How to make good quality onion powder at home?

I chopped some onion and put it in an old gas oven. It had 3 issues:

Some pieces or parts of pieces are burned while other pieces are still not dehydrated.
It sticks with the bottom of the aluminum plate.
It has a bitter taste.

How can I solve the 3 issues to produce high quality onion powder at home?

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Best Answer

It's likely that your oven, even on the coolest setting, is too hot. That's why the onion burnt, and the bitterness comes from the burnt bits.

I occasionally use my electric oven for dehydrating fruit and veg but mine goes down to 50°C. I tend to preheat it to about 100°C and turn it down when the food had been in for a few minutes, at which point I open the door as well.

A gas oven has another problem - burning gas produces water vapour, which makes drying harder even with ventilation (you really do need the door ajar to let the steam out). Drying on a rack (borrowed from a grill pan, or a cake cooling rack) makes a huge difference.

I also have a dehydrator, but it's not all that much better than the oven for a small batch in winter, so I leave it stored away except when I've got a lot to dry. It wins on capacity and the fact I can run it outside - worthwhile for chillies and presumably onions.

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How can I make onion powder at home?

Spread the onion pieces out on a tray and heat them in a 150-degree oven or place in a food dehydrator until dry. You'll know the onions are done when you can easily crumble the chopped pieces in your hand. Allow the dried onions to cool before grinding into powder.

What are the ingredients in onion powder?

Contemporary versions typically utilize dried granulated onion and salt, and usually include an anticaking agent. The salt may serve to prevent the loss of onion flavor in the mixture, by preventing the evaporation of onion oil.

How long does homemade onion powder last?

It will last in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator, and I will give you some uses for onion juice right before the recipe card below.

How is onion powder made in factory?

Onion powder is made by dehydrating onions and grinding them down to a fine powder. It is a common seasoning and a component of spice mix. Onion powder replaces the taste of onions when used in recipes. The powder can be combined with other herbs and spices to create rubs, spice mixes, drinks and dressings.

Better Than Store-Bought Homemade Onion Powder (With Dehydrator)

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