The key difference between garlic salt and garlic powder is the potency. Garlic powder is made from dried garlic that is pressed into a powder. It has nothing else added to dilute the flavor of garlic. And garlic salt is a mix of garlic powder and table salt. Garlic salt brings the flavor of garlic to the dish but also has salt, which dilutes the pungent taste of garlic and makes it more palatable.
Both garlic salt and garlic powder start from fresh garlic. Garlic is a flowering plant in the Allium sativum family. It's used as an herb to flavor foods. While it is considered an herb, it is actually a vegetable like onions and shallots.
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Garlic is native to South Asia and has a long history across cultures and cuisines. Historically garlic was not just used in the kitchen. It was also used medicinally as a blood cleaner, where the connection between vampires and garlic originated.
Nowadays, garlic is primarily used in the kitchen to flavor Italian, Greek, Indian, and Chinese dishes. Garlic is available in many forms, including garlic powder and garlic salt.
What is Garlic Powder?
Garlic powder is made by taking fresh garlic and dehydrating it, then turning it into a powder by pulverizing it. Home chefs can easily make their own garlic powder at home by slicing fresh garlic cloves and using a dehydrator or oven to dry them. Then use a blender, grinder, or food processor to turn the dried slices into powder.
Garlic powder should be an actual powder. If you have seen granulated garlic on the shelves at the supermarket, it is the same as garlic powder but left in granules instead of turned into a powder.
What is Garlic Salt?
Garlic salt is made by mixing potent garlic powder with either kosher or sea salt. The key is the ratio which should be one part garlic to three parts salt. Some store-bought containers of garlic salt will contain an additive to keep it from sticking together in clumps. Making garlic salt at home ensures there are no additives or preservatives.
What is the Nutritional Value?
Consuming fresh garlic has many health benefits. According to Healthline, garlic boosts the immune system, reduces cholesterol, and lowers blood pressure. Unfortunately, garlic powder and garlic salt do not offer much in terms of health benefits or nutritional value.
A teaspoon serving size of garlic powder and garlic salt is almost identical. The biggest difference is calories, as garlic powder has ten calories per teaspoon while garlic salt does not. And carbohydrates because garlic powder has 2 grams of carbohydrates per teaspoon. While most diners will find the scant nutritional value of garlic salt and garlic powder of little importance, anyone following a low carbohydrate diet may prefer to opt for garlic salt instead of garlic powder to keep their daily carb count low..
While the nutritional value is almost the same, the flavor is the biggest difference between garlic powder and garlic salt. An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder equals one glove of garlic, while a half teaspoon of garlic salt equals one glove of garlic. Thus garlic powder has a much more pungent taste than garlic salt.
Can You Substitute Garlic Powder for Garlic Salt?
If you start making a recipe and realize you don't have any garlic salt, then you can substitute garlic powder. You can add a smaller amount of garlic powder and a few shakes of salt, or you can make your own garlic salt by mixing three parts of salt with one part of garlic powder.
Can You Substitute Garlic Salt for Garlic Powder?
Garlic salt does not make a good substitute for garlic powder. Replacing garlic powder with garlic salt in a recipe is going to make the dish too salty with not enough garlic flavor.
Recipes with Garlic Salt
Garlic salt is ideal for recipes where you need a hint of garlic for flavor and salt for balance. Recipes like Butter Chicken and Blue Ribbon Chili use garlic salt to get the right combination without the intensity of minced garlic or garlic powder.
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
People with high blood pressure should limit their intake of garlic salt due to its high sodium content.
Recipes with Garlic Powder
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Garlic Fried Chicken Breasts with Garlic Powder
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Ingredients
2 teaspoons garlic powder, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – pounded thin
1 cup oil for frying, or as needed
Instructions
1. In a shallow dish, mix together the garlic powder, pepper, salt, paprika, bread crumbs and flour.
2. In a separate dish, whisk together the milk and egg.
3. Heat the oil in an electric skillet set to 350 degrees F.
4. Dip the chicken into the egg and milk, and then dredge in the dry ingredients until evenly coated.
5. Fry chicken in the hot oil for about 5 minutes per side, or until the chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.
6. Remove from the oil with a slotted spatula. Serve with a box of olive oil and garlic pasta and French bread.
Recipes like Tater Tot Casserole with Beef and Broiled Halibut with Garlic Chive Sour Cream use garlic powder to get that strong garlic flavor without the added sodium that garlic salt brings to the dish.
Dishes that call for fresh minced garlic, like Italian Chicken and Peppers or Garlic Chicken Thighs, can substitute garlic powder to match the taste of fresh garlic. But garlic salt is not a good substitute in these recipes because the salt will overpower the other flavors leaving a dish too salty.
A Quick Comparison of Garlic Salt and Garlic Powder
Garlic salt and garlic powder both play important roles in cooking. Garlic powder is great if you want a strong, present garlic taste in your food. Garlic salt is better if you want that beloved garlic taste, but not in such an intense form. Garlic powder has more calories than garlic salt, but is still so low in calories that it won't make much of a difference in your dish. Unless, of course, you decide to dump half the bottle in!
Both of these spices are excellent additions to your kitchen. If you don't have either of them, be sure to pick them up on your next trip to the store!