Among the various spices and seasoning Dehydrated Onion has its own importance due to its special characteristics. Pungency is one of the most special characteristic of onion. Onion can be the part of the major of the recipes from all over the globe. There are little variation in the taste and flavor and pungency depending upon the type of onion and geographical area where the onions are grown.
Fresh onions are being used in kitchen silence long years ago, however now a day’s dehydrated onions are used as a substitute of fresh onion because of its comfort to use and store. The fresh onion can be dehydrated without losing its nutrition value and natural taste and flavor. Dehydrated onions are high in food energy, and are rich in calcium, and protein. Due to the increasing needs of convenient snacking and food and new varieties of the cosmopolitan fast foods the needs of dehydrated onion is growing faster. Dehydrated onion has long self life which is one another advantage of dehydrated onion over fresh raw onion.
Dehydrated Onion Products:
Dehydrated onion products can be categorized on the basis of its size and texture which is suitable for the specific use while adding it in to the specific recipes. It can be in the form of onion kibbled also called onion flakes, onion chopped, onion minced, onion granules, onion powder.
Onion Kibbled (Onion Flakes) :
Onion Kibbled which are also known as onion flakes are largest in the size in all of the dehydrated onion products. The size of the onion kibbled / onion Flakes depends upon the size of the raw onion bulb, bigger the onion bulb naturally the slices of the onion are bigger and accordingly the after the dehydration process the onion kibble are produced in size. Usually size of onion kibbled is between 10 mm to 30 mm.
Most common use of Onion kibbled are in salads, varied food preparations wherever along with onion flavor & taste, onion’s appearance & texture is desired.
Onion Chopped:
Dehydrated Onion chopped is produced from the onion flakes. Onions chopped are small in size than onion flakes and bigger than onion minced. Regular size of onion chopped is 3 mm to 5 mm.
Most common use of onion chopped are in ethnic food preparation, dry casserole mixes, dry soups, mixes, canned/dried/frozen vegetable mixes, and stuffing mixes. Onions chopped are widely used in food service & fast food and particularly when medium large onion pieces are desired.
Onion Minced
Dehydrated Onion minced are smaller than onion chopped and bigger than onion granules. Usually the size of onion minced is 1.00 mm to 3.00 mm.
Onion minced are widely used in the food preparations like sauces and soups, canned food, frozen food, and other dried food where the desired texture, flavor and taste is required. Dehydrated Onion minced are also used in salad dressing, meat product ect.
Onion Granules:
Onion granules also termed as granulated garlic which is smaller in particles in the form of small granules. Onion granules are smaller in size than onion minced and bigger particles than garlic powder. The most regular size of onion granules is between 0.1 mm – 0.5 mm and 0.5 mm – 1.0 mm.
Onion granules are used in so many food preparations where the granule texture is required where the onion granules can be easily mixed with other content. Onion granules are used in gravies, cheese, crackers, seasoning and salad dressing.Vegetables & Meat preparations.
Onion Powder:
Onion powder is the smallest and finest form of dehydrated onion products and its size is described in the unit of Mesh size. Regular mesh size of onion powder is 100 Mesh, 120 Mesh. As onion powder is in free flowing powder form it easily mixes with the other ingredients and content of the recipes.Onion powder is most commonly used in food preparation where the strong onion flavor and taste is desired like in soups, and sauces and other seasoning.