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Learn how to make onion powder to preserve this delicious pantry staple! Homemade onion powder is an incredible zero-waste addition to your spice cabinet.

a small mason jar with onion powder.
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Homemade onion powder is pure magic that can be added to lots of dishes as a delicious flavor booster.

Made with dried/dehydrated onions, this is an additive-free, zero-waste kitchen hack from which dreams are made. It’s so simple to do yourself, and it tastes so much better than store-bought options.

And if you’re pressed for time, check out how to freeze onions for a speedy way to preserve this tasty ingredient.

CAN Onion POWDER BE MADE AT HOME?

Yes, and it’s so very easy to make. You basically start by dehydrating onions and then putting them in a high-powered blender or food processor. A lower-cost option would be to use a spice/coffee grinder (used only for grinding spices) or a mortar and pestle.

If your blender doesn’t have a lot of power, it’s ok, you can still make your own onion powder! You’ll just need to process the dehydrated onion longer, taking breaks to scrape down the sides of the blender and allow the powder to cool down.

This process is really similar to making homemade garlic powder.

a before and after photo of onions on round dehydrator trays
2 photos showing the process of making onion powder in a blender.

HOW TO MAKE Onion SALT

Combine three parts salt to one part onion powder. You can use kosher salt, sea salt, or table salt. When choosing which salt to use, consider how you use onion salt in your cooking.

For me, using fine sea salt gives me more flexibility in recipes.

PRO TIPS/RECIPE NOTES

  • Avoid the temptation to increase the heat on the dehydrator or oven to speed up the process. Low and slow wins in the race on this one.
  • Make sure the powder is fully cooled before putting it into an air-tight container to prevent mold. As long as it is stored in a cool and dry place, your homemade onion powder will be good for years.
  • Add 1/4 tsp of uncooked white rice to your storage containers. This will help absorb excess moisture and keep the onion powder from clumping together.
  • As long as it is stored in a cool and dry place, your homemade onion powder will be good for years.
fresh onions on a board with a small dish of powdered onion.

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5 from 2 ratings

How to Make Onion Powder

Servings: 20
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 6 hours
Total: 6 hours 20 minutes
a small mason jar with onion powder.
Learn how to make onion powder to preserve this delicious pantry staple! Homemade onion powder is an incredible zero-waste addition to your spice cabinet.

Ingredients 

  • onions

Instructions 

Dehydrating Onions

  • Remove the tops and skins.
  • Cut in half and then make slices ~3/8 inches thick.
  • Arrange the slices on your dehydrator so that there is space around each slice, and the slices are not touching.
  • Set your dehydrator to the "fruit/vegetables" setting (or 135˚F degrees).
  • Rotate trays every few hours.
  • Onions are ready when pieces of them break or snap instead of bend. If your pieces are thinner, they will feel papery when ready. (6-12 hours depending on conditions)

Making Onion Powder

  • Add dehydrated onion to a high-powered blender or food processor or spice grinder and process until the dried onion is a fine powder.
  • The length of time this part of the process takes will depend on the blending/grinding equipment you use. You may need to sift the powder a few times.

How to Store Onion Powder

  • Make sure the powder is fully cooled before putting it into an air-tight container to prevent mold.
  • (optional) Add 1/4 tsp of uncooked white rice to your storage containers. This will help absorb excess moisture and keep the onion powder from clumping together.

Notes

  1. As long as it is stored in a cool and dry place, your homemade onion powder will be good for years.
  2. If you make more onion powder than you anticipate using in a year, consider freezing the extra to preserve the freshness.
  3. If your blender doesn’t have a lot of power, it’s ok! You’ll just need to process the dehydrated onion longer, taking breaks to scrape down the sides of the blender and to allow the onion powder to cool down.
Oven-Drying Instructions: 
  1. Follow the cutting instructions above and then place onion slices on baking drying racks set on baking sheets.
  2. Place in the oven at the lowest temperature possible (usually 140-170˚F degrees) and prop open the door with the handle of a wooden spoon. This allows condensation to escape instead of just settling back onto the onions.
  3. Bake for 5-8 hours.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tspCalories: 9kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: How To
Cuisine: American
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About Sarah Cook

I'm here to help you make easy, seasonal, and no-fuss recipes for yourself and your family.

Whether it's a quick one-pot dinner or if I am teaching you how to can and preserve local produce, you can consider me your elder millennial grandma

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4 Comments

    1. Do you mean store bought dried onion? Yes, you absolutely could!

      My recipe starts with minced/diced onion that I dried myself, but I don’t see why store bought wouldn’t work.