What's The Difference Between Granulated Garlic And Garlic Powder?

We all have certain secret ingredients and favorite spices that we just can't live without, those little things that give that extra oomph, and can take even healthy meals from tasting pretty good to nearly perfect. Garlic is always on the menu in our kitchens, and when we don't have fresh we find ourselves trying to decode the difference between the granulated garlic and the garlic powder in our spice racks so we can give our food that signature kick.

The good news is that neither of these products is very different from the other, so if it's dried garlic you're after and you have either on hand, you're in luck. However, there are a couple of differences between granulated garlic and garlic powder that could change how you cook with them. 

The main difference between granulated garlic and garlic powder is their textures. While both products are made from garlic that's been chopped, dehydrated, and ground, granulated garlic has a coarser texture, like cornmeal, while garlic powder is ground until it has a fine texture like flour (via Raw Spice Bar). 

When deciding on whether you should be cooking with granulated garlic vs garlic powder, there are a couple of things to consider (via MySpicer). The first thing to consider is what kind of recipe you're making, while the second is making sure that you're using the correct quantity of either spice if you're using them as a substitute for one another. 

If you're looking for an intense garlic flavor, making a quick dish, or whisking together a marinade, opt for garlic powder. Its fine texture means it's more potent, and it also releases flavor more quickly than the coarser granulated garlic. 

Granulated garlic, on the other hand, combines better with liquids, making it the right choice for recipes like salad dressing, sauces, soups, and stews. It's also a better choice when using a blend of spices, because its coarse texture lets it mix more easily with other spices, while garlic powder is so fine it's hard to mix it with other spices evenly. 

The difference in texture also means that you can't use the same amount of granulated garlic and garlic powder and expect to get the same results. 

Granulated garlic is larger and has more air in it by volume, while fine garlic powder is denser. Every teaspoon of garlic powder is equal to about two teaspoons of granulated garlic, which is something to keep in mind if your recipe calls for one or the other and you're forced to make a substitution.