# Do you prefer to use Onion Powder, Onion Flakes, Garlic Powder instead of the Fresh stuff? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2017, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025 "2017-01-13T11:36:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/41 "2017-01-14T18:20:40Z")
I often use granulated onion and garlic (not powdered or flaked) ON TOP of fresh! Can’t have too much onion and garlic, I say. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/42 "2017-01-14T19:56:49Z")
I PREFER fresh, but can usually only afford powdered/flaked. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/43 "2017-01-14T20:21:48Z")
I only use fresh garlic and onions . ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/44 "2017-01-14T22:01:49Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Not enough Poll options. > > As noted by others, they’re for different things. > > But most things being equal, I will opt for fresh over dried whenever possible. Pretty much this. Also, depends on the “stuff” in question. Garlic powder is often OK in lieu of fresh cloves if you’re just trying to impart a hint of garlic, or for garlicky sauteing or melting over a steak I’ll opt for pre-made garlic butter. But I love onion and IMHO there is no substitute for fresh-diced onion, usually sauteed in olive oil before being added to whatever. For many other herbs and spices, it depends. There is a world of difference between dried basil in a jar and fresh basil leaves picked right off the plant, for instance, but there are uses for both. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/45 "2017-01-14T22:11:22Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Honestly, I prefer the dried garlic powder to the minced jar stuff. Typically, though, if I don’t have fresh garlic around for something where I need it, I may just skip it or just go easy on the powder. I don’t like the jarred stuff. It seems like a very different seasoning. I just go ahead and keep garlic on hand. I use powdered versions of garlic and onion generally for rubs. But there is a Sprout’s store around here, and produce is generally cheap there. So, I keep actual garlic, onions and potatoes around. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/46 "2017-01-14T22:37:43Z")
It depends on what I’m making, and sometimes on my mood. Brussels sprouts require chopped onion and minced garlic. For spaghetti sauce I’ll usually just toss in garlic powder and Italian seasoning…but on rare occasions I might saute some onion and garlic with the sausage before I make the sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/47 "2017-01-14T22:43:53Z")
Sometimes one, sometimes the other, based on the dish & convenience. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/48 "2017-01-14T23:26:46Z")
Not a “purist” but real onion and garlic are part of probably most of what I cook in one form or another. OTOH I don’t do dry rubs hardly ever. There’s containers of the dried stuff but I have no idea how old they are by now. Just not used often. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/49 "2017-01-14T23:36:17Z")
I never use garlic nor onions, either fresh or non-fresh. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/50 "2017-01-15T00:01:25Z")
Fresh onion, fresh garlic, all the time. I have some granulated garlic I bought for… something. Some kind of rub or recipe, I forget what. It’s decent enough, but I can’t think of why I’d use it instead of fresh garlic. Rubs work fine with fresh onions/garlic. I dunno, I’m always looking for more ways to put fresh veggies into my diet, and chopping vegetables is not something I hate, so I can’t think of why I’d want to use the powdered/dried versions. I get it that some folks don’t like to cook or don’t have time to cook, but for me, I grew up with fresh, I’ve always used fresh, I don’t see a reason to change. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/51 "2017-01-15T00:17:52Z")
I posted other as the options don’t quite fit what I do. I prefer fresh stuff but, depending on the dish, will readily use granulated garlic or powder. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/52 "2017-01-15T00:19:38Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Powder and fresh are different and I use both in different circumstances. Yup. I buy a jar of granulated garlic, which lasts me for a long time. It’s handy for things like seasoning hash browns, where fresh garlic will end up burned and nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/53 "2017-01-15T00:24:20Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Yup. I buy a jar of granulated garlic, which lasts me for a long time. It’s handy for things like seasoning hash browns, where fresh garlic will end up burned and nasty. Exactly! Although I love making Swiss _roesti_, the idea of potatoes without onions is incomprehensible. However, mixing fresh minced onions into the grated potato yields black bits of burned onion. So a teaspoon of toasted granulated onion goes in. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/54 "2017-01-15T01:46:35Z")
I use garlic powder when I’m too lazy to peel and slice garlic bulbs/cloves. If I’m making something that requires onions, it gets onions, not onion powder or flakes. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/55 "2017-01-15T02:06:44Z")
Depends, honestly. If I’m making A Dish, then I’ll chop fresh. If I’m making something I’m just going to put in a slow cooker, I’ll used minced garlic from a car, supplemented by garlic and onion powders. Generally, I just use it when I’m wanting to add a hit of flavor to something without doing any actual work. ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/56 "2017-01-15T02:49:20Z")
I use both fresh and powdered depending on what the dish is. Sometimes I want the flavor but not the texture, like in my pot pie type recipes. I find onions really overwhelm the other veggies, but some onion powder in with the other seasonings when I’m making the gravy/sauce works just right. But I’d never put powder in my stew. I’d rather have no onions than powder. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/57 "2017-01-15T03:08:59Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > I use the right one for the right dish. > > FWIW, I was once making a beef roast which called for putting onion powder and garlic powder on top, and found that I was out of them. I used real onion and garlic as a substitute, and it didn’t work nearly as well. That’s the right answer. Another thing that just flat-out doesn’t work with fresh onion and garlic is ranch dressing. But in general, if the recipe calls for one or the other, I’m unlikely to try and substitute unless the recipe is something really slowly cooked. Those tend to blur the distinction between dry and fresh, as a lot of the volatiles get cooked out anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/58 "2017-01-15T12:00:20Z")
Essentially, I always use fresh onions, and garlic – am not particularly a purist; it just doesn’t seem to occur to me to do otherwise. As regards garlic – in an emergency, I’ll use garlic puree from a tube. Have the impression that in the UK, where I am, we don’t appear to “do” onion / garlic in powder / flakes form – I don’t seem to encounter such, in recipes or in shops and otherwise in “real life”. That could just be because I’m not seeking them. (Minced garlic in a jar, we do have.) ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/59 "2017-01-15T14:37:09Z")
I’ve seen plenty of garlic powder / flakes in both deli / health stores and plain supermarkets in Britain; often the American Schwartz brand. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025/60 "2017-01-15T15:03:13Z")
Ah, right – just something I don’t aim to buy, so tending to be off my radar. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-to-use-onion-powder-onion-flakes-garlic-powder-instead-of-the-fresh-stuff/777025.md?page=4)