What can you substitute for onion powder?
What can I use instead of onion powder?
- Onion flakes (dried minced onion). The best onion powder substitute? Onion flakes!
- Garlic powder. Another onion powder substitute?
- Chopped chives (in special cases). This onion powder substitute doesn’t work in seasoning blends or recipes where you need a dry spice.
How much Onion powder substitute for 1 onion?
- One medium onion, which is 3 oz = 1 tablespoon of powder
- A small onion, which is about 1/2 ounce = 1 tablespoon of powder
- 1 teaspoon powder = 10 g
Can you substitute minced onion for onion powder?
You will see it labeled in the store as dried or dehydrated onions flakes or minced onion. You can use it as is or grind it up yourself to get onion powder. Use minced onion in a one-to-one ratio to substitute onion powder. 2. Fresh Onion Fresh onion is ideal if you are short on seasonings.
Can substitute onion salt for onion powder?
It is not quite as easy to use onion salt as a substitute for onion powder. The fact that it already has the salt blended in means that you cannot use it to increase the onion flavor in your dish without also increasing the amount of salt.
What can I use if I don't have onion powder?
If you're at the store and can find onion flakes, grab a package. To mimic the texture of onion powder, you can grind the flakes in a blender, with a mortar and pestle, roll them with a rolling pin. Use onion flakes as a 1:1 replacement for onion powder. This works for most uses of onion powder in recipes.
How do you make onion powder from fresh onions?
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.
Is onion powder made from real onions?
Onion powder, on the other hand, comes from onions that have been dried (either air-dried, dehydrated, or freeze-dried) and then crushed to varying degrees, from flakes to powder. No texture, no water, and a more concentrated oniony punch. And just like with fresh onions, the flavor of onion powder varies, too.
How much onion powder replaces an onion?
Large Onion: Produces about 1 1/2 cups of chopped onion. When substituting, use 1 1/2 tablespoons of onion powder or 4 1/2 tablespoons of dried onion flakes.
Does homemade onion powder taste better?
Making your own onion powder from scratch is so easy, and it tastes SO much better than store-bought, you just might never buy it again!
Can you dry onions in the microwave?
Cut the thick layer into thin strips. Put them on a kitchen paper towel. Put them in the microwave for twenty minutes at a very low temperature (30% power). After ten minutes, flip the layers.
Do chefs use onion powder?
And while plenty of home cooks still use it, within the realm of chefs, food writers, and other tastemakers, it is generally regarded as old school—not in an exciting or authentic way, but in a snickering, “Can you believe people used to cook with condensed mushroom soup?” way.
Is onion powder easier to digest?
“Most often the preservatives in powdered spices, like onion powder, make them harder to digest than those made from their naturally dried counterparts. Onions are a part of the allium family, which are quite common but some individuals have a sensitivity to them,” explains registered dietitian Trista Best.
What are ingredients in onion powder?
Onion powder is a seasoning made from dehydrated ground onions. This potent-smelling spice is most often used in dry rubs and in marinades to get concentrated onion flavor without the moisture and bulk of the onion bulb itself.
What is the correct substitution of 1 teaspoon onion powder?
If you don't have onion powder you can substitute per teaspoon needed: 1 tablespoon onion flakes. Simply grind the flakes in a mortar and pestle if it needs to be dissolved, for instance, for a sauce. If you're using it for a dish like meatloaf, then just use the whole flakes.
How do they make onion powder?
Making onion powder is a relatively straightforward process. Onions, which begin at approximately 89 percent water by weight, are first dried (either air-dried, dehydrated, or freeze-dried) and then crushed into flakes, cornmeal-textured granules, or a fine, downy powder.
How long does it take to dry onions in the oven?
If you want to use the oven, prepare your onions in the same fashion as described above. Next, spread them in a thin layer on a baking pan covered with parchment paper. Bake at 140°F until they are completely crunchy dry. It is suggested to stir and re-spread the onion bits every 30 minutes as you go.
How long does onion powder last?
Shelf Life Tips Properly stored, onion powder will generally stay at best quality for about 3 to 4 years. To maximize the shelf life of onion powder purchased in bulk, and to better retain flavor and potency, store in containers with tight-fitting lids.
How do you dry onion powder?
Drying the Onions To get the onion powder made, preheat the oven to 170°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread out the grated onion in a thin layer on the lined sheet. Bake for 5 hours, or until completely dry. Don't worry if they turn a pinkish color; that is normal!
1. Fresh Onion
The handiest and most obvious substitute for onion powder is using fresh onions. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when doing so. For one, fresh onions will add moisture to your dish, which onion powder will not do, so drying the onion out as much as possible before using is key.
2. Onion Flakes
Onion flakes are tiny flat scraps made from minced and dehydrated parts. Because the flakes are essentially dehydrated onions, similar to the way onion powder is made, it is the closest substitute you can use. Just like onion powder, flakes too have a more concentrated flavor, except they're larger in size and will therefore add more texture.
3. Onion Paste
Onion paste is a thick spread made by pureeing fresh onions. It can be super easy to make at home, and doing so is a great way to utilize those half-cut leftovers just sitting at the back of your fridge.
4. Onion Salt
As seen above, there are tons of onion-based substitutes for the powdered version, all with a similar flavor and pretty clean substitutions. Onion salt is another great one, as it's simply onion powder with the addition of salt. So, it's a no-brainer this could be a near perfect swap. Onion salt contains no fat, calories, or cholesterol.
5. Garlic Powder
Since garlic powder has a similar texture to onion powder, it makes another great substitute. However, A Couple Cooks cautions that garlic powder might provide a bit of a different taste in the final dish.
6. Garlic Salt
Just like the constitution of onion salt, garlic salt is a mixture of powder and salt. Since this ingredient also comes in a powder form, its texture is similar to that of onion powder except that the latter is a tad finer in grain size. Garlic salt makes for a great substitute alongside other seasonings in rubs.
7. Fennel Bulbs
Fennels bulbs may be far from what you'd think of when it comes to a worthwhile substitute — they nowhere near resemble the texture of onion powder. But fennel bulbs can, in fact, be used as a replacement. They're just as aromatic, flavorful, and bittersweet.
Onion to Onion Powder
A good rule of thumb when using onion powder is to treat it similarly to garlic powder. Both garlic and onion powders are used to season dishes such as hamburgers, meatballs or dry marinades for meat, fish or poultry, often in conjunction with other dried herbs or spices.
Onion Substitute Falls Short
There are other differences when attempting to substitute an onion to onion powder. Nutritionally, a raw onion comes out ahead. One large, raw onion, the USDA reports, contains 60 calories.
Uses for Organic Onion Powder
Onion powder can be used as a dry rub for different meats like pork, chicken, and beef. A dry rub is similar to a seasoning but is usually coarser. It is always a good idea to brush your meat with olive oil before adding any seasonings or rubs. Consider mixing onion powder with garlic powder for a tasty rub to use on your meat dishes.
Related Article and Product
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician's advice. Please consult with your health care professional before buying this product.
1. Onion flakes
When you need to substitute onion powder in salads, casseroles, and stir-fries, onion flakes should be your first choice.
2. Onion salt
Many people wonder if they can substitute onion powder for onion salt and the answer is: yes, you absolutely can! In fact, these two onion-derived products are almost interchangeable.
3. Jarred minced onion
Jarred minced onion is very similar to onion flakes because they’re both onions in dry form. However, while onion flakes are very small, minced onion could have different sizes, some meant to be a substitute for fresh chopped onion.
4. Fresh onion
When looking for a substitute for a dry, jarred, or however industrial product, swapping it with a fresh version is never a bad idea because fresh products are always the healthiest choice.
5. Onion paste
Onion paste is a flavoring and thickening sauce made with pureed fresh onion. If you happen to have leftovers onions in the fridge a little too often, this can be a great way not to waste food, and to make your life easier when cooking.
6. Garlic salt
Just like onion salt is a mixture of onion powder and salt, garlic salt is a mixture of garlic powder and salt used in casseroles, pasta, soups, dips, and stock.
7. Fennel bulbs
No onions? No problem! Fennel bulbs are an excellent substitute for onion powder, but they’re also a valid replacement for a large variety of vegetables because every part of this plant is edible and it can be cooked in many ways.
When to use an onion substitute
Fresh onion is 89% water, so as it cooks, the water is released, and depending on the recipe, it softens the onion into buttery, caramelized deliciousness, or you adjust how much liquid you add to a recipe, like for Wonton Soup .
Dried minced onion vs onion powder
Dried minced onion and onion powder aren’t the same thing — although they both started as fresh onion — and you have to know how much to use in place of fresh onion, or your finished meal will be overpowered by ONION.
Fresh onion substitutes
If you’re making a soup or stew and you realize last minute that you’re out of the fresh diced onion it calls for, you can make substitutes to still get that oniony flavor.
Dried onion substitutes
Dried onion comes in two forms — flakes and minced — though minced is the one you’ll see most often in the spice aisle. It’s made by dehydrating fresh chopped white onions. (Every now and then I see dried red onion in the store.)
Onion powder substitutes
Onion powder is basically dried onion that’s been ground. Although dried onion is just the onion flesh, onion powder can also include dehydrated onion skins and roots.
Green onion substitutes
Green onions add fresh hit of color and are typically added last minute to a dish so it retains the bright green and some crunch. The qualities of green onion are unique but you can make some subsitutes in a pinch.
How much onion substitute to use
Let’s first clarify how much a small, medium or large onion will yield. One of my pet peeves is seeing a recipe instruction that says “chop 1 small onion.” But just how big is “small?” And how much larger is considered “medium?” Most of the time, I just chop up a large onion and save what I don’t use.
Using Onion Powder or Flakes
You can substitute chopped onions with either onion powder or dried onion flakes using the following equivalences:
Effects of Substitutions
These substitutes will give you the onion flavor that you’re after. At the same time, they will change the texture of your recipe and may also affect how many servings the recipe produces because dried onions take up less space than chopped onions.
Onion Allergies
When cooking for someone who is allergic to onions, you'll obviously have to leave the onions out of the recipe. Consider replacing them with something that has similar bulk, such as chopped bell peppers, carrots, or celery.
Avoid Running out of Onions
Though they're most often kept fresh, chopped onions freeze well. Prep a bunch and tuck them in the freezer, so you can grab a handful whenever you need them. There's no need to thaw them first, either. Measure out as many as you need for your recipe, add them to your dish, and they'll thaw as they cook.
