Would it be possible to exist in a world without garlic?
It’s used for virtually every meal, and maybe we use it too frequently. No cookbook could ever forbid us from adding an extra helping of garlic because, as it turns out, too much garlic is non-existing.
Garlic alone is a wonder ingredient that can boost the flavor of any savory dish tenfold. For example, garlic may be found in various shapes or other components that make it easy to cook in different cuisines. In addition, it is made in convenient forms like garlic powder and garlic salt.
There is a lot of misconception in the home cook community about the difference between garlic powder and garlic salt, the benefits of each, and whether or not the two are equivalent.
Do you think those two condiments are the same?
The differences between them are multiple, and hence they are not interchangeable. Even if these dispensing things come from the same source, they don’t necessarily have the same qualities.
What Is the Purpose of Garlic Powder and Garlic Salt?
What is garlic powder?
The condiment known as garlic powder was developed from dehydrated and pulverized garlic cloves. This condiment was also first created in Central Asia, like many other delicious garnishes. Chinese and Indian cuisine uses this condiment extensively. This powder will give your food a savory sweetness that is sure to boost its flavor.
Grinding garlic finer is necessary to create garlic powder. However, the option of packing it as granulated garlic is available for larger garlic particles. This powder, unlike raw garlic, may last for four years and is still edible long after its expiration date. Buy the best garlic powder you can find, as lower grade choices may be flavored or blended instead of the actual garlic.
What is garlic salt?
One of the more delicious salts is garlic salt, which is enjoyed for its savory taste. To make this condiment, garlic powder and salt are mixed. You can prepare your garlic salt in a 1:3 or 1:6 ratio. It gives anything with ground beef a unique flavor, notably hamburgers, lasagna, and other dishes like that.
Garlic salt is comprised of around one-quarter garlic. So utilizing garlic salt instead of garlic powder introduces the possibility of an over-salted, unappetizing meal. However, this excellent and enjoyable flavoring is perfect for many dishes with its memorable and recognizable kick.
Which Is Better Garlic Salt or Garlic Powder?
Garlic salt may be made by adding any form of salt to it, but not the other way around.
If you want to surge the amount of garlic flavor in your cuisine by adding more garlic salt, you’re just going to make it saltier, possibly to the point of ruining it. Also, instead of purchasing garlic salt, you may make your own by mixing it yourself with the garlic powder you have in your kitchen.
You can make a garlic salt replacement by mixing garlic powder and kosher salt. Garlic powder can replace garlic salt if the proper ratio of garlic to salt is used. These ratios tend to be three parts of salt to one aspect of garlic powder, although you can adjust these numbers if you’d like.
Benefits of garlic powder
- It can work as a treatment for cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol
- An excellent condiment to bolster your immune system
- Reducing cancer chances and effective in treating a variety of malignancies
- Provides a good amount of macronutrients and minerals such as vitamin B6 and C, magnesium, sodium, protein, iron, calcium, and carbohydrates
- Help prevent hypertension
- Combats the cholesterol levels of the body
Cons of garlic powder
- Garlic powder comes with the added risk of medical issues
- It is hazardous for people who are on prescription medications
- Garlic powder’s strong odor leads to foul breath
Benefits of garlic salt
- To keep cholesterol levels regular, the body must be subjected to several treatments.
- Supplements blood pressure levels
- Improves overall digestion
- Reduces the risk of colds
- It has strong antibacterial properties and is quite good at preventing infections
Cons of garlic salt
- May produce gas when consumed excessively
Can I Use Garlic Salt or Powder in Place of Minced Garlic?
If you’re out of minced garlic, use garlic powder as a replacement and add it to the recipe. Garlic salt can be used to replace some quantity, but be careful because it adds sodium as much as the garlic flavor.
Also, despite these condiments being produced from identical bulbs, their flavors, textures, and tastes are not the same. Therefore, cooking necessitates using both things in ways that do not alter the flavor and taste. For example, garlic powder can be used as an ingredient or sprinkled in while cooking when stir-frying with other vegetables.
To replace minced garlic with powder garlic, you must know the powder equivalent needed for each garlic clove. According to the instructions, you’re to use 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder for every ½ teaspoon of minced garlic and ¾ of minced garlic. Since garlic powder is more concentrated than garlic cloves, the garlic-to-garlic ratio is lower.
Garlic powder is not only the available minced garlic substitute. Consider these other alternatives:
- Granulated garlic
- Garlic salt
- Garlic flakes
- Garlic juice
- Garlic chives
- Shallots
- Onions (garlic and onion are related!)
- Rocambole
- Asafetida
Is Garlic Salt Bad for High Blood Pressure?
Sodium-sensitive hypertensive people should avoid putting too much salt in their food, including garlic salt.
However, if you consider adding garlic and its other forms minus the salt, we are talking about an absolute good for your health.
Garlic helps stave against many chronic illnesses. Garlic contains antibacterial and antifungal qualities, and it also tastes great. In addition, it reduces cholesterol, prevents many forms of cancer, and improves the cardiovascular system while acting as a blood thinner. It even helps relieve gastritis.
This plant’s wondrous “cure-all” properties may also be effective in reducing blood pressure. Garlic includes a chemical known as allicin, one of the most helpful natural treatments for high blood pressure. A garlic enzyme, alliinase, is released by the crushing, chopping, or chewing of raw garlic. Allicin is created via a sequence of processes.
- Raw garlic is best for fully releasing allicin by starting with chewing on it. To reap the most significant effect, it should be taken in within two hours of using allicin. Consuming this consistently will help keep your blood pressure in check.
- Garlic consumed every day can help decrease blood pressure. For example, it is thought that using 600-900 mg of garlic powder can lower blood pressure by roughly 9 to 12 percent. This is because the amount of allicin found in 600 mg of garlic powder is 3.6 mg. In contrast, the amount of allicin in 900 mg of garlic powder is 5.4 mg.
The main picture is from Ivan Radic.
