Using Onion Powder in Place of Granulated Onion

Onion powder is a common seasoning and flavoring component found in most spice closets and kitchens throughout the country. It is used in a variety of cuisines to enhance the taste of savory dishes.

So, what do you do when you’re extremely weary yet still need to cook?

If you’re in a hurry, here are a few quick substitutes for onion powder!

Granulated onion is the most convenient and cost-effective option for onion powder. It has a milder flavor and texture comparable to chopped onion, and the granules to onion powder ratio is almost one-to-one. You may also use dried onion flakes, chopped celery, or onion salt for the taste of onion powder.

 

What is Onion Powder?

Onion powder is a flavoring powder composed completely of powdered dried onions.

While toasted versions of yellow and red onion powder are available, the majority of onion powder is made from dried white onions that have been powdered and marketed as a spice.

To provide a consistent color and taste, onions for powder manufacture are minced to the same consistency before dehydration.

Top Substitutes of Onion Powder

Onion powder is made from dried onions that have been coarsely ground into a powder. It’s usually employed as a back-up to more dominant tastes in a dish, but it’s still detectable when it’s missing. It’s also a great replacement for those who loathe raw onions (like me!).

Here are some common substitutes that you may already have on hand or may simply acquire in shops.

1. Granulated Onion

Onion powder and granulated onion are almost identical. The only difference is that granulated onion is finer crushed than onion flakes or chopped onion. Simply double the amount to replace!

2. Onion Flakes

Onion flakes, which are just dried onion that hasn’t been powdered, perform nicely in lieu of onion powder. You may either leave the flakes intact or use a mortar and pestle to grind them into a 1:1 substitute.

If you wish to leave it whole, use around 1 tablespoon onion powder for 1 teaspoon onion powder (conversions are provided later in this piece).

3. Jarred Chopped Onion

Another component that is comparable to onion flakes is jarred chopped onion. Minced onion is dried onion that has been coarsely ground but is still coarser than powder.

1 tablespoon canned chopped onion may be substituted for 1 teaspoon onion powder, but use less than you would for onion flakes if preparing bigger amounts.

4. Fresh Onion

You’ll need a lot more onion powder to produce a suitable substitute since it has a much stronger taste than fresh onion.

1 teaspoon onion powder equals 3 tablespoons fresh sliced onion. Because fresh onions contain a lot of water, you’ll need to adjust the other liquids in your meal as required.

5. Onion Salt

Onion salt is a similar condiment to garlic salt. Onion powder or granulated onion combined with salt is exactly what it says on the box.

Use it as a 1:1 substitution while lowering other salty parts of the dish to keep the tastes balanced.

One Onion Equals How Much Onion Powder?

Here are some basic equivalents to remember (that I somewhat modified):

3 cup finely minced small onion1 tablespoon dried onion flakes or 1 teaspoon onion powder = 1

1 medium diced onion (1 cup) equals 4 cup dry onion flakes1 tablespoon onion powder or 1 teaspoon onion powder

112 cups minced onion equals 12 teaspoons onion powder or 5 tablespoons dried onion flakes

Is it Possible to Substitute Onion Powder for Onion Flakes?

Similarly, you may use onion powder instead of flakes, although the texture would be different. If you don’t want to give up this convenience, you may make your own onion flakes by thinly slicing one onion and roasting it on a baking sheet coated with parchment paper. If you’re drying onion flakes for immediate use, you won’t have to dry them for as long, and you may even be able to use a higher heat!

Because onions are designed to be preserved, they must be dried for an extended period of time at a low temperature. If you’re simply drying them for texture, this won’t be a problem.

Onion Granules vs. Onion Powder: Which is Better?

Whether you use onion granules or onion powder depends on how you want to utilize onions in terms of flavor and texture. For a blast of powerful flavor, onion powder is an excellent option.

It’s also what you’ll use to season food before eating it. Onion granules must be cooked since they are too coarse for most people to eat fresh.

Certain formulas are better suited to the strength and consistency of each element. We hope that this comparison helps you make the best eating selection possible.

Onion Powder: A Step-by-Step Guide

With fresh onions and a dehydrator, you can make your own onion powder that tastes great and is simple to use.

To remove dirt from your onions, wash them.

Remove the onions roots and peel the outer skin.

Thinly slice the onions to 14 to 18 inches in thickness.

Place your onion slices on dehydrator trays with plenty of space between them to enable proper airflow.

Dehydrate the onions at 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 hours to several days. Cook until crisp in a normal oven at 140 degrees Fahrenheit for a couple hours.

Check that the onions are thoroughly dry; they should snap rather than bend in half. If they don’t snap, keep dehydrating them.

Grind your onion powder and store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh.

What are Some General Usage of Onion Powder?

Onion powder may be used in any recipe that calls for fresh onions. It’s as easy as a half-cup of chopped fresh onion equaling one tablespoon of onion powder. Stir in the onion powder to cover the dish’s surface.

Soups and stews benefit greatly from onion powder. Pure onion powder imparts a strong onion flavor and aroma to anything from vegetable, meat, and bean soups to chili, beef stew, gumbo, and chowder.

Onion powder is a must-have flavoring for burgers, meatloaf, chili, skillet dinners, and other dishes. We prefer to use a teaspoon per pound of ground beef, but you may experiment!

Onion powder is an excellent choice for dry rubs. Pork ribs are seasoned with onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, thyme leaves, parsley flakes, red pepper, or cayenne pepper. Allow the ribs to soak in the taste for approximately an hour before roasting or grilling them.

Does Onion Powder Go Bad?

Onion powder is a dehydrated crushed onion that may be made from red, white, or yellow onions. The powder is flavorful because it includes salt and spice mixes.

Is it possible for onion powder to deteriorate? Onion powder does, in fact, have a shelf life. It is not like garlic powder, which may be kept forever if properly preserved. Onion powder can last 3 to 4 years if stored in an airtight container away from moisture and sunlight. If you make fresh onion powder at home, keep it in the refrigerator. Homemade onion powder has a shelf life of 6 to 8 months.

Bugs within the powder, moisture damage, a darker tint, and a loss of aroma and taste are all signs that it has gone bad.

What is the Shelf Life of Onion Powder?

If you like onions, you’ll love the fact that onion powder has a long shelf life. If kept in an airtight container, onion powder may easily last 3 to 4 years. Onion powder may be eaten even after the sixth year.

So, if you’re putting up a long-term food preservation pack, onion powder is great since it lasts significantly longer than entire onions and tastes far better than onion oil.

What is the Shelf Life of Homemade Onion Powder?

All freshly generated onion powder has double the intensity of manufactured onion powder and does not have the same shelf life. However, it will endure long enough to justify your efforts and onion powdering.

In an airtight container, homemade onion powder can keep 6 to 8 months or even a year. However, you may not be required to retain it for that long. Because powdering a single onion yields a little quantity of onion powder, if you cook regularly, it will be gone by the end of the month.

How to Keep Onion Powder Safe?

Garlic powder and onion powder may be kept together. It is recommended to store it in a plastic or glass container in a cabinet or pantry away from excessive temperatures. In addition, it should be kept out of direct sunlight. The sun bleaches and destroys whatever it shines on. When onion powder is exposed to direct sunshine, it deteriorates.

If the onion powder comes in a little baggie with no closure, place it in a small Ziplock bag to keep the air out. If you leave the onion powder in the little bag with the massive hole open, it will be exposed to the air and the many bugs that will want to crawl inside and lay their eggs.

You may also keep the onion powder in the bag in the refrigerator. You may alternatively tape the hole shut and keep the onion powder bag in the spice cabinet with the rest of the spices.

Making your own onion powder is excellent since the taste is twice as strong. However, you must store it correctly since it does not last as long as a shop powder. Unlike store-bought onion powder, homemade onion powder must be refrigerated. If there is insufficient space in the refrigerator, it might be put someplace cooler than the rest of the kitchen. In frigid conditions, the homemade onion powder will not cake.

If you have an excess of onion powder, whether store-bought or homemade, you may freeze it.

What Causes Onion Powder to Consolidate?

The most prevalent cause of onion powder hardening is moisture absorption. As previously indicated, onion powders are dried, which eliminates around 96% of the water. As a consequence, when the powder absorbs moisture or water, it hardens.

When seasoning a food, we have a habit of shaking the container over the hot pot. when a consequence, the powder clumps when water vapor from the pot enters the container.

The humidity level in your location is another element that leads to onion powder hardening. If you live in a humid climate, leaving your spices out at room temperature increases the chances of their hardening.

Some onion powder products harden faster than others, and some kinds clump more often as a result of additional components and various expiry dates.

What are the Options for Resolving the Hardness Issue of Onion Powder?

So, now that you’ve got a jar full of hard onion powder, you’re probably wondering whether you can loosen or soften it. Thankfully, it is! We’ve put up three choices for you to consider. Select the one that is most convenient for you.

Use a blender or a food processor to make the sauce.

If the powder is too thick, use your fingers to break it up into tiny enough pieces to fit in your blender or food processor, then pulse until it becomes powder again. A funnel may be used to restrict the mixture from flying about the room if it is less lumpy.

The powder should be strained.

To break up the lumps in your powder, use a microblade or even a sieve. Begin by breaking up big solid clumps with a spoon to make straining simpler. Then, using a spoon, gently massage the lump on the strainer mesh. Keep the powder in an airtight, dry container.

Conclusion

Onion powder is a popular spice all around the globe. Onions are employed in almost every civilisation and cuisine throughout the globe. Unlike garlic powder, onion powder has a shelf life. Never leave a little bag of garlic powder alone. Tape the hole shut, place it in a Ziplock bag, or put it in the fridge. Onion powder may be stored in a food storage for two to three years. Keep onion powder in an airtight container alongside your other spices. You might enjoy Spring Onion Substitute