The two seasoning options present in the most recipes across worldwide cuisines are garlic and salt. Nearly every savory meal or dish can be made slightly more enjoyable with one or the other of these spices and, more often than not, both.
Garlic salt is an obvious solution, but not all garlic salts are made equal. Some are too garlicky and others are too salty.
So what’s the best garlic salt? The best garlic salt will vary by taste, but generally, there should be a balance of salt and garlic flavors so the seasoning is strong but not overpowering. Many also prefer added ingredients such as pepper, lemon, or parsley.
You need a perfect balance between the two to bring out the flavors of all your ingredients without overwhelming your recipe with either salt or garlic.
We put a lot of thought into this precise dilemma and have found the 5 best garlic salts you can buy.
To help you make the right decision for your pantry, we’ve outlined all the most important features of our top garlic salt choices for your review.
What is Garlic Salt?
Garlic salt is a very popular seasoning blend made from grinding garlic and salt. Of course, you can get the same result, or at least very similar, by seasoning your food with your preferred blend of garlic – either dried or fresh – and salt.
But it’s simply quicker and easier to add a dash of seasoning spice instead of mixing and matching everything in your cupboard.
Is Garlic Salt The Same As Garlic Powder?
No, garlic salt and garlic powder are very different.
Garlic salt, as the name implies, is a blend of dehydrated garlic and salt.
Different manufacturers may vary their recipe slightly, using different types and ratios of salt to garlic, and some even use oil, sugar, corn starch, or other ingredients in their garlic salt as well.
Garlic powder, on the other hand, is nothing but finely ground garlic. It is made by dehydrating garlic and then processing it until it’s nothing more than powder.
Because of how much powder you get in a serving size, garlic powder is quite potent in flavor, even when compared to granulated garlic (which is also pure garlic, though with a larger grind).
Dehydrated garlic chunks would be the next closest comparison, being pure garlic but, again, much larger in particle size than garlic powder.
Does Garlic Salt Have Sodium?
Yes, all salt contains sodium, and garlic salt is made with real salt.
How much sodium is in each blend will vary though. Each manufacturer uses a different ratio of salt to garlic, not to mention different types of salt have different levels of sodium.
If you’re consciously watching your sodium intake it’s always important to check the nutritional data on the exact item you purchase for the most accurate information.
Is Garlic Salt Iodized?
Some garlic salt is iodized, while others are not. It depends entirely on the type of salt used in the blend. Most table salt is iodized, whereas most coarse salt and sea salts are not iodized, though there are very few exceptions to those rules as well.
If you purchase a coarse garlic salt or a garlic sea salt, chances are it won’t be iodized. Even some fine grain garlic salts use sea salt or un-iodized coarse salt and simply grind the ingredients until they’re smaller particles.
When it comes to garlic salt, unless it specifically states on the container that it contains iodine, you can usually assume it is not iodized.
The Best Garlic Salts You Can Buy
If you’re looking for the perfect blend of salt and garlic, we’ve got you covered. We’ve analyzed the most popular brands alongside some of the most creative and gourmet brands to find the best garlic salt for your money.
| Rank | Product | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | McCormick Culinary Garlic Salt | Tasty budget buy |
| 2. | Lawry's Garlic Salt | Meat rubs and marinades |
| 3. | Morton's Sea Salt & Garlic | Sea salt depth of flavor |
| 4. | Organic Garlic Himalayan Salt | Organic, high-quality seasoning |
| 5. | Kinder's Organic Roasted Garlic Salt | Smokey, roasted flavor |
Whether you want sheer quantity or are more focused on the quality of the ingredients, you’ll find a perfect option within our list of 5 best garlic salts on the market.
1. McCormick Culinary Garlic Salt
McCormick is a leading brand in the spice aisle. They are well known for quality spices and they have the most selection, both at your local grocery store and online.
McCormick is a hard one to beat so it isn’t surprising that they have not just one, but three, amazing options when it comes to garlic salt.
In addition to the more classic Culinary Garlic Salt, you may also want to try these other blends from McCormick:
- Coarse Grind Garlic Salt With Parsley (Check Current Price on Amazon)
- Himalayan Pink Salt with Black Pepper and Garlic (Check Current Price on Amazon)
The Culinary Garlic Salt is the most general option and the one we’re focusing on, but adding a slight hint of parsley or black pepper, as in their other blends, elevates the experience even higher.
Key Features:
- 2.57 pounds of garlic salt will keep your kitchen supplied for a good, long while.
- It’s made kosher and has no added MSG.
- Consistent, free-flowing (non-caking) blend that dissolves smoothly and is easy to measure.
Biggest Drawback: The only drawback we could find with this garlic salt is that, because it comes in such a lovely, large size, you’re likely to use it in everything.
You may become over-reliant on garlic salt simply because it’s so easy to use and delicious. So be mindful of your salt levels when you enjoy this seasoning.
2. Lawry’s Garlic Salt
Lawry’s is actually a brand under the McCormick family, which speaks to the quality you’ll get in one of these bad boys.
It’s uniquely targeted to BBQs and grilling. So even though the blend is very similar to what you would expect from a standard McCormick spice, it’s carefully crafted to be used as a meat rub or marinade.
Although it’s equally delicious in a sauce or sprinkled over some fresh and juicy garden ripe tomatoes and cucumbers.
If the larger 2+ lb container is too much for your needs, you can also find Lawry’s Garlic Salt in a 2-pack of 6 oz shakers.
Key Features:
- At 2.06 pounds, this container is perfect for professional chefs and active home cooks.
- Blends a subtle hint of parsley into the mix.
- The coarse grind is ideal for marinades and rubs.
Biggest Drawback: Considering it is essentially the same blend and formula as McCormick’s Coarse Grind Garlic Salt with Parsely, you may not want to bother with the different “brand.” However, at least you know it will be just as good.
3. Morton’s Sea Salt & Garlic
Like McCormick, Morton is a popular, classic household salt brand, so it’s no wonder their garlic salt would rank on this list. And with a hint of parsley, this classic choice just got even better.
This brand and the little girl with the umbrella on their logo are so common, you’ve probably been stocking your cupboard with Morton’s salt for years.
Morton offers their garlic salt in smaller containers, which is great if you just want to throw one in the cupboard, but you do have the option to buy singles or a set of 2, 3, or even 4 which helps with the convenience a bit.
Key Features:
- 8.5-ounce shaker container(s) are convenient to store.
- Made with 100% sea salt and a hint of parsley.
- Morton’s is an established, reliable brand.
Biggest Drawback: This blend also includes sugar in the ingredients list, which can help elevate the flavors in some dishes, but is also a major drawback for many who are trying to eliminate refined sugar from their diets.
It’s also made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, which is another commonly avoided ingredient. If these don’t bother you, however, the flavor is magnificent.
4. Organic Garlic Himalayan Salt – San Francisco Salt Company
The San Francisco Salt Company is a bit of an American legend when it comes to creative and gourmet culinary salts.
From cherry smoked to black truffle, they have an uber-fancy organic sea salt for you. Impress your friends, and yourselves, with one of these on your kitchen counter.
Their garlic sea salt adds just enough garlic to match the lightly flavored salt in any recipe, and as an extra-fine grain, it dissolves perfectly, even as a finishing salt.
Key Features:
- The 2-pound package will support your garlic salt habit for months, at least.
- Made with only 3 quality ingredients, salt, garlic, and organic rice concentrate to keep the blend free-flowing.
- Made from 100% organic Sherpa pink Himalayan salt, this garlic salt is kosher certified.
Biggest Drawback: Gourmet sea salt and related seasonings do not always fit everyone’s budgeting. With this brand, you really do get a high-quality garlic salt, however, so it’s money well spent if you’re willing to invest in your spice cabinet.
5. Kinder’s Organic Roasted Garlic Salt
Kinder’s is known for using premium quality, clean ingredients in their spice blends and then pushing the envelope of what is considered normal.
Why choose plain garlic when you could have woodfired or smoked instead?
Roasted garlic adds an entirely new depth of flavor to a traditional garlic salt, but even that is enhanced further by the addition of hardwood smoke.
It’s a completely original take on a classic spice blend and, for the right recipe, it’s absolutely priceless.
Key Features:
- 4 oz container is small but packed to the brim with flavor.
- Made with roasted garlic, sea salt, and hardwood smoke.
Biggest Drawback: This is one of the few garlic salt blends that include real chunks of dehydrated roasted garlic.
This can create a real love-it or hate-it dichotomy, making it either one of the best or worst features of the product, depending on your personal flavor and texture preferences.
Up Next: The 5 Best Himalayan Salt Blocks
1 comment
I was pleased to see your evaluation of Louries Garlic Salt after going to a lot of trouble to restock my spice cabinet with the larger version. I am not a foodie but I do love to BBQ and can’t understand why Louries GS seems to be better than others I’ve tried but it is. I may try the McCormick after reading your review, others definitely don’t’ cut it.
Almost all my local stores like Costco, Walmart, and Smart and Final have quit carrying the large size and the smaller sizes are way over priced. What I found was their new smaller 1 lb 12 oz container. Online its much more expensive. Smaller but the same good spice. Thanks for the review.