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Dried onions are a tasty and convenient alternative to fresh onions. Dehydrated onions perform very well as a substitute for fresh onions when cooked in recipes or used as a condiment. They are simple to rehydrate, and the ratio of how much dried onion to fresh onion is simple to determine. Rehydrating dried onions requires less time, effort and cleanup than peeling and chopping fresh onions. Dehydrated onions are always available when needed and do not sprout or rot while in storage.

Add an equal amount of warm tap water to an equal volume of dried onions; 1 cup of water to 1 cup of dried onions.

Allow the dried onion to sit for approximately 15 to 20 minutes to fully absorb the water.

Drain off excess moisture if the recipe doesn’t call for it. Meat loaf, guacamole or condiments for burgers and hot dogs are some of the dry menu items that do not tolerate the excess moisture from rehydration.

Use the excess moisture as an additional flavoring agent in moisture-rich recipes such as soups, sauces or stews.

Tip

Use the excess water after the onions have dehydrated to return the nutritional value to that of fresh onions. Rehydrate dried onions when used in stews, soups or casseroles without first soaking them in water. The moisture in the dish rehydrates the dried onion. Keep dried onion in the cupboard as an alternative or last-minute substitute for fresh onion.

Warning

Dried onions are minced and smaller than regular chopped onions. Do not add more than what is recommended as a substitute for fresh onions.