How to Make Onion Powder

Name: How to Make Onion Powder
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 360 min
Total time: 380 min
Ingredients: onions

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.

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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 storebought options.

If you’re a huge onion fan (and who isn’t?), check out our posts on Instant Pot French Onion Soup, Gluten-Free French Fried Onions, and Instant Pot Caramelized Onions.

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.

How Do You Make Onion Powder?

*I’ll walk you through it here with some photos and tips, and you’ll also find a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post with exact measurements, etc. You can click “jump to recipe” to skip down.

To make your own onion powder, you’ll break down the process into three steps: chopping/cutting the onions, drying the onions, and grinding the onions into powder.

Step 1: Chopping/Cutting the Onions

Remove the tops and skins from the onions. Cut in half and then make slices ~3/8 inches thick. You can also grate the onion, use a mandoline, or use the pulse/chop function on a food processor.

Step 2: Drying the Onions

You have two great options to dry the onions – using the oven or a dehydrator.

Personally, I prefer to use the dehydrator because it uses less energy and requires less babysitting. I have owned this dehydrator for at least a dozen years, and it has held up beautifully.

Place onions on the dehydrator trays and set the machine to 135˚F. Rotate the trays every few hours if possible. Total drying time will take ~6-12 hours depending on the size of the pieces and how many trays you are drying at once.

If possible, move your dehydrator outside to a safe covered space. The smell of drying onion can be overwhelming to many people.

a before and after photo of onions on round dehydrator trays

To dehydrate onions in the oven, place onion slices on baking drying racks set on baking sheets. 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. Bake for 5-8 hours.

Regardless of the drying method you use, the onions are ready when pieces of them break or snap instead of bend. If your pieces are thinner, they will feel papery when ready.

Step 3: Making Onion Powder

Add the dehydrated onion pieces to a high-powered blender, food processor, spice grinder, or mortal and pestle, and process until the dried onion resembles a fine powder. You may need to sift it a few times depending on your machine.

2 photos showing the process of making onion powder in a blender.

HOW TO USE Onion POWDER

It’s great to use in dishes like our Ham and Cheese Pinwheels, Stuffing Biscuits, Air Fryer Steak Bites, Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip, Air Fryer Meatballs, Air Fryer Turkey Burgers, Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos, Gluten-Free Cheese Sauce, Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu, Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken, Air Fryer Potatoes, and Yogurt Ranch Dressing.

I also love to add it to my seafood seasoning, the best seasoning for burgers, and homemade Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type of Onion is Used For Onion Powder?

I prefer using yellow or white onions for making DIY onion powder. Sweet onions will also work, but the flavor profile isn’t always ideal in certain recipes.

While red/purple onions are extremely flavorful, the light pink hue of the dried onions may discolor some recipes.

How to Store Onion Powder

Transfer fully-cooled onion powder to air-tight containers, like spice tins/jars, or small mason jars.

I like to keep a small amount in a spice tin in my spice drawer, and then place the rest in the freezer.

How Long Will Onion Powder Last?

As long as it is stored in a cool and dry place, your homemade onion powder will be good for years.

What is the Conversion of Fresh Onions to Onion Powder?

Each medium onion will equal 1-2 cups of fresh chopped onion or 1-2 tablespoons of onion powder.

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.
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.