ok, ok I cut short of a full explanation so to correct myself and redeem the idea that yes cheapest in this situation, IN MY OPINION, is best here goes. I buy garlic, crush it up, let soak in RO/DI water. The juice that is produced from marinating in the frig for days and weeks becomes no less potent than the same elixir some pay 10-20 bucks for in the store. I THEN pour some of the juice into a dish and let food soak. Yes sometimes I don't have time to let it soak over night but for the most part I get a good 30 minute soak time. TOTAL COST TO ME: $.40 garlic, $.30 for gallon of RO/DI. Now I don't have a gallon container sitting in the frig more like 3 oz of water so the "brew" gets quite potent. When the garlic juice seems diluted I replace the garlic. This usually takes a month depending on how much garlic is put in the container. So, IN MY OPINION, paying 10-20 bucks for an item that is marked up $9-$19 because it is considered a "specialty item" is, IN MY OPINION, wasteful.
