Have you ever wanted to dehydrate onions for food storage and didn’t know how to start. Dry them and you can grind them into powder for cooking. Or even save them and store them whole, and break up for soups or salads. I think there is a lot you can do with dehydrating onions for storage.
I started to think about it mainly cause I had received alot of fresh onions during the summer. Now, there is only so much a person or family can eat before they go bad. If you store in the fridge, peel them and they will last about 2 weeks. And if you chop them then they last around a week up to 10 days. Or even store in the freezer for 3 months, dicing them up too.
Now I was thinking of something that would not take up space in my freezer, mainly cause I have too much meat in there already. So that was when I wanted to find out more about how to dehydrate onions for food storage. I have heard it is a strong smell and you will want to do this outside. Because your house will smell like onions and really strong smell. Making your eyes tear and you will not want to be inside your house when you do this. This I understand from others that have dehydrated onions before.
Cause if you think about how you feel and your eyes feel when you slice them. Imagine a whole bunch of onions out on your counter. Can you feel your eyes already watering?? I know, I can. So imagine for you would feel when they are slow cooking in the dehydrator. So I do again, recommend dehydrating onions outside.
Would You Like homemade Onion Powder?
You can have this after you are done dehydrating your onions. Just need to be put into a coffee grinder or a blender to grind up the dried onions. But I would have a coffee grinder you do not use for coffee, cause your coffee will now taste like onions now. So you need to buy a new or second-hand grinder to grind up things from your dehydrator. Especially if you plan to always do this.
I have not tried it myself yet. As I normally buy my onion powder from a store. But what would fresh dried onions dehydrated by you, taste like?? Knowing you had done this all yourself. Sounds like they would taste fabulous! When dehydrating onions for food storage don’t forget to make some powder out of it too. Or even make some onion salt too, if you use it in your cooking. It may be something that you will want to try.
Other Things You Can Make Into A Powder
How about celery, have you thought of drying fresh celery? I know I have not. But if you cook with it, then why not. How about dried zucchini, if you grind this into a powder you can add this to soup and sauces. You know have you also canned vegetables, like tomatoes? You know that when you do this, you have some waste from doing that. You do take the skins off the tomatoes when you can. Sometimes you even may take the seeds out of the tomatoes also. Now, you know you can even make some tomato powder. With your leftover tomato skins from your canning tomatoes.
What about drying garlic?? I am thinking about doing this. But again, this is a strong smell to have to endure in your home. So you will want to do this outside, just as you do with onions. But you can also grind this up and make it into powder. Oh and maybe even make some garlic salt, I am unsure what you would mix it with. Some do Himalayan salt, so that is an option.
When I thought about how to dehydrate onions for food storage made me think about onion powder. Depending if you use this or not, you may want to try it.
Winter Food Storage
When you are thinking about your food storage for winter, I know I stocked up on canned tomatoes and fruit. I also, canned some beans, corn and pickled beets. When I thought about my tomatoes, I had to start to think about soup, and that is when I remembered. Its cold in the winter and I would not be going to the store that often. So that is when I thought of making my own onion powder and garlic salt.
Dehydrate onions for food storage is a great idea. Seems like a person cannot ever have enough onions. And if you get them at a great price why not dehydrate them. They will last longer and you will always have them on hand.
I have also started to collect my beans and other frozen veggies for soup and sauces. I have also dehydrated lots of things for my soups so I would not have to leave my house during the cold winter. Since I needed stuff for soups I also stocked up on meats too.
Stocking up on Fruit
I have also dried alot of fruit- apples, plums, apricots. I have canned alot also. So much plums and applesauce (for pancakes) and I used to can peaches too. But I found I do not eat them that much, I rather have applesauce. I also have a bunch of frozen fruit for cakes and snack, and for smoothies in the winter. Good ways to get your nutrition during the winter. Also stay inside and stay warm if you stock up now!!! Then you will have nothing to really do during the winter months.
In the long run thinking ahead is great. Build up your food storage when you can.
Make Fruit Syrup During Winter
Fruit syrup is something that needs to be slow cooked. This is why I like to do this in the winter, cause the heat from the stove will warm up my house. And I have more time to do this now also, and will love the process. I know I have given this alot of thought. As I work from home and love it. I am mostly busy in the summer months, because my kids are home for vacation. I also need to work during this time. So I try to make the most of my time and I get my fruit and veggies from a place that sells these. My time is better spent working than working in my own garden. So I find buying it is less stress for me.