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Add a savory sweet complexity to burgers, steaks, pastas, soups, and more with this Homemade Caramelized Onion Powder!
Recently, I found myself in my local big-box grocery store in search of cinnamon sticks. I'm almost out of my Homemade Apple Cinnamon Extract and wanted to make more long before baking season begins. However, I was stuck on the spice aisle for several minutes looking at all of the different varieties of spices available. Many were your basics: basil, oregano, rosemary, garlic, and onion powder. But there were a couple of mixed blends that seemed appealing and interesting to me. I checked the ingredients list on the container and just as I've come to expect, the list included things that I don’t necessarily want to serve to my family.
Having my own garden, I have made my own seasoning blends before. But I was still thinking about that one blend with caramelized onions and butter. It just sounded so heavenly. Determined to come up with a cleaner, homemade version, to my kitchen I went!
The ingredients for this homemade recipe are super simple: onions, water, and salt. That’s it! There’s no need for all of that other junk.
How to Use Caramelized Onion Powder
Some of our favorite ways to use Caramelized Onion Powder is as a seasoning on grill favorites like Caramelized Onion Burgers, chicken, and steak. It can also be used as a soup mix and as a savory-sweet seasoning on homemade popcorn!
Equipment Recommended
I do recommend some specialty appliances just to make this incredibly easy, however, you can use your oven at its lowest temperature if needed. You'll need to watch the onions closely as they may easily burn.
Mortar and Pestle OR blender
What Onions to Use for Caramelizing?
Mild onions such as Vidalia, White, and Texas Sweet are high in natural sugars, making them ideal for caramelizing.
You’ll Need These Ingredients to Make Caramelized Onion Powder
5 pounds onions, diced
¼ cup water
¼ teaspoon salt
How to Make Caramelized Onion Powder
First, dice the onions into small pieces, approximately ¼ - ½ an inch. You can do this manually with a sharp knife or with a food processor.
Next, heat a large cast iron or stainless-steel skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of salt.
Allow the onions to cook for several minutes, stirring them around periodically.
The onions should have a dark golden-brown color when they're ready.
Remove the onions from the skillet and allow to cool completely.
Place the caramelized onions on dehydrator trays or freeze-dryer trays. Follow your appliance’s manufacturer's directions.
Once the onions are completely dried through your preferred preservation method, grind the onions into a powder.
Place the powder back into the dehydrator or freeze dryer until powder is completely dried.
Helpful Tips
Freeze dryers don't hold in the odor of onions like freeze dryers do. If using a dehydrator, you may want to move it to a covered outdoor space, such as deck or patio.
If you are using a dehydrator, this should take about 8-10 hours at a temperature of 152 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you're using a freeze-dryer, you can expect this to take approximately 16 hours.
If using a standard oven for drying, monitor the onions often! It is easy for the onions to burn quickly.
Crush the dried onions into a powder by using a mortar and pestle, a food processor, blender, or spice grinder.
Do not skip the step of placing the caramelized onion powder back into the dehydrator or freeze dryer! The friction created during the powdering process can create new moisture.
Be sure to check your onions once they have gone through your desired preservation method (both times). You want to ensure there is absolutely no moisture before storing in an airtight container or mylar bag!
If you enjoyed this Caramelized Onion Powder recipe, you may enjoy these other homemade favorites:
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