Garlic oil is the volatile oil derived from garlic. [1] It is usually prepared using steam distillation, and can also be produced via distillation using ether. It is used in cooking and as a seasoning, a nutritional supplement, and also as an insecticide.
Garlic oil is typically prepared using steam distillation, [1] where crushed garlic is steamed with the resultant condensation containing the oil. [2] Garlic oil contains volatile sulfur compounds such as diallyl disulfide, a 60% constituent of the oil. [1] [3] [4] [5] Steam-distilled garlic oil typically has a pungent and disagreeable odor and a brownish-yellow color. [6] Its odor has been attributed to the presence of diallyl disulfide. [1] [6] To produce around 1 gram of pure steam-distilled garlic oil, around 500 grams of garlic is required. [2] Undiluted garlic oil has 900 times the strength of fresh garlic, and 200 times the strength of dehydrated garlic. [6]
Ether can also be used to extract garlic oil. [2] A type of garlic oil involves soaking diced or crushed garlic in vegetable oil, but this is not pure garlic oil; rather it is a garlic-infused oil. [2]
Garlic oil is used as a dietary supplement or digestive aid commonly sold in capsules, which may be diluted with other ingredients. [1] [2] Some commercial preparations are produced with various levels of dilution, such as a preparation that contains 10% garlic oil. [6] There is no clinical research confirming health effects of consuming garlic oil. [1]
Stabilized garlic flavor blend is a proprietary mixture of dehydrated garlic powder infused with garlic oil, which increases the flavor of the garlic powder. [7]
Garlic oil can be used as an insecticide, diluted with water and sprayed on plants. [8] [9]
Common adverse effects of consuming garlic, garlic oil, and garlic supplements are breath and body odor, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders. [1] Garlic oil consumption may have anticoagulant effects in some people, causing bleeding, and may interfere with prescription drugs. [1]
Garlic-flavored oil is produced and used for cooking and seasoning purposes, and is sometimes used as an ingredient in seasoning mixtures. [2] [6] This differs from essential garlic oil, and typically involves the use of chopped, macerated or crushed garlic placed in various vegetable oils to flavor the oil. [1]