Make your own onion powder by baking finely chopped onions in the oven until they’re crisp, then grinding them into a smooth powder. You will fall in love with how much better better this tastes compared to store bought spices!
Homemade Onion Powder
Have lots of onions that you want to turn into oven powder, but looking for a oven drying method because you don’t have a food dehydrator? Well hi, this is the recipe you need!
Onions are simply chopped up, added to a baking sheet and baked until they are brittle. Then you throw them in a spice grinder and pulse until they turn into powder. It really is that easy!
Homemade onion powder tastes soooo much better than store bought (seriously, you can taste and smell the difference so much!). So if you have lots of onions (btw here’s how we store onions ) and looking for how to preserve them, make this onion powder!
Love making homemade spices in the oven? Check out my homemade garlic powder , tomato powder , Italian seasoning , dried basil , dried parsley , and dried oregano too!
How many onions do you need to make onion powder?
5 medium-sized onions will make about 1/2 cup onion powder, 10 onions will make about 1 cup of onion powder.
What kind of onions can I use?
You can use any kind of onion: white, yellow or red!
Depending on the type of onion you use the onion powder will look different than the white powder you are used to buying at the store. We used yellow onions which results in a richer color onion powder.
How long does onion powder take to make?
Onion powder takes 3-7 hours in the oven. The range in time depends on oven temperature, onion type and how small the onions are chopped up to begin with.
Onion to Onion Powder Conversion
One onion (or 1 cup onions) equals one tablespoon of onion powder. I add the onion powder into the recipe and then taste, adding more if I think it needs it.
How to Make Onion Powder in the Oven
Begin by preheating your oven to 170 degrees F. If your oven doesn’t go that low, temperatures between 150-190 degrees is ok. Just remember that the lower the temperature, the longer it will take, and vice versa.
Start by peeling the onions and finely chopping them. If you have sensitive eyes you might need to wear sunglasses while doing this (this is me – hahaha).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay down the diced onions, trying not to overlap.
Place the baking sheet with the onions in the oven and bake until they become crisp and can easily snap in half. If they remain soft and bendable instead of snapping, they need more time. Typically, onions require a few hours, ranging from 3 to 7 hours. Check them every hour, giving them a gentle stir until they reach the desired crispness.
Once the onions are done, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool.
Transfer the diced onions into a coffee or spice grinder . You may need to do this in batches depending on how many onions you used.
Grind the onions until you achieve a smooth powder. After grinding, it’s a good idea to sift the powder to remove any larger pieces that may not have fully ground.
Store your homemade onion powder in a jar, using it as needed in your recipes. Enjoy!
How to Store
Store onion powder in an airtight spice jar in a dark, cool cabinet. We use these spice jars that hold about 1/2 cup powder. Onion powder will stay fresh for 1 year if stored properly. Over time, its flavor and potency may gradually diminish, so it’s best to use it within this timeframe for the best results.
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Ingredients
- ▢ Onions as many as you have
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 170 degrees F. In case yours doesn’t go that low, I find that temperatures from 150-190 degrees F work well.
- Peel the onions and chop them up finely. 5 medium-sized onions will make about 1/2 cup onion powder, 10 onions will make about 1 cup of onion powder.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and then place diced onions on top, trying to prevent them from overlapping.
- Place onions in the oven and bake until they are crisp and can easily snap in half. If they are soft and bend (don’t snap), then they aren’t ready yet. In general, onions take a few hours, anywhere from 3-7 hours depending on oven temperature, onion type and how big the onion pieces are. Check them at every hour, giving them a stir until they are done.
- Remove onions from oven and allow to cool. Place the diced onion in a coffee or spice grinder. You might need to do this in batches depending on how many onions you have.
- Grind until you have a smooth powder. After I grind them, I like to sift to make sure to remove any larger pieces that didn’t grind up.
- Store onion powder in an airtight spice jar in a dark, cool cabinet. Onion powder will stay fresh for 1 year if stored properly. Use as needed and enjoy your homemade onion powder! One onion (or 1 cup of onions) equals one tablespoon of onion powder.
How to Make Onion Powder in the Oven
Ingredients
- Onions as many as you have
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 170 degrees F. In case yours doesn’t go that low, I find that temperatures from 150-190 degrees F work well.
- Peel the onions and chop them up finely. 5 medium-sized onions will make about 1/2 cup onion powder, 10 onions will make about 1 cup of onion powder.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and then place diced onions on top, trying to prevent them from overlapping.
- Place onions in the oven and bake until they are crisp and can easily snap in half. If they are soft and bend (don’t snap), then they aren’t ready yet. In general, onions take a few hours, anywhere from 3-7 hours depending on oven temperature, onion type and how big the onion pieces are. Check them at every hour, giving them a stir until they are done.
- Remove onions from oven and allow to cool. Place the diced onion in a coffee or spice grinder. You might need to do this in batches depending on how many onions you have.
- Grind until you have a smooth powder. After I grind them, I like to sift to make sure to remove any larger pieces that didn’t grind up.
- Store onion powder in an airtight spice jar in a dark, cool cabinet. Onion powder will stay fresh for 1 year if stored properly. Use as needed and enjoy your homemade onion powder! One onion (or 1 cup of onions) equals one tablespoon of onion powder.
Recipe Created by Pamela Reed for brooklynfarmgirl.com
