Comparing store-bought chopped garlic

When shopping for chopped garlic at my local grocery store, I noticed that although there were several brands there were basically two price points. Looking more closely, I saw that the less-expensive brands were all packed in olive oil while the more-expensive brands were not.

Does the fact that the garlic is packed in oil somehow relate to its quality and therefore price, or is the olive oil just an inexpensive filler that brings down the price per weight?

Edit

Brands and ingredients:

Botticelli and Badia:
Garlic, water, extra virgin olive oil, citric acid, sodium benzoate

Victoria:
Garlic, filtered water, phosphoric acid, xanthan gum, natural flavor

Bellino:
Natural garlic, water, phosphoric acid

I didn't see Joe's comment in time to check whether some are imported.

garlic olive-oil

Best Answer

Olive oil isn't cheap enough to be an inexpensive filler, and the garlic has to be in something -- either another (cheaper) oil or vinegar. Garlic and olive oil is a common combination.

The sort packed in vinegar also has its uses and keeps well. It's the only chopped option I can easily find without added salt. But when the proportion of garlic in the dish is high the vinegar flavour isn't always desirable (so I use fresh then).

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Is store bought minced garlic as good as fresh?

In terms of flavor, fresh garlic has that true, vibrant garlic flavor with a bit of heat when it's raw, while jarred minced garlic tends to be milder in flavor. If you're substituting jarred garlic in a recipe, use about \xbd teaspoon for every fresh garlic clove.

What brand of minced garlic is the best?

The trick to having a pleasant minced garlic experience is finding a brand that tastes as close to fresh as possible \u2014 and that crown goes to Polaner Chopped Garlic.

Which is better chopped or minced garlic?

Chopped garlic is better for recipes where you're just using it to accentuate a flavour - along with onions or shallots. Because it's bigger it takes longer to cook as well (not by much mind).

Is minced garlic in a jar the same as fresh garlic?

The difference here is pretty straightforward: One comes in a jar, already chopped for you, while the other is a clump of cloves you've got to peel and mince or slice up yourself. And unless you prefer your garlic with substantially less flavor, fresh garlic always tastes better.

Fresh Garlic vs Prepared Garlic: Can You Taste the Difference?

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Images: Eva Elijas, Eva Elijas, RODNAE Productions, Karolina Grabowska