How to Dehydrate Onions

Top of the morning to you! Well, it has been about three weeks since we’ve pulled the onions from the garden and laid them on our wagon to dry. Now comes the fun part. However, dehydrating onions is not a job for the weak. Even after I give you a few tips to reduce the smell, in the end, it still stinks. Some batches are better than others but if you make it out without crying, you are a stronger person than me. With that being said, if you have your tissue box, we are ready to begin. Tips for reducing the potency while dehydrating onions: Tip one is to use yellow onions over white.Tip two, don't cut a large number at one time.And tip three, prepare the onions in a garage or a place that is well ventilated. List of items needed: DehydratorSharp knifeChopping boardOnionsQuart jar or another storage containerFunnel Now that you have all of your items and onions it's time to begin.  First dig your onions out of the garden or buy some from the store. Peel, slice, and chop onions one at a time using a slap chopper or knife. Once you have the desired amount of chopped onions you would like to dehydrate, place them on the layers of your dehydrator until the trays are all filled or you run out of onions. Set temperature to 135 degrees. You can lower the temperature if you'd like, but your onions will be done in about 4 hours at this temperature. Place the dehydrator in a garage or porch to reduce the smell in the house. When your timer goes off just check to see if the batch is finished. You will know when they feel rubbery but also dry. If they turn to dust you have obviously left them in for too long. Or if they have not finished leave them in for a little while longer.  Once they have fished, set up your jar with a funnel or another container of your choice. I can fill a one-quart jar with a medium-sized dehydrator with 4 layers.  Once your machine is turned off, remove the lid and take out the onions using your hands or another kitchen tool and fill your jar or jars. After the jar is filled and sealed, store your now dehydrated onions in a cupboard or a cool, dry place. Now that you have finished dehydrating, you are ready for winter.  You can also use the onions as a gift to family or when you are short on time. On a side note.  If you want to make onion powder, you would merely dehydrate longer until the onions are dried and crunchy.  Place them in a gallon bag at that point and use a rolling pin to roll over them until you have powder. That’s it, friends. For more tips and recipes on natural and healthy living, stay tuned each week. Until then, stay free! Heather EarlesIs the owner of H&E Literary Works LLC, writes for a local and state newspaper, has written several books to include  A Busy Morning On The Farm and an upcoming thriller/drama series called “Prisoner Within.” She is a Print Specialist for Pufferprint, writes a blog on healthy living to aid and inspire. She has a podcast called Herb ‘N Wisdom™, enjoys country living, God, and her family. “I love helping people feel better about life.” Learn more about the author How to make Butter