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Beginners Guide => Trainee Chefs / Beginners Questions => Topic started by: natterjak on July 27, 2012, 01:17 PM

Title: Garlic powder going off
Post by: natterjak on July 27, 2012, 01:17 PM
Has anyone else experienced garlic powder going hard? Presumably down to absorbing moisture. I had some garlic powder in one of the compartments of my spice dispenser  (http://www.amazon.com/KitchenArt-Auto-Measure-Spice-Carousel-Stainless/dp/B0000VLQTS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343391235&sr=8-1&keywords=spice+dispenser) and it's gone off like cement - rock hard!
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: loveitspicy on July 27, 2012, 01:23 PM
Yes mate

It does unless sealed up tight - have you tried a spice grinder - or will it not return to a powdered form?

We double seal ours now if not used - ie a plastic bag elastic band then inside another bag and sealed

best, Rich
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: Les on July 27, 2012, 01:40 PM
Yes, had the same problem with Garlic Powder, and also Onion Powder, so keep both well sealed now

Les
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: timeless on July 27, 2012, 01:40 PM
Have noticed that with ginger powder even though its been sealed?
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: colin grigson on July 27, 2012, 02:17 PM
I've just rushed off and wrapped my bag in cling film ... thanks guys !!    ;)
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: natterjak on July 27, 2012, 03:26 PM
Yes mate

It does unless sealed up tight - have you tried a spice grinder - or will it not return to a powdered form?

We double seal ours now if not used - ie a plastic bag elastic band then inside another bag and sealed

best, Rich

Trouble is rich, I can't even get it out of the dispenser now it's a solid block! So I'm soaking it in a bowl of water to slowly break it down and get it out of the dispenser ;)
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: curryhell on July 27, 2012, 05:35 PM
No issues with the ginger powder but have had exactly the same experience with garlic powder.  Now do what the other guys have suggested  and double wrap in airtight bags.  No issues since i've been doing this :D
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: ELW on July 27, 2012, 08:23 PM
Yes, had the same problem with Garlic Powder, and also Onion Powder, so keep both well sealed now

Les

Had garlic powder going rock solid also..can anyone tell me where to lay my hands on onion powder?(not granules)

Thanks
ELW
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: Les on July 28, 2012, 09:49 AM
Had garlic powder going rock solid also..can anyone tell me where to lay my hands on onion powder?(not granules)

Thanks
ELW

ELW
I got mine at Tesco's believe it or not ;D
Lieber's Onion Powder about
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: loveitspicy on July 28, 2012, 10:06 AM
natterjak i just noticed the link in there for the fancy dispenser - wow! very nice - posh git - my garlic is in 2 plassy bags.

Ive just negotiated a price on ground garlic powder 130 baht a kilo - thats about 2.70 GBP. some what of a bargain when i have just read 2 GBP for 70g

best, Rich

Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: Les on July 28, 2012, 11:50 AM
Why not try and make your own Garlic and Onion powder,
Just dry it out (Like Chillies) then grind to a powder, job done

Les
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: natterjak on July 28, 2012, 12:36 PM
It's very nice rich... Mounts to the underside of a cupboard and has a ball raced carousel action so you can reach any spice quickly, then the individual compartments lift out and there's a "clicker" which dispenses 0.25 tsp at a time. Luxury! Sadly not airtight though...
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: loveitspicy on July 28, 2012, 01:39 PM
Why not try and make your own Garlic and Onion powder,
Just dry it out (Like Chillies) then grind to a powder, job done

Les

Theres a huge moisture issue with drying onions and garlic - then mould - it really does have to be dried fully - food dehydrator is the way to go to be sure - anyone have one?

best, Rich
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: Les on July 28, 2012, 01:54 PM
Could they not be dried in the oven Rich?

Les
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: loveitspicy on July 28, 2012, 02:18 PM
Les they probably could - dont know how long it would take to dry out onion - you would need quite a lot to make a decent amount of powder.
We tried to sun dry here a few weeks back didnt work - in a dehydrator it would work - i have designed one - we are tweaking it a little before we make it and plonk it in the garden - the idea is to dry our own stuff.
In an electric dehydrator it would be better especially due to the fluctuation in weather conditions in the UK.

best, Rich
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: Les on July 28, 2012, 02:42 PM
Rich,
Just been reading online that it takes about 5-6 hours at 150c, depending on how thick or thin the onions are sliced, or until they crumble between the fingers, then powder, another tip was to add a little cornflour to stop the powder sticking together :o
And good luck with the dehydrator
Another option was to buy onion flakes and grind them into a powder,

Les
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: chewytikka on July 28, 2012, 06:57 PM
Hi-Tech looking Masala Dabba there NJ.

What do you use Garlic powder in?

Chewy
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: natterjak on July 28, 2012, 07:53 PM
Hi chewy, I think I bought the garlic powder after reading speculation on here that it might have been added to BIR curries in the 80s. I also used it recently in trying to recreate the Shan Pilau Biryani mix so I could try your spicey pressure cooker rice :)
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: ELW on July 29, 2012, 10:53 AM
Had garlic powder going rock solid also..can anyone tell me where to lay my hands on onion powder?(not granules)

Thanks
ELW

ELW
I got mine at Tesco's believe it or not ;D
Lieber's Onion Powder about
Title: Re: Garlic powder going off
Post by: haldi on July 29, 2012, 01:51 PM
Hi chewy, I think I bought the garlic powder after reading speculation on here that it might have been added to BIR curries in the 80s

Hi
The only time I saw garlic powder used in a takeaway, was for garlic mayonaise
It's used as a dressing, with salad, on naans sometimes

I've had half a packet of this stuff setting, a couple of times
I thought it was because it had got damp