdown
Minced garlic | Amount (per 100 g) | % Recommended daily intake |
Calories | 213 kcal | 10% |
Total fat | 14 g | 17% |
Saturated fat | 0 g | 0% |
Protein | 0 g | 0% |
Salt | 0 g | 0% |
Carbohydrates | 21 g | 0% |
Fiber | 0 g | 0% |
Calcium | 0 mg | 0% |
Iron | 0 mg | 0% |
Vitamin C | 42 mg | 54% |
4. Fresh garlic🌱
Best for: spreads, vegetables, pasta, bread, and soups.
While garlic powder and garlic salt come in a small container, fresh garlic comes as a collection of cloves. To use fresh garlic, it’s required to peel it and then slice or mince it up on your own.
One of the things that sets fresh garlic apart is that it has a bit of heat to it that isn’t present in garlic powder. You can also get garlic in several fresh forms like chopped and crushed, each of which is best for specific recipes.
Advantages
Assuming you are someone who prefers additional garlic flavor, fresh garlic is the best way to go. It is more aromatic and can make a huge difference in how heavy the garlic flavor is in a dish.
Choosing to chop, mince, or crush the garlic also offers a higher level of versatility than garlic powder does. Mild flavors come from chopped garlic, while intense flavors are more common with the other preparation methods.
Disadvantages
The process of breaking down fresh garlic can be frustrating for some people, which may make a different garlic powder substitution a better option.
Some people have issues mincing garlic with a press or by hand, and that struggle may not be worth it for everyone. Working with garlic salt or jarred minced garlic is an option if you find this to be the case when you work with fresh garlic.
Nutritional breakdown
Fresh garlic | Amount (per 100 g) | % Recommended daily intake |
Calories | 133 kcal | 6% |
Total fat | 0 g | 0% |
Saturated fat | 0 g | 0% |
Protein | 7 g | 14% |
Salt | 33 mg | 2% |
Carbohydrates | 33 g | 12% |
Fiber | 0 g | 0% |
Vitamin A | 333 ug | 42% |
Vitamin C | 4 mg | 5% |
Iron | 0 mg | 0% |
5. Garlic puree🌱
Best for: breads, sauces, stews, casseroles, sauces, and pasta.
Those who want the potency of fresh garlic without having to go through the struggle of preparing it can choose to use a garlic puree in some dishes. Garlic puree can be purchases at a supermarket or easily made at home.
All it involves is taking peeled and separated garlic cloves and putting them into a food processor until they reach the desired texture. Then you simply put the garlic into an airtight bowl and cover it in olive oil.
Advantages
One of the benefits of garlic puree is that it can easily be blended into dishes like garlic powder. It does exceptionally well with recipes like pasta and sandwich spreads. If you choose to use garlic puree in a jar, it also saves you time on working with the blender to create your own. Some of the other applications for this puree include stews, bread, roast meats, and sauces.
Disadvantages
Garlic puree doesn’t last as long as garlic powder or some of the other substitutes on this list. It’s best to use it up within a week of making it to ensure it doesn’t go bad in your refrigerator.
You’ll also want to keep in mind that this version of garlic tends to have more calories since it uses olive oil. Those who are dieting may wish to choose an alternative option when substituting for garlic powder.
Nutritional breakdown
Garlic puree | Amount (per 100 g) | % Recommended daily intake |
Calories | 300 kcal | 14% |
Total fat | 30 g | 36% |
Saturated fat | 0 g | 0% |
Protein | 0 g | 0% |
Salt | 1050 mg | 55% |
Potassium | 350 mg | 9% |
Vitamin D | 40 ug | 7% |
Carbohydrates | 10 g | 4% |
Fiber | 10 g | 36% |
Calcium | 0 mg | 0% |
6. Garlic juice🌱
Best for: smoothies, pasta, meats, and bread.
Garlic juice is out final recommendation as a garlic powder substitute and is also the newest version of garlic on the market. It can also be made at home by making garlic puree and then straining the garlic into a bowl.
Press down on the garlic to get all the juice to come out. When you substitute this ingredient for garlic powder, use about half the amount of juice to the required garlic powder in the recipe.
Advantages
Compared to garlic powder, garlic juice has a much more pungent odor and is nearly twice as strong in terms of flavor. It can be easy to use if you buy it in a jar so you can create a dish quickly and then enjoy it with family and friends. This juice can help with a sore throat or cough and is known to lower cholesterol so you can be sure it offers health benefits you can count on.
Disadvantages
Garlic juice is a newer product and may not be available at every health food store or supermarket. If that’s the case, you will need to do more work to use it in your recipes instead of garlic powder.
As with other garlic powder alternatives, it can also lead to bad breath, stomach burning sensations, body odor, heartburn, and gas.
Nutritional breakdown
Garlic juice | Amount (per 100 ml) | % Recommended daily intake |
Calories | 0 kcal | 0% |
Total fat | 0 g | 0% |
Saturated fat | 0 g | 0% |
Protein | 40 g | 78% |
Carbohydrates | 0 g | 0% |
Salt | 700 mg | 37% |
Calcium | 0 mg | 0% |
Potassium | 0 mg | 0% |
Iron | 0 mg | 0% |
Vitamin C | 0 ug | 0% |
The Bottom Line
Garlic powder is a staple ingredient in most people’s kitchen, but sometimes you might want to try a substitute or run out of it and need to make a change to a recipe. Each of the substitutions listed here contain garlic so you can expect to get the flavor you want, no matter which you use.
However, some have additional flavors or different textures that may alter their use. Consider which best fits your needs and have it on hand in case of an emergency.
Top vegan picks
One of the great things about these substitutes is that every one of them is vegan. However, some of them may be more useful than others for various purposes. Those who want extra moisture in a dish may wish to choose garlic juice. If you want substantial pieces of garlic in a meal, you can consider minced garlic, granulated garlic, or fresh garlic.
Top healthy picks
Garlic is a very healthy food, whether it’s in the form of a powder or otherwise. The least healthy of the bunch are actual garlic powder, as well as garlic salt and granulated garlic. The process of drying the garlic removes many of the nutrients found in other forms. If you want the healthiest option, you should go with fresh garlic. However, different types of garlic also have additional health benefits and are often easier to make use of.
Top convenient picks
For convenience when making a meal quickly without much hassle, minced garlic or garlic puree in a jar are both excellent choices. They offer the garlic flavor you want in distinct textures, and all it takes is going to the grocery store to make a meal. If you stock fresh garlic in your home, that can be another convenient option, but preparing it can add some time to the cooking process.
Top convincing picks
It’s hard to rank the most convincing option for a garlic powder substitute, if only because each of them does use garlic. However, to get the same texture, your best options are garlic salt or granulated garlic. On the other side of the coin, you can get a richer flavor with some of the other substitutes like minced garlic, fresh garlic, and garlic juice.
Sources:
https://www.cleanplates.com/eat/healthy-pantry/love-garlic-powder/
https://www.myrecipes.com/how-to/cooking-questions/difference-between-garlics
