What Are Garlic Flakes And How They're Produced

Garlic flakes are thin, dehydrated slices made from fresh garlic bulbs that have been cleaned, peeled, sliced, and dried. As one of the most popular forms of dried garlic, they offer the rich aroma, robust flavor, and nutritional value of fresh garlic—while being far more convenient and shelf-stable. In this blog, as a dried garlic manufacturer, we'll take a closer look at what garlic flakes are and how they are made.

Key Benefits of Dried Garlic Flakes

1. Convenience: Garlic flakes eliminate the need for peeling, chopping, or crushing fresh garlic. They are ready to use straight from the bag, saving preparation time in both home and industrial kitchens.

2. Long Shelf Life: After drying, the moisture content of garlic flakes is reduced to a very low level. This makes them naturally resistant to spoilage, sprouting, and decay, with a shelf life of 1–2 years when stored in a cool, dry place.

3. Strong, Authentic Flavor: Despite being dried, garlic flakes retain much of the original flavor, aroma, and pungency of fresh garlic, making them a perfect substitute in cooked dishes or seasoning blends.

4. Versatile Applications: Garlic flakes are widely used in soups, sauces, stews, spice mixes, instant noodles, ready meals, and snack seasonings. They can also be ground into garlic powder or rehydrated for use in marinades and condiments.

How High Quality Garlic Flakes Are Produced

The industrial production of garlic flakes is a carefully controlled process designed to maintain hygiene, flavor, and quality. Below is a standard overview of how premium garlic flakes are made.

Step 1: Raw Material Selection: High quality garlic bulbs are chosen based on size, maturity, and freshness. Only firm, full bulbs that are free from mold, sprouting, and insect damage are used. 

Step 2: Pre-Treatment: The garlic bulbs are first separated into individual cloves, either manually or by machine. The next and most labor-intensive step is peeling, which plays a crucial role in ensuring product quality. Traditionally, this was done by hand, but modern production now mainly uses dry or wet peeling methods.

 • Dry peeling: Machines use controlled air flow and mechanical friction to separate the skin from the garlic clove without using water.
 • Wet peeling: The cloves are briefly soaked in warm water to soften the skin, then peeled through mechanical rubbing and rinsing.

After peeling, any remaining skins, stems, or damaged cloves are carefully removed to ensure the purity and cleanliness of the raw material.

Step 3: Cleaning and Blanching: Peeled cloves are washed thoroughly to remove dirt and residues. The clean garlic cloves are briefly immersed in hot water (90–100°C) for sterilization and color protection.

Step 4: Slicing: The blanched cloves are evenly sliced using an industrial slicer. Uniform thickness ensures consistent drying and a clean, attractive final product.

Step 5: Drying: Drying is the most critical step in determining the final quality of garlic flakes.

 • Hot Air Drying: The most common method. Sliced garlic is spread on trays and dried in controlled hot air at moderate temperatures for several hours. Proper temperature control prevents scorching or bitterness.
 • Freeze Drying: A more advanced technique that preserves color, flavor, and nutrients. The garlic slices are first frozen and then dehydrated under vacuum, causing the ice to sublimate directly into vapor. Freeze dried garlic flakes are crisp, bright, and rehydrate extremely well, though they come at a higher cost.

Step 6: Cooling and Screening: After drying, the garlic flakes are cooled immediately to prevent moisture absorption. They are then sieved and inspected to remove broken pieces and off-color flakes, ensuring a uniform product.

Step 7: Metal Detection and Packaging: All finished garlic flakes pass through metal detectors to ensure safety. They are then sealed in moisture-proof, light-resistant packaging under hygienic conditions to preserve freshness and flavor.

Garlic Flakes vs. Powder vs. Minced

In the food industry, garlic flakes, garlic powder, and minced garlic each play unique and essential roles in product formulation. Garlic flakes are widely used in soups, sauces, pickles, and seasoning blends, where they provide visible texture and a natural garlic aroma after rehydration. Garlic powder is ideal for dry seasoning mixes, snack coatings, instant noodle packets, and spice rubs—delivering consistent flavor distribution and easy blending with other dry ingredients. Minced garlic is often used in sauces, marinades, dressings, and ready-to-eat meals, offering a convenient application in moist or semi-liquid systems. Together, these dehydrated garlic forms allow food manufacturers to balance flavor intensity, texture, and production efficiency while ensuring a stable, long-lasting garlic profile in diverse industrial products.

ShunDi Foods — Your Reliable Dried Garlic Manufacturer & Supplier

ShunDi Foods is a top manufacturer of dried garlic products, including garlic flakes, granules, and powder. With over 30 years of expertise and our own FSA certified garlic farms and advanced processing facilities in Shanghai, we ensure total control over quality and supply. Our dried garlic retains its authentic flavor, rich nutrients, and natural color. Whether you are looking for bulk wholesale ingredients or OEM customization, we deliver safe, consistent, and high quality garlic products trusted by leading food brands worldwide.