Granulated Garlic vs Garlic Powder – What Are The Differences?

If you are an avid cook, then you surely have heard of granulated garlic and garlic powder. These two are not the same ingredients, so you should beware of mistakenly choosing the wrong one. Be sure to read about these two types of garlic, and make the right choice next time.  

Take a look at the differences and similarities between granulated garlic and garlic powder, and enjoy either or both when you begin cooking! 

What Is Granulated Garlic?

Granulated garlic is simply fresh garlic that has been slow dried in the oven. These dry flakes are then ground a little into what we call granules. These granules are not as big as flakes, but they are coarser than a powder. 

You may wonder why to use granulated garlic at all. For one, it mixes well with liquid and gravies, which gives them all the flavor without having big chunks of garlic. It also lasts longer than fresh garlic and can dissolve relatively easily. 

While there is no specific region of the world that uses granulated garlic more than the other, this type of dry garlic is more common among people that like to preserve food at home. 

Garlic granules are also available in organic and farmer’s markets as a natural alternative to other garlic products. You can still find commercial products in stores, though it may be harder to find than garlic powder.

Nutrition Facts

One serving size (1 g) of granulated garlic has the following nutritional content (*): 

• 3.7 calories
• 0.2 g protein
• 0 g fat
• 0.7 g carbohydrate
• 0.1 g fiber 
• 0.2 g sugar 
• 0.3 mg sodium 

Is Granulated Garlic Good For You?

Granulated garlic is not a big source of calories, fat, protein, or carbohydrates. As you can see above, a serving size is particularly small. You can safely eat it without being afraid of its nutritional content. 

Even though you should consume garlic granules in small amounts, it still does contain a bit of nutritional content once you start increasing the amount you use. 

Keep in mind that garlic is a great anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. These benefits are still present when you use the granulated version. 

When you use about three servings of granulated garlic, you obtain about 111 mg or 3% of your daily value. While this may not seem like a large amount, it is still enough for you to obtain some of this mineral in your diet and make a meal more nutritious. Potassium is essential in helping our hearts function correctly and keeping us hydrated. 

You may also obtain some iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium when you use granulated garlic. Keep in mind that for these amounts to be significant, you also have to use about three servings of this food. 

Iron and calcium are not easily attainable from vegetable sources, so the garlic can be a good food to keep in mind when you need more of these micronutrients. 

Vitamin A and vitamin C are great antioxidant agents, so consuming more granulated garlic can help your body fight off infection and oxidative damage. These two vitamins are also great in preventing inflammation processes from continuing to affect tissues. Finally, when you feel sick, getting vitamin C can help you stay healthy. 

In the end, garlic granules may not be the most nutritious food, as it would take large amounts to get more benefits. However, it is flavorful and contains fewer calories than other seasonings, so you should be safe if using it for a while. 

Beware of the sodium content, which increases with every serving size and can be detrimental to your health in large amounts.

What Is Garlic Powder?

Garlic powder is the product of drying garlic cloves, and then grinding them down to a powder consistency. This powder is considered a staple seasoning for many households. Be careful, though, ground garlic is not the same as garlic salt. 

Like granulated garlic, this powder contains all the flavor, but it lasts longer in your pantry. You can find many brands of commercial garlic powder in grocery stores, but be careful, as some may have added salt. Ground garlic should not have any additives or extra sodium, as this can change the flavor. 

You can add garlic powder easily to any meal, particularly because it has an extremely fine texture. Garlic powder has a more concentrated flavor than other garlic products, so you will usually use it in smaller quantities. It dissolves quickly, making it safe to add to sauces, soups, gravies, and even dressings.

Nutrition Facts

One serving (1 g) of garlic powder  has the following nutritional content (*): 

• 0 calories
• 1 g protein
• 0 g fat
• 0 g carbohydrates
• 0 g fiber
• 0 g sugar 
• 0 mg sodium

Is Garlic Powder Good For You?

As with granulated garlic, garlic powder is not a good source of nutrients. You will not obtain many calories when you use it, but you will also not get much protein, fat, or carbohydrates. Since the serving size for ground garlic is so small, it is not a significant food. 

However, as with garlic granules, when you increase the amount of garlic powder you can obtain more nutrients. This seasoning can give you some sodium, potassium, fiber, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, iron, magnesium, and zinc. These are all important micronutrients to obtain in your daily diet. 

When you increase the serving size of garlic powder, you will get its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral properties. You can also get some of your daily value for vitamins and minerals. This way, garlic powder has a more beneficial nutritional impact on your diet. 

Obtaining vitamin C and zinc from garlic powder is a good way to keep your body healthy. These two micronutrients are particularly good at boosting your immunity and preventing infection or illness. You can use it as a means to feel better when you are coming down with a cold. 

Other nutrients in garlic powder, like iron, B vitamins, and magnesium are important in helping your body work efficiently. While you may not obtain a large amount of these micronutrients, you will certainly add up to your count for the day. Keep in mind that the amount you get varies depending on the serving size you use. 

In the end, garlic powder is not a significant source of nutrients, but it also poses no threat to your health. You can obtain more nutrition as you increase the amount of garlic powder you use. Beware, though, because the sodium content will also increase, and it can be hard for your body to have a large load of salt. 

Garlic Powder vs Granulated Garlic

The first and most important difference between granulated garlic and garlic powder is size. As the name suggests, granulated garlic is coarser and thicker. Garlic powder, instead, is very fine, resembling the consistency of table salt. 

You can also tell the difference between these two garlic powders in their flavor. While they both preserve the garlic flavor, granulated garlic is a bit more subtle and slightly sweeter. Garlic powder has a more concentrated garlic flavor, especially because of its size. 

One more difference is in the density of each product. Granulated garlic contains more air by volume, so it packs less volume, and you will have to use more of it to get more flavor and nutrient content. Garlic powder is packed more solidly, so it requires only a small amount to get more flavor, meaning it is denser. 

A final difference is in the uses you can give each of these garlic seasonings. If you are looking for more texture and thickness, you can use granulated garlic, as it will give your sauce or meal a distinct texture. You can use garlic powder in almost anything, but it will not change the thickness or texture much, since it is so fine. 

To finish off, you can tell these two products apart based on their availability. Garlic powder is widely available everywhere, as it is very popular. Garlic granules, however, are harder to find, so you may have to look for it in specific stores or places. 

Is Granulated Garlic or Garlic Powder Healthier?

Both granulated garlic and garlic powder are healthy products. At first glance, garlic powder seems healthier, particularly because it has no caloric content. However, granulated garlic contains a few more nutrients because it has not been ground entirely.  

However, 100 grams of granulated garlic give you 325 calories, and 100 grams of garlic powder give you 0 calories. Still, this information is not necessarily valuable, because 100 grams of either of these products is an immense amount that you will likely never use. A serving size is 1 gram for each of these, so you should base your decision on this amount. 

When it comes to nutrient content, these two are essentially the same. Granulated garlic can be used in larger amounts, so you may end up getting more nutrients when using this seasoning. Garlic powder, on the other hand, is very strong, so you will likely use less of it. 

Both granulated garlic and garlic powder are healthy for you, but if you want to add something with no caloric contribution, go with garlic powder. 

Make sure you check for sodium content regardless of the type of garlic seasoning you choose, as this can vary from one product to the next. Either way, you are safe to use granulated garlic or garlic powder without fearing the health consequences.

Conclusion

Now that you know exactly what granulated garlic and garlic powder are, what are you waiting for? Take your cooking to the next level and try either of these products when you prepare your favorite dishes. You could even use both of these garlic seasonings for added flavors!

See more related guides:

• How long does garlic last?
• Substitute for garlic powder
• Garlic salt substitute
• Can you freeze garlic?
• Garlic Salt vs Garlic Powder

*image by NewAfrica/depositphotos