How to Dehydrate Garlic and Make Garlic Powder

To use a food dehydrator to dry garlic, peel the garlic and slice it into even pieces, or mince it to make minced dried garlic. Spread the prepared garlic on the dehydrator trays in a single layer and dry it at 105˚F for around 8 to 10 hours or until completely dry.

What is the Best Way to Dehydrate Garlic?

The best way to dehydrate garlic is to use a food dehydrator. A food dehydrator ensures consistent and even drying and offers a lower temperature than oven drying. The lower drying temperature helps you to preserve the nutrients in garlic, including the anti-fungal, antibacterial, and immune-boosting antioxidants.

How to Dehydrate Garlic in a Food Dehydrator

A food dehydrator is a wonderful kitchen tool for drying foods. It works by blowing warm air through dehydrator trays and slowly extracting moisture.

Here are step-by-step instructions for drying garlic in a food dehydrator:

1. Peel the papery skins from garlic bulbs.
2. Remove the garlic cloves from the bulbs.
3. Using a sharp knife, cut off both ends of the garlic cloves and remove the remaining skin from the cloves.
4. Cut the cloves of garlic into thin pieces, or mince the garlic if you wish to later make garlic powder or use dehydrated minced garlic as a seasoning.
5. Spread the sliced or minced or chopped garlic on the dehydrator trays.
6. Dehydrate the garlic in a single layer at 105˚F for around 8 to 10 hours or until fully dry. The garlic is ready if it snaps when bent.
7. Let the garlic cool to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container away from direct sunlight in a cool, dry place.

How to Dry Garlic in an Oven

If you don’t have access to a food dehydrator, you can dry garlic in an oven using the lowest temperature setting. For most models, this ranges from 150˚F to 200˚F.

1. Peel the papery skins from the garlic bulbs.
2. Slice the garlic cloves into 1/8-inch slices.
3. Spread the garlic pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
4. Set the oven to its lowest temperature and place the baking sheet of sliced garlic inside on the middle rack.
5. Open the oven door a few inches to allow moisture to escape and promote aeration.
6. Check on the garlic slices every hour to prevent burning. Remove the garlic slices in 1-2 hours once they are golden. If the slices don’t snap in half when cooled to room temperature, return them to the oven to continue drying.
7. Let the dry garlic cool before storing it or grinding it using a spice grinder, coffee grinder, food processor, or pestle and mortar.
8. Store the garlic in a glass jar or airtight container in a cool, dry place.

How to Make Garlic Powder from Dried Garlic

It’s easy to make your own garlic powder by drying and grinding the dried garlic. If you grow your own garlic or buy it from a local grocery store, it’s best to make garlic powder to preserve it. You can grind it with a pestle and mortar or quickly grind the dried garlic in a blender, spice grinder, coffee grinder, or food processor.

Follow these steps to make your own garlic powder from fresh garlic:

1. Separate the garlic cloves and remove the papery skin.
2. Cut the garlic cloves into thin pieces.
3. Spread the garlic pieces on dehydrator trays and dry them at a low temperature for 8 to 10 hours or until completely dry.
4. Grind the dried garlic into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle, coffee grinder, or spice grinder.
5. Sift the powder using a strainer to separate the garlic flakes from the powder.
6. Store your homemade garlic powder in airtight containers, mason jars, or glass jars in a cool, dark place. Properly dehydrated garlic powder does not spoil, but its quality and flavor will diminish over time.

Can You Dehydrate Garlic Cloves Whole?

Yes – you can dehydrate whole cloves of garlic. However, they may not dry completely or take a long time to dry fully. That’s why it’s best to dry garlic slices or minced garlic.

Is it Good to Dehydrate Garlic?

Yes! There are many benefits to dehydrating garlic. Dehydrated garlic and homemade garlic powder are fantastic ingredients that can add garlic flavor to salad dressings, soups, stews, and more:

• Dehydrating garlic concentrates the flavors of garlic
• Dried garlic tastes better than store-bought varieties
• Garlic powder dissolves in liquids and can provide seasoning throughout a dish
• Save prep time on fresh garlic by using dehydrated garlic instead
• Unlike fresh garlic, dehydrated garlic is shelf stable

How Long Does It Take to Dehydrate Garlic?

The time it takes to dehydrate garlic will vary depending on the method, the drying temperature, and whether you’re using sliced garlic or whole garlic cloves. When using the Nesco dehydrator, it can take up to 12 hours to dehydrate garlic at 110°F. The Excalibur food dehydrator dries sliced garlic at 105–110 °F in about 8–10 hours.

What is the Difference Between Pickling and Dehydrating Garlic?

Pickling and dehydrating are different methods of food preservation and offer a different shelf life for garlic. Dehydrating garlic is drying garlic to remove moisture and prevent mold or harmful bacteria while making it shelf-stable for a few years.

Pickling garlic is an ancient method that uses a mixture of vinegar and salt to create an acidic brine to remove water from the garlic. It creates an inhospitable environment for bacteria to survive, allowing garlic to last for up to a year.

How to Store Dehydrated Garlic

For long-term storage, keep homemade dehydrated garlic in a glass jar or another labeled, airtight container in a cool, dry place. Keep dehydrated garlic away from direct sunlight and humidity for the best quality. Monitor dehydrated garlic to ensure no excess moisture or condensation forms inside the container. Shake the jars every few weeks to help prevent clumps from forming.

What is the Shelf Life of Dehydrated Garlic?

When dried and stored properly, dehydrated garlic can last 1-2 years. For best results, however, make new batches of dehydrated garlic powder at least once a year.