April 29, 2023

Onion Powder from waste

I hate waste of any kind and so make onion powder from the skins of onions and garlic, and the bits of onion that I had taken off when preparing onions to cook.   I dehydrate these (I used the sun but you can use a dehydrator or an oven), and then ground them.  I found a coffee grinder the best thing to do this as my food processor did not grind them small enough.

The bits just under the paper skin give the most taste but you have to make sure that they are fully dry and that they snap when broken before grinding.  I add this onion powder to soups, stews and baked goods to add extra taste, with out the need for more ingredients.  I love knowing that something that I would have previously thrown away is not adding taste to my food.   Every little saving helps.  Do you make anything from products that you used to throw away?

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8 Comments

  1. JC April 30, 2023 at 2:54 am - Reply

    I do this with bits and pieces saved from cleaning celery, dry it and grind it in a coffee grinder. Sometimes I put it with salt into an old celery salt container. I love celery salt but most of the stuff you buy is more salt than celery taste.
    I have also dried and ground tomato skins and puff ball mushrooms dried and then lightly toasted before grinding to a powder in the blender. Dried powdered mushrooms added to flour for dredging meat is wonderful.

    • ToniG April 30, 2023 at 2:53 pm - Reply

      Brilliant. I have done the tomato skins but not tried the celery salt or the mushrooms. Thanks for sharing

  2. Katie Naden May 3, 2023 at 8:50 pm - Reply

    Wow love this idea must try x

    • ToniG May 4, 2023 at 9:24 am - Reply

      I also do it with tomato skins x

  3. Sibylle December 17, 2023 at 3:21 pm - Reply

    Thanks for the tip!
    I haven’t used onion peels yet, but I have used the long flower stalks and flowers from onions from the garden. I also dry these and grind them into powder. The flowers have a very fine, slightly onion-like aroma.

    • ToniG December 18, 2023 at 8:43 am - Reply

      Good idea. I have used the ‘scapes’ (which we nip off so that the onions don’t flower), but not tried the flowers. We pickle wild garlic flowers and they are nice in salad.

  4. Angela Carmody June 2, 2024 at 7:35 pm - Reply

    I grow celery but dry the leaves like I do herbs and use in casseroles and risottos. Also I never used all of broccoli stalk but now it goes in soup. If I really don’t need it we put it in the compost bin so it isn’t wasted.

    • ToniG June 3, 2024 at 11:05 am - Reply

      Yes. I find the stalks of broccoli chopped small are good in stir fry and soups too. I never eat celery but it is a good idea drying the leaves. Thanks for sharing

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