| If a recipe gives you the choice of using dehydrated | | | | onion flakes are crispy and hard, rather than soft like |
| onion or fresh, it is usually better to use the fresh | | | | fresh onions. Therefore, substituting dried onions for |
| onion because it has a better flavor. However, | | | | fresh ones can work well but it depends what kind |
| dehydrated onion is a handy alternative to fresh | | | | of recipe you are making. |
| onion because it keeps for so long. Dehydrated | | | | How to Dehydrate Your Own Onions |
| onions are onions, which have been chopped, and | | | | You can either buy dehydrated onions or make your |
| then had their water content removed. They are not | | | | own. Choose red, yellow, or white onions, depending |
| as pungent as fresh onions but they are convenient | | | | on the end flavor you want. If you want to make |
| and good if you are traveling or camping. | | | | your own, you will need a food dehydrator and two |
| To substitute dehydrated onions for fresh onions, | | | | pounds of onions. Peel the onions, and then wash |
| you need to know that one small fresh onion is equal | | | | them in warm water. Cut each one into quarter inch |
| to one tablespoon of dehydrated onion. If you are | | | | thick, half-inch wide squares and arrange them an |
| making a soup, sauce, stew, meatloaf, crockpot | | | | eighth of an inch apart in your food dehydrator. |
| recipe, or casserole, dehydrated onions will absorb | | | | Dehydrate the onions at 120 degrees F, or whichever |
| the moisture and taste good in the finished recipe, so | | | | temperature your food dehydrator instruction manual |
| it is worth keeping a package of dehydrated onions | | | | recommends, for about nine hours. To check the |
| on standby, in case you run out of fresh ones. | | | | onions are totally dry, take a piece out of the food |
| You can also rehydrate them in vermouth, sherry or | | | | dehydrator and hit it with a rubber mallet or hammer. |
| another liquid to give them an extra special flavor if | | | | If it shatters like glass, it is fully dehydrated. |
| you want to make impressive thanksgiving recipes | | | | Transfer the dehydrated onions to a Ziploc bag and |
| for example. Another handy tip is that you can find | | | | then put that bag in a paper bag. Cover that bag |
| some really excellent gourmet recipes if you do a | | | | with one more paper bag and use the mallet to |
| recipe search by ingredient. | | | | break the onion chunks into smaller pieces. You can |
| These dried onions are also great if you are making a | | | | make onion powder by grinding the flakes into a |
| meal in a hurry and you do not want the mess or | | | | powder with a blender or a food processor. Keep |
| the tears, which fresh onions can cause. If you are | | | | your onion flakes or powder in an airtight container or |
| making a dry recipe, rather than one with lots of | | | | in a Ziploc bag and add them to your favorite recipes. |
| liquid, it is better to use fresh onions because dried | | | | |