Did you try growing onions and they never quite grew in size? All is not lost.
It hasn't been an eventful year for onions. When I saw they had grown to be as big as a golf-ball rather than a softball, I didn't have the heart to throw them out. I got to thinking, how can I take this failure and make it into something amazing.
Here I'll show you three ways to use your small onions and salvage all your efforts.
Turn them into Onion Powder
Typically two large onions are more than enough to fill up your cup. In this case, use as many golf-ball size onions as you desire.
PREPARATION
Peel onions and chop them up finely.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Spread onions out on a tray and heat them at 37°C (100°F) in a food dehydrator for 36-48 hours or if your oven allows until dry. You'll know they're done when you can crumble it in your hands.
2. Allow the dried onions too cool, once cooled use a coffee grinder or food processor. Grind until it reaches desired consistency.
Coffee grinders are great and effective but grinding spices can leave the grinder smelling quite pungent. Luckily they aren't that expensive like most small kitchen appliances.
PROTIP: I would advise having an extra grinder just for spices so that your coffee beans don't smell, well, like onions.
STORAGE
As with anything, you never want to make too much of something. Finding a decent size jar can be tricky. No worries, I found the perfect ones: Decorative Mason Jar 250 ml Wide Mouth
Make sure once you seal the powder in their jars, write down what spices they are and the date.
I love using paint markers, as they are fun and easy to use. You can find them at Michael's.
Something less costly, tape and a permanent marker work just as well.
PROTIP: shake your spices once a day for the first couple days. This makes sure that any leftover moisture disappears so you don't end up with a lumpy product.
SHELF LIFE
Store bought onion powder - properly stored - will generally last up to 3 to 4 years. They have industrialized machines that dry out the products perfectly. However, your homemade onion powder won't last quite as long. Depending on how well you've dried it, expect it to last up to a year.
Store in a dry, cool place in an air tight container.
Turn them in to Dried Minced Onions
PREPARATION
Peel onions and mince onion with a mandoline, grater, or your amazing knife skills (bravo to you if you can).
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Spread onions out on a tray, avoid as many clumps as you can. You want it to dry as evenly as possible.
2. Heat them in a 37°C (100°F) food dehydrator for 36-48 hours or if your oven allows it, until dry. You'll know they're done when you can crumble it in your hands.
3. Once dried, let them cool before place in a container.
STORAGE
I use the Decorative Mason Jar 250 ml Wide Mouth
Make sure once you seal the minced onions in their jars, write down what spices they are and the date.
I love using paint markers, as they are fun and easy to use. You can find them at Michael's.
Something less costly, tape and a permanent marker work just as well.
SHELF LIFE
Depending on how well you've dried it, expect it to last up to 6 months.
Store in a dry, cool place in an air tight container.
Quick Pickle Onions
This is one way to make the most out some small onions.
PREPARATION
Peel onions and slice the onions very thinly with a mandolin or your amazing knife skills. The thinner the slice the better they soften up and absorb the vinegar quickly.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Boil 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp of sugar or maple syrup, 1 1/2 tsp kosher sale.
2. Pour liquid over the onions, let it cool for an hour before putting it in the fridge.
STORAGE & SELF LIFE
Store them in a Regular 500 ml Bernardin Jar
These pickles will last up to a week in the fridge.
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