 |
| Garlic Powder - Photo by John Phelan |
How to Make your Own Garlic Powder
Still I am so thankful that I have a spice grinder because I was reading Mother Earth News (a really cool site) on how to make garlic powder using your oven and it looked like a pain in the bootie. According to Mother Earth News to make garlic powder without a spice grinder and dehydrator you need to:
"First, peel the garlic cloves. Then cut them into thin slices and put in a dry pan. Place the pan in a 150-degree oven to dry the garlic, turning the slices often. Grind the dried slices in a blender, then sift the material through a strainer to separate the chunks from the finer powder."
My DIY Garlic Powder
I don't know about you but I'd rather just put some garlic in the press, press them onto dehydrator sheets at 135 Degrees and dehydrate them for 4-6 hours before I toss them into the spice grinder and make garlic powder.
One tip I have for making Garlic Powder is to only make a little powder at a time because the dehydrated chunks will stay fresher in nonpowder form. I also don't like to keep dehydrated garlic around indefinitely because it can grow botulism so I usually make it up as I go philosophy.
I am going to be making some garlic powder tonight or tomorrow and will show you a photo or two that way you will know when the garlic is done. Typically it turns brown and becomes very brittle. But still, I know that a picture can speak a thousand words.
Storing Your Own Garlic Powder
If you are planning on storing garlic powder long term, I definitely recommend storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Low temperatures are great at hindering the growth of botulism. Still I wouldn't recommend making large batches of garlic powder at a time. I make a little bit at a time and just make small amounts more frequently. Its a very quick dehydrate so its not really inconvenient (unless you hate the smell of garlic but I love it).
Related Topics
How to Dehydrate Garlic (expanded)
Leek Powder Recipe
. Whatever you have should hopefully work. I do not think you will be able to get the leeks fine enough with a Food Processor but you can try. I haven't tried it yet but I also think a mortar and pestle should work for making leek powder as long as it is made out of Marble. Avoid the cheap porcelain mortar and pestle sets because they can put potentially hazardous dust into your food.