garlic salt vs. Garlic Powder - What's the difference?

Can you imagine a world without garlic? We use it in almost every meal and probably too often. No recipe could stop us from adding an extra helping of garlic because honestly, there’s never too much garlic.

We live in fortunate times where we have access to countless ingredients in the form of spices. We no longer have to go through all the fine chopping, unless of course you prefer to stick with the absolute freshness and aroma.

Garlic, for example, can be found mixed in various forms or with numerous other ingredients that make it suitable for certain cuisines. The most common forms of garlic are garlic salt and garlic powder.

So what are the differences between garlic salt and garlic powder?  Garlic salt is nothing more than garlic powder mixed with salt. Although it may seem simple, the addition of salt changes the whole concept and application of the ingredient. 

That being said, do you think the response has been enough? On the contrary, I think you’ll learn a lot from this in-depth overview of two of the most common spices on the market.

A quick overview of garlic: health benefits

Before going into the individual characteristics, it must be said that raw and fresh garlic will always be on another level in terms of freshness, aroma and health benefits.

However, fresh garlic can’t compare to garlic powder when it comes to convenience and ease of use. 

If you’ve never used any of these powdered variants, think about those times when you’re really tired after a hard day at work, and the last thing you want to do is cook, but you have to.

Wouldn’t it be easier to sprinkle on some garlic powder instead of chopping a clove into bite-sized pieces? Not to mention, it’s so much easier to nail the right amounts of spices.

And now, the serious part.

Garlic has been used in medicine for thousands of years , long before it was used as a food. It has been used as a remedy for illnesses of all kinds, from the most common cold to cancer treatment in today’s medicine.

We have prepared a list of health benefits that come with regular consumption of garlic.

To tell the truth, most of its health benefits have not been fully confirmed scientifically. Scientists have suggested several benefits after countless tests, but more work is needed.

However, how can one not believe in the ultimate properties of garlic when it has been used as a medicine for over 7,000 years?

Even with insufficient scientific data, would you dare to question one of the best known ancient remedies? After all, if it didn’t work, would humans still use it?

Here are some of the most important health benefits purported to be provided by daily garlic intake:

Common cold

Depending on where you live, chances are your parents stuffed your mouth full of garlic when you got sick as a kid. In certain regions, people often treat their minor illnesses with all-natural supplements, and garlic is one of the best-known practices.

The good thing is that it is now backed by science.

In fact, daily intake of garlic decreases the frequency of the common cold . There was some debate as to whether these benefits apply to any form of garlic, but it was ultimately confirmed to be just as effective.

Heart disease and cholesterol

According to recent studies, the continuous daily intake of garlic causes cholesterol levels to decrease. Helps regulate blood pressure and blood sugar.

All this is due to its antioxidant properties.

powerful antibiotic

Garlic has been used in ancient medicine treatment for virtually all types of infections.

Its antibacterial properties have proven to be far more than some of the most powerful antibiotics known to man.

Cancer prevention and treatment (potentially)

Scientists suggest that daily intake of garlic will decrease your chance of developing various types of cancer.

For example, there was an interesting face-to-face survey conducted by scientists that purported to inspect the diets of over 6,000 people. 75% of the individuals were healthy, while the other 25% were lung cancer patients. Using a series of guidelines, the scientists suggested that garlic could play an important role in the prevention of lung cancer.

Some important compounds in garlic have been shown to be effective in killing a specific type of brain cancer cell. However, scientists will need a lot of additional research before they can consider incorporating garlic into brain cancer treatment programs.

Garlic Powder vs. Garlic Salt: The Differences

To clear up any confusion and make the comparison as easy as possible, we have prepared a small table with the nutritional values of garlic powder and garlic salt . However, before we get to this part, we have to talk about the main differences.

The obvious difference is the mix of ingredients that go into making the garlic salt.

When it comes to this, you have to make sure to check the ingredient list on the back of the package. Inexpensive garlic powder is often mixed with additives and is not pure. 

At the same time, garlic salt is usually a mixture of dried garlic (garlic powder), salt, and an anti-caking agent that is intended to prevent the other two ingredients from sticking together.

The usual ratio between garlic powder and salt is one to three.

Below, you can see a couple of tables that present the nutritional values of each ingredient.

Of course, you can not expect big differences in this case and in general with spices. Aside from the extra amounts of sodium added by the salt, there isn’t much that might get your attention.

We just have to mention that garlic powder is low in calories and can be freely consumed even by people with dedicated diets and diets.

Which is healthier, you ask?

Once again, the main difference between the two is the salt. Salt is often linked to numerous health problems and diseases.

While garlic might lower heart disease risks, salt does the opposite.

If you already know that you should eat very little salt, then garlic powder should be your last option and definitely the healthiest.

Replacing salt with garlic powder

As we have said in the previous paragraph, there are cases in which you should not consume salt. On such occasions, you should definitely substitute garlic powder.

At the same time, you can always substitute it if you’re looking for a more distinctive garlic flavor.

After all, garlic salt is made up of only ¼ garlic. If you try to get a better garlic flavor by using garlic salt, you could easily end up with a dish with too much salt.

With this in mind, using garlic powder and salt separately will give you complete control over the seasoning.

Just make sure you use a quality organic garlic powder, like this one.

As a side note, salt is part of almost every ingredient and comes in various forms and mixtures. If you are using garlic powder, you can add salt using any of the other known methods, for example in the form of a sauce or with stock cubes.

Would you add additional salt if you already use a fair amount of garlic salt?

In other words, garlic powder is a great substitute for garlic salt when you want extra control over your seasoning or need a more distinctive garlic flavor.

As for garlic salt as a substitute, it is mostly suitable when you want to add some garlic to the mix and you know that garlic salt is three parts salt and one part garlic powder.

How to make your own garlic powder and garlic salt

Here are two basic recipe ideas for making both garlic powder and garlic salt.

homemade garlic powder

Although our favorite garlic powder is organic and absolutely amazing, cooking is always different when using homemade ingredients.

In the same way, you can easily make your own garlic powder and then salt it if you need it by following a few simple steps.

Step 1: Start by peeling the required number of garlic cloves and cutting them into smaller pieces.

Step 2: For this step, you can use your oven or a food dehydrator, if you have one. Set your oven/dehydrator to 150°F and place the garlic pieces inside. You must let them dry well for as long as they need.

Step 3 – Wait until you feel your garlic pieces are completely dry or look like this. Try to crush one with your finger. If you can do it effortlessly, then your garlic is done. If not, put them back in the machine.

Step 4: As soon as the garlic pieces have cooled, you can start grinding them until you get the desired powder. You can use a coffee/spice grinder or the old school mortar and pestle method for this, which will take a bit more time and effort.

Step 5 – Be sure to prepare an airtight jar or other similar insulated container. You have to place your powder and seal it. Next, be sure to place the jar/container in a dry place out of direct sunlight.

Step 6: If you want your garlic powder to be perfect, you should let it sit in the jar for no less than a week. Also, be sure to shake it diligently daily during those days. This is necessary if you want to prevent mold growth in the future. By shaking it, you will spread the remaining moisture evenly throughout the powder.

Additional Tips: Although garlic is available year-round, the best crops are harvested in the fall. This is because the perfect time to plant garlic is between November and April.

Therefore, if you want the best homemade garlic powder, you should make your reservations for the following months in the fall. Of course, this is just a little tip and you can make your homemade garlic powder all year round and whenever you need it.

homemade garlic salt

Again, although we have our favorite garlic salt that you can buy on Amazon, as long as you have a bit of both at home, you can just mix them together and go.

Step 1: Start by mixing your two ingredients. You need three parts salt and one part garlic powder. As simple as that. You can use absolutely any type of salt, but we recommend fine kosher salt or sea salt.

Step 2: Put the mixture in an airtight jar and store it in a dry and cool place. It would be a good idea to label it as Garlic Salt to save yourself the trouble that may arise later.

Related questions

Why should I make my own garlic powder or garlic salt?

It all depends on your personal preferences.  Many people prefer to prepare everything themselves. After all, is there anything better than home cooking?

In addition to the obvious satisfaction of making your own seasoning, homemade garlic powder and garlic salt will save you a fair amount of money in the long run.

Knowing today’s world, why spend money on overpriced products of uncertain origin when you can spend just an hour making garlic powder that will last you for months?

Is garlic salt better than regular salt?

We come across a very frequently asked question and therefore garlic salt has some additional advantages over regular table salt.

People who use a lot of salt far exceed the recommended daily sodium rates. By substituting table salt for garlic salt, you’ll not only lower your sodium intake, but you’ll also add more flavor to your dishes.

Taken together, using any type of mixed seasoning will lower your sodium intake, which may not sound too impressive, but your health will thank you for it.

Does garlic powder have the same properties as fresh garlic?

Dried foods, in general, always lose part of their nutritional values compared to their fresh state.

Logically, the same thing happens with garlic and garlic powder. If we compare them, garlic powder is low in calories compared to fresh garlic and is not as rich in vitamins. 

However, the whole point of garlic powder is convenience, and it honestly makes up for the loss in nutritional value.

Also, having it shouldn’t stop you from consuming fresh garlic. It’s just so much easier to work with garlic powder as a seasoning ingredient instead of whole garlic cloves.