What Is Liquid Garlic?

Culinary Uses

• The juice of garlic is sold in the spice section of the supermarket in plain and roasted flavors. Use it to flavor sauces, soups and other liquids in which pieces of garlic would be unsightly or interfere with the smooth texture of the dish. Brush toasted bread with liquid garlic for added taste. Spray it on meats, fish and poultry during grilled, frying, roasting, baking or broiling to easily add rich garlic flavor to the food.

Agricultural Uses

• In a much more concentrated form than the cooking juice, liquid garlic is thought to repel insects on vegetable plants and fruit trees without affecting the flavor of the crops. It is sprayed on the plants and, although the odor is undetectable to humans after about 30 minutes, it is still detected by insects. Pesky birds appear repelled by liquid garlic, which keeps them from feeding on some fruit trees.

Canine Protection

• Adding liquid garlic to your dog's food reportedly rids the animal of worms and protects against further invasions. It also allegedly gives the dog's coat a garlic smell undetectable by humans that deters fleas and ticks. Liquid garlic added to its food may keep a dog's cholesterol in check.

Home and Garden Pest Control

• Besides keeping dogs free of ticks and fleas, the natural sulfur in garlic also seems to repel black flies and mosquitoes when sprayed around porches and gardens. The odor quickly dissipates and is imperceptible by human noses in minutes but is noticeable for up to a month by the sensitive olfactory systems of mosquitoes. If you mix liquid garlic formulated to repel insects with a little oil and spray it on plants and grass, the garlic oil in the solution creates a film that is toxic to mosquito larvae, which further helps control the pests.

Supplements

• Although no scientific evidence supports the theory, many people consume capsules filled with deodorized liquid garlic to prevent hardening of the arteries and reduce cholesterol.

Liquid Garlic Safety

• Most premixed liquid garlic solutions have no harmful additives and will not kill butterflies or bees. Most are safe to use around cats, dogs, birds, fish and children. If you plan to ingest it as a dietary supplement, check with your health care provider beforehand.