How to Convert Fresh Garlic to Powered Garlic

Turn fresh cloves of garlic into garlic powder.

Garlic powder is an essential pantry item. It's useful in just about every savory dish and convenient, to boot. You can purchase garlic powder in any grocery store, but try making it at home. Making your own garlic powder is especially useful for home gardeners who may have an excess of garlic on hand. If you've got garlic that's starting to go soft, turn it into garlic powder instead of tossing it out. Does this Spark an idea?

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Garlic
Baking sheet
Food processor
Fine mesh sieve

Instructions

- 1
  
  Peel the skin off each garlic clove. Cut the cloves into thin slices. The thinner the slices, the faster they will dry.
- 2
  
  Spread the garlic slices in a single layer onto a baking sheet.
- 3
  
  Place the baking sheet into a preheated 150-degree Fahrenheit oven. Keep the garlic slices in the oven until they are completely dry; this can take several hours. Garlic will be brittle, not leathery, once it is finished. Turn the slices over with a spatula regularly to dry them evenly.
- 4
  
  Place the dried slices into a blender or food processor. Grind the garlic until it becomes a powder.
- 5
  
  Strain the garlic powder through a fine mesh sieve. Grind the large chunks again and combine them with the rest of the powder.
- 6
  
  Store the garlic powder in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. If you made a large batch, place the rest in the freezer for long-term storage.