Can you eat garlic powder without cooking it?
This brief guide will address the query, “Can you eat garlic powder without cooking it?” We will also discuss how garlic powder is made and its health benefits.
Can you eat garlic powder without cooking it?
Yes, you can eat garlic powder without cooking it. Garlic powder has already been heated before being ground into a fine powder and does not pose a hazard for Clostridium Botulinum contamination as raw garlic.
Garlic powder is a practical and long-lasting alternative to seasoning various dishes and the secret of its flavor and conservation lies in the way it is obtained. Contrary to popular belief, garlic powder is a natural product with a high nutritional value.
How is garlic powder made?
Garlic powder is a dehydrated version of garlic. Some care is necessary so that the garlic does not burn and preserves the maximum of its flavor. The main steps to preparing garlic powder are:
Peeling the garlic: after separating the individual cloves from the head of garlic, the papery skins are removed from each clove. It is recommended that this task be done with gloves and the use of facilitating tools is recommended if the volume of garlic to be peeled is big.
Cut into very thin slices: With the peeled garlic, cut the cloves into thin slices. The thinner the slice, the faster the garlic will dehydrate. It is also important to pay attention to the homogeneity of the cuts so that they all dry at the same time. Using a slicer or processing the garlic can be a way to guarantee a pattern.
Dehydrate the garlic: You can use a dehydrator, the oven, or even sunlight. Each process will take different times, being the dehydration in the sun using a cardboard box with aluminum is the most time-consuming, needing at least 24 hours, or using the oven for 30 minutes.
Organizing the garlic slices on the tray: In any case, it is important to be careful when arranging the garlic slices on the trays so that they do not overlap or burn in the oven. The air circulation will guarantee a more homogeneous and efficient drying.
Grinding: After the garlic has dried, it can be crushed with a pestle or coffee bean crusher and ready to use. Garlic powder, like any dehydrated food, needs to be stored in a dry and ventilated place, avoiding exposure to moisture as much as possible to preserve its shelf life.
How can I use garlic powder?
Garlic powder is very practical because of its ability to disperse and can be used in the preparation of marinades, soups, stews, salad dressings, and pasta. Its nuance of flavors is much explored in:
- Noodles in Chinese Style: To liven up your regular noodle, add a pinch of garlic powder to the noodle-cooking water to accentuate the flavors.
- Sauces: due to their flavor construction, they can be added to complement the flavor of sauces at the end of the process or a little before the finalization.
- Pickles: Adding garlic powder to your pickles will give a typical flavor to Indian pickles, being more aromatic than pickles preserved only with salt and vinegar.
- Chutneys: Garlic contrasts this typically sweet sauce. There are tangy versions made with an emphasis on garlic, such as Lahsun Ki Chutney.
- Seasoning Mixing: Garlic powder, like other powdered spices, can be mixed with other spices and stored for long periods without spoiling. A mix of spices is a very practical option to season sauces and meats with ease.
Is Garlic Powder Healthy?
Garlic powder as well as raw garlic has numerous benefits due to its high content of vitamins and minerals. Among the main nutrients, we can highlight vitamin C, vitamin B6, iron, calcium, and magnesium. This natural multivitamin set has the following advantages:
- Improves the immune system: its high content of vitamin C increases immunity, and is recommended to prevent and shorten flu and colds.
- Regulates blood pressure: garlic consumption stimulates the production of hydrogen sulfide which relaxes blood vessels and improves blood flow in the body
- It can prevent cancer: for its great antifungal, antibacterial and antioxidant power, garlic usually fights inflammation and diseases in the body. A 2017 study showed that consuming garlic extract can reduce the risk of cancer.
What is the Difference between Garlic Salt to Garlic Powder?
Two seasonings that can be confused are garlic salt and garlic powder. This confusion is since both are dehydrated and full of flavor. Garlic powder is made by simply grinding dehydrated garlic slices. Some brands may add additives to increase the shelf life of garlic powder.
Meanwhile garlic salt uses granulated salt, larger pieces of dehydrated garlic mixed with sea salt, and an anti-caking agent to prevent caking. The proportion is usually one part garlic to three parts salt.
It is important to pay attention not to confuse the ingredients, or there may be an error in the amount of salt in your recipe. Garlic salt can be interesting in rubs and smokes while garlic powder will bring more flavor to your recipes without stealing the spotlight from another ingredient.
Other FAQs about Garlic that you may be interested in.
Do garlic and coriander go together?
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we have addressed the query, “Can you eat garlic powder without cooking it?” We have also discussed how garlic powder is made and its health benefits.
Hope you found this blog useful. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Citations
https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2021/06/25/garlic-powder-tips/
https://www.organicfacts.net/garlic-powder.html
https://thekitchencommunity.org/garlic-salt-vs-garlic-powder-whats-the-difference/
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/72/4/1047/4729512?login=true
