When it comes to keeping garlic around the house, garlic flakes are a great way to add this tasty herb to recipes, without having to go through the process of cleaning and mincing garlic cloves or bulbs. Garlic flakes are simply dehydrated bits of garlic that can be stored for long periods of time and used in all sorts of foods. Here is some basic information about the production of garlic flakes, how they can be used, and where to purchase dried garlic.

The process for creating garlic flakes is a simple one. Bulbs of garlic are divided into cloves and stripped of the outer layers. The cloves are then minced into more or less uniform pieces. The minced garlic is then placed onto trays and ran through a process to extract the liquid content from the small pieces. Once the drying process is complete, the dehydrated garlic is spun through mesh that helps to create the size of flaked garlic that is desired. The end result is garlic flakes that are ready for packaging and sale at any number of retail outlets.

It is possible to make garlic flakes at home as well. Anyone who owns a dehydrator can easily mince the cloves and lay them out in a drying tray in the dehydration unit, following the same basic process that is used for drying fruit. Once the flakes are dehydrated, it is easy to wrap the dried flakes in cheesecloth and break them into smaller flakes with the use of a hammer, if desired.

Garlic flakes work very well in a number of applications. The flakes can easily be added to soups and stews to add a bit of flavor. The used of fried garlic flakes in a meat loaf also ensures an infusion of taste in the finished product. Casseroles can also be enhanced with the use of garlic flakes. Essentially, any recipe that includes cooking time and some sort of liquid is all that is needed. As the flakes absorb some of the juices or liquids during the cooking process, the flakes release the garlic flavor, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.

Just about every supermarket will carry some form of garlic flakes along with garlic powder and salt. Health food markets often will carry garlic flakes made from organically grown garlic bulbs as well. Garlic flakes may be slightly more expensive than garlic salt, but the health benefits are much more desirable, since the contents are pure garlic and not mixed with another substance.