What's the Difference Between Minced, Granulated and Powdered Garlic?

[KateH21]

Aren't they all the same except powdered is smallest and minced is the biggest?

I LOVE garlic and usually use McCormick's minced garlic on all sorts of things like spaghetti, vegetables, toast, soup, and hummus. I've always thought powdered garlic was bland. I've never tried granulated.

I'm almost out of minced garlic and was thinking of trying granulated as it's a better deal. But if I think powdered garlic is bland, then I'm worried granulated will be bland too.

I don't like the minced garlic in water, it tastes weird from what I assume is the citric acid.

[pepperhead212]

Back when I used to use dried garlic a lot (I'm talking way back, when fresh garlic was not readily available, like now, and before I grew it), powdered garlic seemed to give my foods a bad aftertaste, much more than the dried, minced garlic, even after I would powder that myself. I had no explanation for that, but maybe they just used sub-par garlic more often for the powdered? That minced garlic in jars, with preservatives in it has an even worse flavor - I used to be able to tell when a friend or a restaurant had used it! Fortunately, most restaurants now just buy peeled garlic in large amounts, and mince it themselves, though I know that pre-minced garlic is still out there. Fortunately, I only use fresh now, and is something I never run out of!

[GotGarlic]

Hi. None of us have your taste, so the only way to find out is to try it. Do you have a friend who might have some you can try? Or just buy the smallest amount you can. If you don't like it, you can get minced and mix them together.

[Andy M.]

Powdered may be better for cold uses or in a quick cooking dish as it will release its flavor faster. Granulated may be better in a cooked soup or sauce, etc.

[Chief Longwind Of The North]

If not using fresh garlic, i use granulated as it is easier for me to work with I find that when adding to a ragu or melted butter, or whatever, the powdered garlic can clump together, while the granulated stirs into the sauce better.

I also agree with Andy's assessment (I always do 'cause knows what he is doing.).

Seeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North