Food
Fact-checked

At DelightedCooking, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What are Garlic Flakes?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

When it comes to keeping garlic around the house, garlic flakes are a great way to add this tasty herb to recipes without having to go through the process of cleaning and mincing garlic cloves or bulbs. These flakes are simply dehydrated bits of garlic that can be stored for long periods of time and used in all sorts of foods.

The process for creating garlic flakes is a simple one. Bulbs of garlic are divided into cloves and stripped of the outer layers. The cloves are then minced into more or less uniform pieces, placed onto trays, and run through a dehydrating process to extract the liquid content from them. Once the drying process is complete, the garlic is spun through mesh that helps to create the flake sizes desired. The end result is ready for packaging and sale at any number of retail outlets.

Garlic.
Garlic.

It is possible to make this seasoning at home as well. Anyone who owns a dehydrator can easily mince the cloves and lay them out in a drying tray in the dehydration unit, following the same basic process that is used for drying fruit. Once the flakes are dehydrated, they can be wrapped in cheesecloth and broken into smaller flakes with the use of a hammer, if necessary.

Garlic flakes are created through the process of cleaning and mincing garlic cloves and bulbs.
Garlic flakes are created through the process of cleaning and mincing garlic cloves and bulbs.

Garlic flakes work very well in a number of applications. They can easily be added to soups and stews to add a bit of flavor, and fried ones added to a meat loaf also ensures an infusion of taste in the finished product. The flavor of casseroles can also be enhanced. Essentially, any recipe that includes cooking time and some sort of liquid is all that is needed. As the flakes absorb some of the juices or liquids during the cooking process, they release the garlic flavor, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.

Consuming garlic on a regular basis may cause bloating and increased flatulence..
Consuming garlic on a regular basis may cause bloating and increased flatulence..

Just about every supermarket will carry some form of garlic flakes along with garlic powder and salt. Health food markets often will carry ones made from organically grown garlic bulbs as well. They may be slightly more expensive than garlic salt, but the health benefits are much higher, since the contents are pure garlic and not mixed with salt or any other substance.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including DelightedCooking, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including DelightedCooking, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon282688

Garlic powder is granular, and can remain granular and noticeable in the finished dish if used for many applications. Garlic flakes dissolve entirely, so there are no granules, just flavor.

Also, if you can notice granules, that means not all of the flavor has been released.

As far as nutrition goes, I'm guessing they're both the same, and not as good as fresh garlic after losing some essential oils (20 percent? 50 percent? 90 percent?) Probably not much since flavor oils and there's still flavor, and through the passage of time which sees certain nutrients degrade. Plus, if it is exposed to heat during drying, that can also affect the taste.

reader888

This sounds like a great substitute for buying cloves of garlic and crushing them yourself. I know that fresh garlic is probably healthier, but I just don't like going through the hassle.

Plus, I don't really like biting into the little pieces of garlic when I'm eating a meal. When you use garlic flakes, and they are put into some sort of liquid, do they take a more solid form again? Or do they just provide a garlic flavor?

heath925

I've used garlic powder and garlic salt before. I try to use garlic powder more though, so that I'm not adding more sodium to our meals.

Is there a benefit to using garlic flakes instead of garlic powder?

anon124360

when extracting the liquids to produce garlic flakes, does this also remove essential oils (and, therefore nutrients)?

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Garlic.
      By: tospark
      Garlic.
    • Garlic flakes are created through the process of cleaning and mincing garlic cloves and bulbs.
      By: natalyka
      Garlic flakes are created through the process of cleaning and mincing garlic cloves and bulbs.
    • Consuming garlic on a regular basis may cause bloating and increased flatulence..
      By: inesbazdar
      Consuming garlic on a regular basis may cause bloating and increased flatulence..