Onion Powder Substitute: Ingredients You Did Not Know About!

Onion powder is a standard spice and flavor enhancer that may be found in most home spice racks and kitchens across the globe. Many types of cuisine may be enhanced by the addition of cubes to savory dishes. So, what do you do when you’re starting and need to cook? In a pinch, here is a list in which you can find any onion powder substitute!

Substitutes for Onion Powder

Onion powder is a powder made using dehydrated onion, which has been finely crushed. It often gives a stronger taste to a meal, but if it’s left out, it would be missed. For individuals who dislike fresh onions, it’s also an excellent option!

Here are some typical alternates that you may already have in your pantry or you can easily get them from supermarkets.

Onion flakes as onion powder substitute

Onion flakes are a wonderful substitute for powdered onion. These are simply kept in the flakes form after dehydrating the onions. It is completely up to you if you want to grind them using a pestle or a mortar or you want to keep them whole.

1 teaspoon onion powder can be replaced with 1 tablespoon each of salt and pepper.

Jarred Minced Onion

Jarred minced onion is a similar spice to onion flakes. Actually, minced onion is coarser than powdered onion because it is finely crushed dried onion. Add 1 tablespoon of the jarred minced onion for each teaspoon of onion powder.

Granulated Onion

Powdered and Granulated onion are virtually the same. The only distinction is that granulated onion is more finely ground as compared to the minced onion or onion flakes. Simply use twice as much!

Fresh onions

Fresh onion is made by removing the outer layer of an onion and then sieving it. Onions are a member of the allium family, which includes garlic, leeks, and shallots. Fresh onions have a more complex flavor than onion powder, therefore you’ll need considerably more to establish an equivalent substitute.

3 tablespoons fresh chopped onion 1 teaspoon onion powder equals 3 tablespoons of the freshly chopped onions. Fresh onions have a lot of water in them, so keep an eye on the other liquids ingredients in your dish well.

Onion salt 

Onion salt is a seasoning made from onion powder or granulated onion and salt. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a combination of powdered or granulated onion and salt.

It’s not a 1:1 replacement, but you’ll need to cut other salty components in the dish if you want the flavors to be well balanced.

Onion Paste

Onion paste may be used in a variety of recipes, including sauces and soups. Simply chop and blend your chosen amount of onion in a blender to create onion paste. You can keep the cubes frozen in an ice tray on hand for whenever you need them.

If you don’t have onion powder on hand, you can use a tablespoon of onion paste or more in its place.

Chopped Chives

Chopped chives are not a good option for dishes that need a dry spice combination, but they may be used to enhance the flavor of other foods. Replace the onion taste with a garnish if desired.

Scallions

Scallions and chives should be treated the same. They’re ideal for topping or finishing off a dish that requires onion powder. They provide wonderful taste but make sure to use them in a recipe that doesn’t require dry spices.

Shallots

Shallots, like onions and garlic, are also members of the onion family which adds wonderful onion flavor. In your favorite meals, use them in the same way as chives and scallions.

Leeks

Leeks are also members of the onion family. This tough, aromatic stalky plant is more difficult to break than chives, shallots, and scallions. They’re ideal for replacing onion powder in recipes that need to simmer or pan-fry them.

Chopped Celery or Fennel Bulb

Celery and fresh fennel bulb, while less powerful, can provide a comparable aromatic flavor to garlic, albeit much milder. If you’re making a soup or stew, reduce the number of other liquids by approximately half to make up for their high water content.

Celery Seed

Celery seed has a flavor that is somewhat similar to celery, but it does not add as much moisture as fresh celery. It’s a good 1 on 1 substitute or optional seasoning.

Garlic Powder

Garlic powder and onion powder are frequently used in tandem. Garlic powder has a strong distinct flavor as compared to onion powder. To modify, start with half the quantity of onion powder and work your way up to your liking.

Make Your Own

Did you know that you can produce your onion powder at home? It’s a simple procedure, but it does take some time. If you have an hour or so to kill, go for it.

Items you need

• Onions (as many as you like) 
• Dehydrator (not required) 
• Food processor, mortar and pestle, spice mill, and coffee grinder

Method 

Using a sharp knife, PEEL and CHOP your onions into little pieces. 

Place the chopped onions in a dehydrator to dry if you have one. Or else, spread the onion slices on a baking sheet and bake at 150 degrees for one hour. They’re done when completely dry and crumble easily when crushed.

In a food processor, coffee grinder, mortar or spice mill, and pestle, finely grind COOL then GRIND until fine. The most effective way to remove onion skins is in the slow-speed convection oven (coffee grinders work well, but be careful to utilize a different grinder than the one you use to brew coffee since the onions may leave a strong taste).

It’s best to store homemade onion powder in a sealed container.

How much onion powder is equal to one whole onion?

Here are a few easy equivalents to keep in mind:

• 1 teaspoon onion powder or 1 teaspoon dried onion flakes is equivalent to 1/3 cup chopped onion.
• 1 cup sliced onion (1 tablespoon onion powder or 3 teaspoons dried onion flakes)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons onion powder or 4 1/4 teaspoons dried onion flakes = 2 cups chopped onion