Homemade onion powder recipe
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Say good bye to store-bought onion powder. If you have a large amount of ripe or soft onions, make this homemade onion powder recipe.
If you are buying onion powder from the store, you need to think twice. Who would pay, even a few pennies, to buy preservatives added food such as onion powder in a small quantity while they can opt, through one of the best healthy recipes, for a larger amount of homemade onion at a much less cost?
If you have read any of my posts, then it is not a secret that I love to go back to my roots and have everything made at home. I have always been and will continue to be a strong advocate of anything homemade/handmade. Onion powder is not an exception. Whenever I have a large amount of ripe or soft onions, I just turn to make this homemade onion powder recipe.
What is onion powder?
Onion powder is a seasoning that is made from dried and dehydrated onions. This condiment makes a great add-on to many meals and marinades, intensifying the onion flavor while avoiding the moisture that raw onions add.
Onion powder is simple to make and can last for up to a year if dried properly.
What is onion powder used for?
Onion powder conveniently adds a special flavor to all your dishes. Combined with other seasonings and spices, it intensifies the flavor and richness of your marinades.
Additionally, onion powder is a great substitute for onions in any dish. As a balanced ratio, you can replace 1 medium-sized onion with a tablespoon of onion powder.
Try adding onion powder to your dips, soups, sauces, marinades dressings, and casseroles. It is a go-to seasoning suitable for any meat, chicken, vegetarian, or seafood dishes.
How long is homemade onion powder good for? And how to store it?
In the best scenario, when onion powder is well dried, this homemade onion powder recipe gives you a year-long onion powder. This applies when you store your onion powder in an air-tight container in a cool dry place.
However, for the best results, I strongly advise you to add some raw rice grains to the container where you are storing your onion powder. Rice absorbs water and prevents the onion from becoming moist.
How do you make this homemade onion powder recipe?
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First prepare:
As a start, peel the onions. Then start cutting the onions into smaller pieces. You may follow one of the following methods:
- Grating the onions using a cheese grater: This will allow you to take out as much onion juice as you want.
- Chopping the onions using a hard knife
- Shredding the onions using a food processor
Once your onions are cut, you need to take out as much onion juice as possible. The best way is to place them in a paper or kitchen towel and squeeze well to take the excess water. Alternatively, place the onions in a strainer and start pressing on the onions using a spoon to extract the onion juice.
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Second, dry the onion in the oven
I am saying in the oven because many (including me) do not have a food dehydrator at home.
To dry the onion in the oven, preheat your oven to its lowest temperature. The temperature must be between 60 & 70°C.
Then spread the onions on parchment paper placed over the baking tray. The baking process will take 5 to 6 hours, depending on how much onion juice was extracted in the first phase.
Stir the onions then re-spread them every 30 to 60 minutes.
The color of the onions will change and that is normal. Once the onions crumble, remove them from the oven and let them cool before you start the grinding process.
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Finally, grind the dried onions
This is the final stage. Grinding the onions can be done either through a food processor if your machine is capable of producing finely ground onion powder. Some would also use a mortar and pestle for fine onion powder. If you are looking to have the right consistency, I suggest using a coffee or pepper grinder.
Looking for more condiments and seasonings recipes to DIY? Check these recipes:
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Say good bye to store-bought onion powder. If you have a large amount of ripe or soft onions, make this homemade onion powder recipe.
Ingredients & supplies
- Onions: You can use any type of onion you like but the common practice is to use brown onions.
- Oven that allows to bake at a low temperature. If a food dehydrator is available, it is a bonus.
- A good food processor, grinder, or a mortar and pestle.
- Air-tight container or Mason jar.
Instructions
- Peel the onions
- If you are using a knife or a mandolin, slice them as thin as you can. If you are using the food processor, aim to have thin small onion cuts.
- In the event of a food processor, transfer the onion to a kitchen towel and squeeze to extract as much possible of the onion juice as you can. In the case of mandolin or knife, spread the onions in a strainer and press with a spoon to extract the onion juice.
- Line a parchment paper over a baking tray and spread the
- Place the tray in the oven between 60 & 70°C.
- Stir the onion and respread them every hour.
- Let the onions cool after drying
- Use a grinder or a food processor to grind the onions until reaching the powder consistency.
Notes
- Every small onion produces 1 tablespoon of onion powder
- Place some raw rice grains to prevent the moisture in the jar
