How to prepare dried onions in different ways and where to use them
Onions are a vitamin-packed and popular vegetable with medicinal properties. The champions in eating hot fruits are the residents of Libya and Senegal. Citizens of these African countries eat more than 30 kg of onions per person per year. In Russia, these indicators are much more modest, but onions in one form or another are grown in almost every garden.
Unfortunately, turnips are difficult to store fresh. Violation of storage conditions leads to rot and damage to the crop. Drying it helps to ensure that the healthy vegetable is preserved. At the same time, the product does not lose its beneficial properties. In this article we will tell you how to dry onions and green onions at home.
Advantages of dry storage
Dried onion seasoning has a number of advantages over fresh vegetables.. Here are the main ones:
- it is convenient to store it in winter, since the dried pieces take up little space;
- the product is already cleaned, crushed and ready for use;
- dry slices can be sautéed and stewed;
- dried onions are convenient to take with you, for example, on a hike;
- a properly prepared product retains vitamins, phytoncides and beneficial properties.
Benefits and composition
What are the benefits of dried onions? Like fresh, it strengthens the immune system and helps fight colds, has antihistamine properties and reduces blood pressure. Based on the dry product, tinctures are prepared that have expectorant, diuretic and laxative effects.
Minerals are retained in the dry product: potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, magnesium, vitamins B1, C, A, iodine, essential oils and fiber.
100 g of seasoning contains 8.4 g protein, 2.8 g fat, 42.6 g carbohydrates. Calorie content – 208 kcal/100 g.
Drying methods
There are several ways to dry turnips at home. One of the simplest and most affordable options is to use a conventional oven.
In the oven
Peeled and chopped onions into rings (cubes) are laid out on baking sheets. It is better to first cover them with parchment, then the pieces will not stick. Heat the oven to a temperature of 50-60°C and place baking sheets with onions in it.
Important! The oven door is kept ajar throughout the drying process.
Depending on the size of the pieces and the amount of product, drying in the oven takes 3-6 hours. The product is periodically stirred and the degree of readiness is checked. When the rings become brittle and crispy, remove the baking sheets and cool.
In an electric dryer
From modern household appliances An electric dryer is used to prepare dried onions.. The pre-cleaned and crushed product is evenly distributed on baking sheets and dried at 55-65°C for 6-7 hours.
In a convection oven
One of the fastest ways - drying in an air fryer. Onion pieces dry in just an hour. Place the chopped vegetable on baking sheets, set the temperature to 70°C and turn on maximum speed.
Outdoors
You can prepare healthy and tasty seasoning without using electrical appliances.. To do this, chopped and chopped onions are placed on grates and placed in a well-ventilated place.
Need to know. When air-drying, vegetables should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
The product is stirred from time to time to ensure uniform drying.. This way the onions dry for about two weeks.
Drying technology
Since drying requires a lot of space, It’s convenient to dry turnips in 3-4 kg portions. Let's talk about the intricacies of the process in more detail.
What is necessary
To prepare a tasty and healthy product, you only need fresh onions, collected from the garden or bought in a store. There is no need to add any preservatives for preservation.
Onion preparation
Fresh onions are peeled from dry scales and chopped by hand or using a food processor. Cut the vegetable into rings, half rings or cubes. It is worth considering that the larger the pieces, the longer they will dry.
Drying
The prepared product is distributed on baking sheets or racks and depending on the chosen drying method, place it in a preheated oven, electric dryer or convection oven. Or air dry in a ventilated place.
During the drying process using any of the selected methods, stir the onions periodically and check for readiness. The finished product has a pleasant caramel color, becomes fragile and aromatic.
Take note:
Drying green onions
Blank green onion seasoning - another great way to stock up on healthy products for the whole winter. After all, while fresh onions can still be stored for several months, green onions will wither in just a couple of days. You can, of course, freeze it, but after defrosting, the greens no longer look attractive.
That's why The best way to stock up on green feathers for the whole winter is to dry them in chopped form.. The technology for drying green onions is similar to the technology for drying turnips. Freshly cut feathers are sorted, washed and dried. Then use a sharp knife to cut the feathers into pieces of the desired size.
Dry the greens prepared in this way using the same methods as turnips.. At the same time, the product reaches readiness twice as fast. Store dried green feathers in tightly closed containers away from moisture and direct sunlight.
Preparation of dried leeks
Leeks are prepared in the same way as green feathers.. The only thing to consider is the green and white parts of the plant dried separately from each other, because their drying time is different.
Signs of readiness
Depending on the drying temperature, the finished product turns out different. If you dry at low temperatures (up to 50°C), then the output will be simply a dried vegetable of a light color, without a pronounced odor.
If you set the temperature to 65-70°C, the sugars contained in the vegetable will caramelize and the seasoning will acquire a sweetish concentrated taste and a pronounced aroma of fried onions. Pieces of this vegetable take on a caramel color and break when pressed.
Terms and conditions of storage
Any dried product is characterized by an increased ability to absorb moisture, and onions are no exception. High humidity in the storage area causes the development of rot and mold; such a product can no longer be eaten.
Attention! Large volumes of dried onions - more than 1 kg - are stored in a cool, ventilated place, such as a basement or cellar. Humidity in the room should be moderate, no more than 70%.
Vegetables dried for winter storage, chopped onion or green, stored in plastic or glass containers with lids. Cardboard boxes and paper bags are also used as packaging. It is preferable to use small containers.
The packaged product is placed in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.. For daily use, it is convenient to pour the seasoning into jars with a tight-fitting lid. Small volumes are well stored in the kitchen (in a closet or bedside table).
Advice. Place a fabric bag of rice in the container with the dry product - it absorbs moisture well.
Whole pieces of dried onion, subject to storage rules, are suitable for consumption for two years. But in ground form, the seasoning quickly fizzles out and loses its taste. For this reason, it is advisable to grind onions in small quantities before use.
Methods of use
The uses of dried onions are varied. It is used as an independent dish (for example, cooked onion soup), stewed, added to vegetables, mushroom dishes, meat and fish.
Ground dried onions are used in baking onion bread, preparing sauces and marinades, add to minced meat.
This is a universal product, which can serve as both a seasoning and an independent ingredient.
Conclusion
Properly dried onions not only store well for many months, but also do not lose their beneficial properties. The aromatic seasoning will complement recipes for both first and second courses. Drying onions for the winter is a convenient and economical option for preparing vegetables. We recommend!