This Onion Powder Recipe is going to transform your dishes by helping you to add a depth of flavor. It is so easy to dehydrate and make your onion powder at home and is a great way to avoid food waste and preserve onions that you might have.
Have you ever gotten to the point where you have an overload of onions in your home? It may sound like a strange scenario but we have all been in that situation where we have bought a duplicate packet of onions or have been gifted some extra ingredients from a neighbor or friend.
But what can you do with them? Aside from cutting them up, prepping, and freezing, you can transform those onions into onion powder.
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Having your own homemade onion powder is a great pantry ingredient to have to hand if you want to add some extra flavor to a variety of dishes. It can make things easier to add the flavor of onions without needing to chop some up or cook them.
Perfect for when you use a slow cooker or Instant Pot. You don’t need any fancy tools to make onion powder.
A dehydrator works well and is what the below recipe uses, but we share a few other methods further down that can be alternative ways to still create this amazing onion powder.
If you love a bit of spice then you will appreciate this Mexican Ranch Dressing. This recipe will majorly benefit from your homemade onion powder.
💜 Why You’ll Love This Onion Powder Recipe
- Easy to make. This recipe is so easy to make and means that you can enjoy adding lots of flavor to all different types of meals and dips.
- Perfect for the pantry. This is a great powder to store in a mason jar in your pantry for when you need it. No mad rush to the grocery store when you need some.
- Ideal for kids. If a recipe calls for onions but your kids are a little fussy then you can add the powder instead.
- Only one ingredient. There are no nasties to add to preserve this onion powder. Making your own onion powder is simple.
🧅 Ingredients Needed
- Small Yellow Fresh Onions
Helpful Tools
Dehydrator
- ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE from 95ºF to 158ºF that foods are dehydrated at their optimal temperature and horizontal air flow distributes heat evenly and efficiently.
Food Processor or Mortar and Pestle
- Bowl scraper attachment: Special attachment scrapes the sides of the bowl to keep ingredients close to the blades for more even results and to save you time when chopping or pureeing — no need to stop and remove the lid to use a spatula
- MORTAR AND PESTLE Diameter 5", Capacity 1.3 Cups, Pestle Length 5 - A must-have for every household – use granite mortar & pestle set to grind, crush, mash and mix any grain, spice or herb and create stunning dishes, including guacamole, salsas, sauces, recipes & more!
Mason jar for storing
- SET INCLUDES:Case of 15 Mason Jars and Silver Lids. This Glass jar set is of the highest quality and designed for your convenience.
How To Make Onion Powder
- Peel and then dice your onions or cut them into thin slices.
- Place each of the chopped onions on the dehydrator tray in a single layer. Fill each of the dehydrator trays.
- Set the dehydrator to 125F and let them dehydrate for 18-24 hours until they are completely dry. The drying time it takes may vary so be mindful to check at 18 hours and allow more time if needed. It often depends on the humidity level in your home.
- Once you have dehydrated your onions, place the dried onions into your food processor, spice grinder, or mortar. Grind the dehydrated onions using a pestle or food processor until the onion has become a fine powder. This will give you that strong flavor and make it easy for you to use in dishes.
- Place the powder in an airtight container such as a mason jar and use it whenever you want to add that depth of flavor.
Recipe Variations
Can I make the onion powder using an oven? If you haven’t got a dehydrator then you can use the oven. You will need to spread the inion onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
The oven will need to be set at its lowest temperature. You will need to leave the oven door open a little at first.
How else can I dehydrate the onions? Others have tried dehydrating the onions naturally by leaving them on the countertop. Or you could even try the air fryer.
Could I use this method with other vegetables? Sure! Why not try and make carrot powder or bell peppers? Ground onions can be just the start.
Just follow the same method of dehydrating the veggies first and then grinding them up. It is a great way to use up vegetables that might be destined for food waste.
Could I use another kind of onion? I would say so, but just be mindful that each onion will give a different flavor. You could use green onions or red onions as these can make a great alternative.
What can I add onion powder to? It works well with many different recipes and can often be your best option for giving a dish some much-needed flavor.
It works well with meat dishes and to flavor vegetables. It is a great addition to your spice jar storage.
Tips & Tricks
- A pestle and mortar will always give you the best powder-like results. So if you can use one then do it. You will find that it will take a bit longer, but the results will be better. A food processor will be quicker, but you may find that there are missed bits.
- If you dice the onion up finely then it may help the dehydrating process.
- You can make large quantities of this onion powder by repeating the process and storing a huge batch of it for when you need it.
Storage
The onion powder needs to be stored in an airtight container in a cold and dry place. It is also best to be in a dark place.
Your pantry or kitchen cupboard is the perfect option and an easy way to store it is to use a mason jar as it makes an excellent airtight container option.
When stored correctly, you will find that it has a very long shelf life.
A great tip for storage is to shake the jar to ensure that there are no clumps. You could also add some grains of uncooked rice or beans to help absorb any extra moisture. Moisture causes clumps in your powder and although it won’t affect what you are cooking, it is easier to have a powder-like consistency.
FAQ
How many onions do you need to make onion powder?
The recipe we have shared is using three small yellow onions to make ½ cup of onion powder. You could double or triple the quantities to make more.
It just depends on son how much onion powder you can use and make sure you store it correctly. You can make more of the onion powder if you wish by dehydrating the onions in batches.
You could then decant what you have made already and then add it to the original spice jar that you are using. This means that you use the oldest onion powder you have made first.
Can I use onion powder instead of chives?
Absolutely you can! It is just best to be mindful that chives are not usually a powder, so you do have that green and herb-like appearance with them.
But if you don’t want or need that, then the onion powder will give the same amount of flavor. You could also have a go at making your own chives using the dehydrator.
You won’t need so long to dehydrate them and then you have both options should you need it.
Does homemade onion powder taste better?
In my opinion, it does. I just don’t think you can beat homemade anything, but this onion powder has nothing else just onions. Which essentially is what you would expect, isn’t it?
But some store-bought onion powders have additional additives to help them last longer. Which may or may not impact the taste.
We will let you be the judge of whether you think your homemade version tastes better.
Other recipes to add onion powder to
- Insanely Easy Instant Pot Cheeseburger Soup – This Instant Pot Cheeseburger Soup is one of the best flavors ever! It’s literally like eating a cheesy & hearty version of a cheeseburger, but stored perfectly in a mason jar! Perfect to add a teaspoon of onion powder to it.
- Homemade Taco Seasoning – This is a great seasoning to make up and your onion powder will certainly enhance its flavor of it.
- Instant Pot Chicken and Gnocchi – This Instant Pot Chicken and Gnocchi Soup is a healthy, no-fuss dinner option that everyone will love. Add a tablespoon of onion powder to give it a boost in flavor.
- Easy Instant Pot Lasagna Soup – Enjoy all the flavors of a giant slice of homemade lasagna in this Easy Instant Pot Lasagna Soup recipe. Perfect with the addition of your onion powder.
Onion Powder Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 small yellow onions
Instructions
- Peel and then dice your onions or cut them into thin slices.
- Place each of the chopped onions on the dehydrator tray in a single layer. Fill each of the dehydrator trays.
- Set the dehydrator to 125F and let them dehydrate for 18-24 hours until they are completely dry. The drying time it takes may vary so be mindful to check at 18 hours and allow more time if needed. It often depends on the humidity level in your home.
- Once you have dehydrated your onions, place the dried onions into your food processor, spice grinder, or mortar. Grind the dehydrated onions using a pestle or food processor until the onion has become a fine powder. This will give you that strong flavor and make it easy for you to use in dishes.
- Place the powder in an airtight container such as a mason jar and use it whenever you want to add that depth of flavor.
Notes
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