Garlic Salt is a mixture made from Garlic Powder and Salt (with a moisture absorber). Essentially it is a Seasoning that imparts some allium flavor and salt.
Garlic Salt is a food product and as such does not have a season.
Garlic Salt is available all year long in the spice section of almost any full-service grocery store.
Garlic Salt is made by combining Garlic Powder (crushed Dehydrated Garlic) and Salt. Moisture absorbers are also added to give the combination a better shelf life.
As with all dried food items, check the package of Garlic Salt for the freshness date. Also make sure that the package is sealed and intact and that there no visible spoilage (moisture, mold, fungus, etc.).
Another thing to consider when purchasing commercial Garlic Salt is that the majority of our domestic Garlic comes from China. Much of it is used in prepared products such as Dehydrated Garlic. This is an important consideration since China’s agricultural production rules, including pesticide use and chemical treatment of their products “differ” (to be kind) from our own.
Store Garlic Salt in the pantry or a cool dark place.
As with all dried or dehydrated herbs, check for freshness, and remember that when using garlic salt you are adding table salt as well as garlic.
Allow 1-2 t of Garlic Salt per person.
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The area of nutrition is where some of the bad news comes in about cooking with Garlic Salt. That is to say, Garlic Salt is fine for you but not as good for you as compared to Fresh Garlic.
Raw Garlic Cloves have more Protein (2.5 times more), more Dietary Fiber (twice as much), more Calcium (16 times more), more Iron (2.4 times more), more Phosphorus (3 times more), more Vitamin C (900 plus times more), more Selenium (4 times more), more Vitamin B6 (5.5 times more), more Manganese (15 times more) than the dehydrated form used to make Garlic Salt.
The other issue is that much of the domestic Dehydrated Garlic (as high as 75%) comes from China where they have looser rules about pesticides and chemical additives like bleaching agents, preservatives, etc. And it is not just the Dehydrated Garlic used to make the Garlic Salt. Check the labels on any of your packaged foods or ready to eat foods. How many of them contain Garlic Salt?
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