How to Make Powdered Garlic From Fresh Garlic

Don't grind the slices until they are dry and brittle.

After awhile, garlic powder looses its potency. Although it isn't one of the pricier items sold in the spice section at the supermarket, if you use a lot of garlic powder it can get expensive to replace jars when they've lost their potency. Homemade garlic powder is just as pungent and can be made in smaller quantities. You can also freeze homemade garlic if you want to make a big batch and store some for later use. Heads of garlic that are going soft are ideal for use in making garlic powder.

Things You'll Need

• Paring knife
• Shallow pan
• Blender, coffee grinder or food processor
• Sifter
• Airtight jars

Instructions

1. Separate the cloves from the head of garlic and peel them with a paring knife.

2. Cut the cloves into thin slices. Spread the slices in a single layer in a shallow pan.

3. Heat the oven to 150 degrees Fahrenheit and place the pan in the oven. Turn the pieces every few minutes until they are dry.

4. Allow the garlic slices to cool. Place them in a blender, food processor or coffee grinder and grind them to a fine powder.

5. Pour the powder over a sifter to separate any large chunks. Chunks can be used on pizza or other items where a strong shot of garlic flavor is desired. Store the chunks and the powder, in separate airtight jars. Place the jars in a cool cupboard or in the freezer.

References

• Mother Earth News; Make Your Own Garlic Powder; Barbara Pleasant February/March 2006