17 Unusual Onion Powder Substitutes You Should Be Aware Of Right Now

Onion powder is a flavor bomb made by dehydrating fresh onion bulbs. This powder may be used in a number of savory meals that call for the sweet and savory aromatic depth of onion, particularly those that do not call for the presence of wet onion.

Isn’t this powder fantastic? Imagine incorporating the flavor and scent of onions into your recipe without having to shed unneeded tears when chopping them!

But what if you run out of onion powder in the midst of a heated cooking session and, unfortunately, you can’t buy your grocery ahead of time? Here are some options to consider!

1. Onion Flakes, Dried
2. Onion, finely chopped or grated
3. Onion Seasoning
4. Salt with Garlic
5. Onion Puree
6. Shallots
7. Garlic Paste
8. Scallions
9. Leeks

If you are very desperate and are unable to locate the alternatives listed above, continue reading as we present a thorough list of the top Onion Powder Substitutes.

But first, they learn more about this well-known taste bomb.

17 Best Substitute For Onion Powder

Since that a single bulb of the aforementioned allium can only generate so much powder, Onion Powder has an extremely concentrated flavor.

After being dehydrated, the onions are crushed into a fine powder, which concentrates their taste. Dehydration, freeze-drying, vacuum-shelf drying, and flow drying are all methods used to make commercial onion powders. [Source]

In terms of flavor, dried onion flakes are the greatest onion powder alternative.

Fortunately, there are other chemicals that you can use if you run out of these flavor bombs!

With that said, you can’t just replace onion powder at random, so here’s a list of terrific substitutes that don’t deviate too far from your missing flavor.

Dried Onion Flakes

 

Dried onion flakes are the closest substitute for your missing spice. This option, like onion powder, is created from dried onion but in bigger particle sizes. The taste is comparable to that of the powder, but the flakes are more drier in terms of moisture.

There are two possibilities for using this in lieu of onion powder.

For starters, you may utilize it as is. This is much simpler, but you risk not having an exact estimate of the ratio. Dishes that demand moisture will be drier than their counterparts.

If you use this approach, use a full tablespoon of flakes for every teaspoon of powder.

Two, you can use a grinder or a blender to finely ground the condiments to produce a product that resembles onion powder.

While using this approach, the use ratio is 1:1, which means that a tablespoon of onion powder requires a tablespoon of flakes as well.

Grated Onion

Fresh onion in place of powdered allium? You may, of course, utilize it!

Nevertheless, just because onion powder is made from onion does not indicate that you can readily substitute the latter.

Because of the additional moisture, using this as a substitute may give your food an altogether new texture or flavor. That being said, you may easily prevent this by paying attention to how much water or other liquid you add to your food.

Since they are produced entirely of onion flesh, grated onions may have a more strong taste and a more distinct pungent scent. In contrast, onion powder is often prepared from different components of the onion, such as the stem and peel.

Onion Salt

 

Onion salt is a blend of onion powder and granulated salt that is one of the greatest onion powder replacements! This flavor complements dipping sauces, soups, marinades, and roasted meats.

Even better, this flavor is fairly common and can be bought in the spice area of your favorite retailers!

Since this option includes salt, using additional salt sources indiscriminately will ruin the flavor of your cuisine.

If you opt to use onion salt, you will need to change the other salty component in your recipe. You may wish to add this or other salt sources a little at a time while tasting it to get a better sense of the right ratio.

Garlic Salt

Garlic salt, like the preceding option, is a combination of granulated salt and fine garlic powder. It works well in dipping sauces, soups, marinades, stocks, and roasted meats. This condiment, like onion salt, is widely available at your favorite retailers.

Garlic salt is a fantastic replacement for onion powder since it has the same texture but a slightly different flavor.

Unfortunately, this product includes more salt than the former, and its garlic flavor may not be strong enough to compensate for the lack of onion flavor.

Since almost two-thirds of this flavour is pure salt, you’ll want to keep an eye on other salt levels and even the garlic salt itself, particularly if you’re watching your sodium consumption.

Taste your food as you add this to confirm that you have used the correct ratio.

Onion Paste

Onion paste is a sauce thickener derived from pureed fresh onions. This option, like chopped and shredded onions, adds moisture and a distinct texture to your recipes when compared to onion powder.

This is a superior technique to compensate your missing spice than slicing or cutting onion since it can be readily preserved.

To make onion paste, take any leftover onions in your fridge and cut them as finely as possible. Place the chopped onions in a blender and mix until they form a fine paste.

You may store and split the produce using your extra ice cube pans. Place the paste in the freezer, but cover it with food-grade plastic wrap to prevent the strong oniony odour from leaking into your fridge.

This will ensure that you can utilize this option for an extended period of time. Thaw your onion paste cubes before using them, and you may now use 2-3 teaspoons for a teaspoon of onion powder.

Shallots

The look of a shallot bulb may be readily confused with that of white onions. Its strong resemblance speaks a lot about the former’s capacity to substitute onion powder.

Several people say that shallots taste like onions.

While the two alliums appear and taste quite similar, shallots lack the bite that onions often have. Shallot has a milder flavor, yet it is a flexible culinary flavour since it includes elements of both garlic and onion.

The shallot’s lack of a kick is a major disadvantage, but its health advantages speak for themselves.

This healthy alternative provides minerals and vitamins that are necessary for a healthy living. If you’re replacing onion powder with this, use two chopped shallot bulbs for every tablespoon of flavor you’re missing.

Garlic Powder

 

Garlic powder may not taste exactly like onion, but it has a pungency that gives your cuisine an oniony undertone.

Of course, when you use it, your dish will taste more garlicky. This spice is thus better suited to folks who appreciate this taste profile.

To replace the onion powder, add half a teaspoon of garlic powder for every teaspoon of missing flavour.

Scallions

Scallions are related to onions but do not need bulbs to mature before harvesting. It features a long green stalk with a white bulb-like bottom that is ideal for soups or as a garnish for various foods.

Scallions, a common ingredient in Asian cuisine, may simply be substituted for onion powder. It also has certain health advantages that conventional onion powder does not have.

But, keep in mind that scallions have a milder and sweeter flavor than onions, so you’ll need to use more of them to fulfill the onion powder needs of your recipe.

Additionally, scallions are perishable ingredients that can only be stored for a few days.

To match the appropriate quantity of onion powder in your meal, use about three times the required value.

Leeks

Leeks are a bigger variant of scallions that belong to the same allium family as onions.

Despite their apparent resemblance to scallions, leeks have a distinct flavor that is more akin to an onion. As a result, leeks are a superior substitution for the prior item.

Leeks are an excellent source of many vitamins, including A and C, as well as a variety of minerals. If you’re looking for superb onion powder substitutes primarily for nutritional reasons, this is a terrific option.

Use a cup of chopped leeks in lieu of a teaspoon of onion powder for the best results.

Fennel Bulbs

Fennel bulbs are not what you would expect to be a good onion powder substitute since their texture is nothing like onion powder. As a result, their taste in your cuisine may change greatly.

Fennel bulbs, on the other hand, are a fantastic substitute for onion powder since they have the same scent, taste, and bittersweetness.

Additionally, fennel bulbs may give considerable health advantages, making them a great replacement for your missing ingredient in your recipes.

When eaten raw, fennel is highly crispy. If that’s not your thing, you may use it to season meat and vegetables, as well as to make soups and stews silkier and softer.

Celery

Celery has recently become a popular alternative for onion in various cuisines. While celery is becoming more popular, it may not be the ideal option; thus, use it only if necessary.

Celery may be used as an aromatic in your recipe, but it tastes harsh when cooked. Likewise, since celery contains primarily water, decrease the extra liquid by a modest amount.

Fresh Garlic

If you like the flavor of onion powder, you may use fresh garlic instead.

It is also a member of the allium family, which explains why it has the same pungency as onion powder. Furthermore, garlic lacks the extra moisture present in fresh onions, which alters the texture of food when added.

Since fresh garlic has a stronger taste than onion powder, you may wish to use a 1:2 ratio of the two. Otherwise, garlic may overshadow the entire flavor of the food.

Celery Salt

 

If you have celery salt on hand, you may use it in place of the onion powder. As with onion salt and garlic salt, you may use onion powder for celery salt in a 1:1 ratio. But, be sure that any other sources of salt in your foods are reduced.

Celery salts, like celery, have little relation to onion powder in flavor. Yet, if you want the richness of taste that onions bring, celery salt will not disappoint.

Celery Seed

Celery seeds, like onion powder, do not have the same flavor as onion powder but are nonetheless a good substitute in a hurry.

Celery seeds are best utilized in meals that need sautéing and cooking since their flavor develops the most under such conditions.

Celery seeds have a crisper texture and an earthy bitter flavor, so use them wisely.

Other Potential Alternatives

Using these substitutes merely implies you don’t have the following components in your cupboard.

If all else fails, you may try goods like onion soup mix. Oil infused with shallots, black garlic powder, and other ingredients with a similar flavor.

Utilizing these goods would need some ingenuity, so the ratio would ultimately be determined by you.

How To Choose Your Onion Powder Alternative?

Availability

While deciding on alternatives, the first thing to evaluate is if they are widely available or accessible. Onion powder is commonly found in the spice aisles, thus it is seldom unavailable.

If you use an option that will be more difficult to find, it may not be a worthwhile attempt. Garlic powder, onion salt, and garlic salt are often the most commonly accessible options.

Health benefits

Fresh alternatives will always provide higher health advantages than dry alternatives. If you are health-conscious, consider alternatives such as leeks and onions before the other options.

Taste

The primary function of onion powder in cuisine is to provide flavor, pungency, and bite. Utilizing other options would generally result in one of these items being missing.

Therefore, think about it: what is the second-best alternative for your tastebuds if onion powder is unavailable?

Existing Health-conditions

Health issues such as allergies and other chronic disorders may influence your choice to choose the best alternative. For example, if your health requires you to consume less sodium, you may want to leave out both garlic salt and onion salt from your list.