Type | Powder | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Course | Garnish | ||||||
Associated cuisine | Global | ||||||
Cooking time | |||||||
Serving temperature | Garnish or flavouring | ||||||
Main ingredients | Garlic | ||||||
Ingredients generally used | Sodium | ||||||
331 kcal (1386 kJ) [1] | |||||||
| |||||||
Similar dishes | Garlic salt, Garlic flakes | ||||||
Garlic powder is a spice that is derived from dehydrated garlic and used in cooking for flavour enhancement. The process of making garlic powder includes drying and dehydrating the vegetable, then powdering it through machinery or home-based appliances depending on the scale of production. Garlic powder is a common component of spice mix. It is also a common component of seasoned salt.
There are two types of garlic species: Softneck (Allium sativum sativum) and Hardneck (Allium sativum ophioscorodon). [2] Hardneck garlic varieties are believed to have more flavour than Softneck garlics, characterized by a spicy and more complex taste than other garlic strands. [3] While Hardneck Garlics flourish in cold weather, due to their extensive time of vernalization, Softnecks seemingly grow better in warmer climates. Distinguishing between a Hardneck and Softneck garlic is done through the presence of a scape (flower stalk). [4] The garlic species most commonly used to powder is the Softneck variety. Due to their less-complex scent and taste, the Softneck species are more suited as a garnish or spice in dishes and also have a longer storage life than Hardneck varieties. [5]
Garlic cloves thrive when planted in mid-autumn, in a location with plentiful sunlight. In tropical areas, garlic most successfully grows when planted in Autumn, maturing in early summer and is planted in later Autumn in cooler areas, to be harvested in late Summer. [6] The larger bulbs are split and inserted into soil, around 4-6 inches apart, and 3 inches deep, with the pointy end facing upwards. Softneck and Hardneck garlic are planted identically, however, Softneck garlics are more suited to warmer climates.
Garlic must be harvested at a particular time in order to prevent the vegetable from rotting, while also maximising the growth of each bulb within the skin. [4] Green garlic is indicative of harvesting that has taken place before the cloves have ripened, ‘soft’ garlic is the term given to a harvested garlic that is fully developed, while damaged garlic, with a caramelised appearance inside, has been harvested too late and a result of frost. [4] When the leaves turn yellow in colour, harvesting may be initiated. [6]
Garlic cloves are peeled and sliced. In most cases, the garlic is then heated to a temperature of between 150° and 160 °C (~300-320 °F). The water is removed to a moisture content of about 6.5%. The dehydrated garlic is then further sliced, chopped, or minced until the powder is reduced to the desired particle size. [7]
Manufacturing garlic powder on a larger scale involves various steps, from extraction of the garlic bulbs to packaging the final powder. After harvesting the raw garlic, bulbs are cleaned under mild pressure to remove skin and separate the cloves. [8] The garlic is then dehydrated using both historical and newly developed methods. While old methods, such as using natural elements of sun and wind to evaporate water from foodstuffs are still utilized in many parts of the world, [9] new technology has enabled for more flexible and economically viable procedures such as vacuum and freeze drying. Once the garlic cloves are dried and dehydrated, they are powdered using large scale machines and powdering units. [10]
Milling is the process of using mechanical action to break down substances through rotary cutting. [11] As powder processing generally includes additives and is done in a bulk scale, the milling process breaks down materials to the required size for suppliers. [12] Milling may require a series of steps, from de-agglomeration to fine grinding. The four components include Delumpers, Conica l mills, Hammermills and Fine grinders. The garlic powder industry utilises milling machinery in order to progress with large scale production. The integrated systems of the machine consist of Feeding and metering, Sifting, Conveying and Dust collection. [12] Another major machine used in the process of creating garlic powder is a vacuum dehydrator, which takes all the moisture from the vegetable without spoiling colour, scent and taste. [13] Freeze drying is also used in the garlic industry as an alternative to vacuum dryers.
In India, on a scale of 300 tonnes of garlic powder production per year, the manpower required to operate the machinery and overlook the production units is 12 persons. The estimate for this scale of production is around two skilled workers, two semi skilled workers and eight helpers. [8]
There are approximately 300 types of garlic produced worldwide. [14] Garlic market regions include North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Within China, which produces the largest amounts of garlic, there are five main provinces in which garlic is grown, including Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Yunnan and Hebei. [15] As soft neck varieties tend to flourish in warmer climates where winters are mild, the Chinese provinces are suitable for harvesting and manufacturing garlic powder.
The market for garlic powder can be split into multiple segments based on source, packaging, end use and distribution channels. The key market players in the garlic powder industry include some of the world's most renowned manufacturers and suppliers, such as McCormick & Company, Garlico, Masterfoods, and Amazon. [16]
China is the largest producer of garlic powder, followed by India, with both countries consuming garlic powder as part of their native cuisines and having hundreds of their own internal suppliers within the countries.
While doubts still remain about garlic's exact origins, it is believed to have originated in Central Asia, South Asia, or southwestern Siberia. [17] Garlic grows wildly in Italy and Southern France, but is predominantly grown in China, which accounts for 20.0 million tonnes of Garlic per year (80% of total production). [18] Garlic has been a substance used for thousands of years and has served many purposes, from medicinal uses to culinary and spiritual practices. The nutritional properties of garlic have created many benefits for human use and offer a wide range of purposes.
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
---|---|
Energy | 1,390 kJ (330 kcal) |
72.7g | |
0.73g | |
16.6g | |
Other constituents | Quantity |
Water | 6.45g |
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults. [19] |
The use of garlic as a food has ancient origins in Asia. Garlic has been used for centuries as a wholefood, and as a flavouring agent. [20] Garlic can be manipulated in multiple ways to create bio-products, such as powder, oil and salt, to enhance foods in both nutrients and flavour.
Dependent on the storage conditions, garlic powder generally lasts in good condition up to 4 years. Manufactured garlic powders have a ‘best before’ date printed on them to provide an estimate for how long the powder will be in peak condition for in respect to flavour and texture. [1] Garlic powder must be stored in a cool, dry place, to avoid clumping of the powder. If powder is exposed to moisture or heat, it could cause the product to harden or clump. [21] Fresh garlic remains ripe for up to half a year as a whole bulb, and up to a month if it is an unpeeled clove, while dehydrated garlic can last for years. [9]
Garlic powder is 73% carbohydrates (including 9% dietary fiber), 17% protein, 1% fat, and 6% water. [1] In a 100 gram reference amount, garlic powder supplies 332 calories, and is a rich source (20% or more of the Daily Value, DV) of vitamin C (30% DV), thiamin (31% DV), vitamin B6 (147% DV), and several dietary minerals. [22]
Garlic is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the genus Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, Welsh onion, and Chinese onion. It is native to South Asia, Central Asia and northeastern Iran and has long been used as a seasoning worldwide, with a history of several thousand years of human consumption and use. It was known to ancient Egyptians and has been used as both a food flavoring and a traditional medicine. China produced 73% of the world's supply of garlic in 2021.
An onion, also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The shallot is a botanical variety of the onion which was classified as a separate species until 2011. Its close relatives include garlic, scallion, leek, and chive.
Ginger is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudostems about one meter tall, bearing narrow leaf blades. The inflorescences bear flowers having pale yellow petals with purple edges, and arise directly from the rhizome on separate shoots.
Cress, sometimes referred to as garden cress to distinguish it from similar plants also referred to as cress, is a rather fast-growing, edible herb.
A chipotle, or chilpotle, is a smoke-dried ripe jalapeño chili pepper used for seasoning. It is a chili used primarily in Mexican and Mexican-inspired cuisines, such as Tex-Mex and Southwestern United States dishes. It comes in different forms, such as chipotles en adobo.
Dried fruit is fruit from which the majority of the original water content has been removed either naturally, through sun drying, or through the use of specialized dryers or dehydrators. Dried fruit has a long tradition of use dating back to the fourth millennium BC in Mesopotamia, and is prized because of its sweet taste, nutritive value, and long shelf life.
Spice mixes are blended spices or herbs. When a certain combination of herbs or spices is called for in a recipe, it is convenient to blend these ingredients beforehand. Blends such as chili powder, curry powder, herbes de Provence, garlic salt, and other seasoned salts are traditionally sold pre-made by grocers, and sometimes baking blends such as pumpkin pie spice are also available. These spice mixes are also easily made by the home cook for later use.
Freeze drying, also known as lyophilization or cryodesiccation, is a low temperature dehydration process that involves freezing the product and lowering pressure, thereby removing the ice by sublimation. This is in contrast to dehydration by most conventional methods that evaporate water using heat.
Elephant garlic is a plant belonging to the onion genus. It has a tall, solid, flowering stalk and broad, flat leaves. The flavor is milder than garlic and can be eaten raw in salads, roasted, or sauteed, but is generally not a substitute for conventional garlic in cooking. It is sometimes confused with solo garlic.
Onion powder is dehydrated, ground onion that is commonly used as a seasoning. It is a common ingredient in seasoned salt and spice mixes, such as beau monde seasoning. Some varieties are prepared using toasted onion. White, yellow and red onions may be used. Onion powder is a commercially prepared food product that has several culinary uses. Onion powder can also be homemade.
Amchoor or aamchur or amchur, also referred to as mango powder, is a fruity spice powder made from dried unripe green mangoes and is used as a citrusy seasoning. It is mostly produced in India, and is used to flavour foods and add the nutritional benefits of mangoes when the fresh fruit is out of season.
Madras curry or Madras sauce is a curry sauce. Madras is orange in colour and is made with heavy use of chili powder. Raita is often used as an accompaniment to the dish.
Instant soup is a type of soup designed for fast and simple preparation. Some are homemade, and some are mass-produced on an industrial scale and treated in various ways to preserve them. A wide variety of types, styles and flavors of instant soups exist. Commercial instant soups are usually dried or dehydrated, canned, or treated by freezing.
Fijian cuisine has long consisted of primarily foraged and farm-grown food. Although rice, wheat, and tea all became staples during Fiji's colonial era, native Fijians still eat primarily tubers and coconuts. The cuisine of Fiji is known for its seafood and various green vegetables, including ''ota'', a young forest fern, and ''bele'', a plant that resembles spinach.
Bumbu is the Indonesian word for a blend of spices and for pastes and it commonly appears in the names of spice mixtures, sauces and seasoning pastes. The official Indonesian language dictionary describes bumbu as "various types of herbs and plants that have a pleasant aroma and flavour — such as ginger, turmeric, galangal, nutmeg and pepper — used to enhance the flavour of the food."
Mala is a spicy and numbing seasoning made from Sichuan peppercorn and chilli. Most commonly, mala is made into a sauce by simmering it in oil and other spices. Characteristic of Sichuan cuisine, particularly Chongqing cuisine, it has become one of the most popular ingredients in Chinese cuisine, spawning many regional variants.
In Indian cuisine, dal, paruppu, or pappu are dried, split pulses that do not require soaking before cooking. India is the largest producer of pulses in the world. The term is also used for various soups prepared from these pulses. These pulses are among the most important staple foods in South Asian countries, and form an important part of the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent.
The mango fruit is commonly dried and eaten as a snack.
Thuna paha is a Sri Lankan curry powder. It is a Sinhalese unroasted curry powder used to spice the curry dishes, especially vegetarian dishes. The name Thuna Paha roughly translates as "three or five" as traditionally it is made from three to five ingredients.