WetAir recipes
Dried onions
Dry onion flakes for soups, sauces and seasonings.
Onions develop concentrated flavour when cut evenly and dried away from foods that readily absorb odours. Check one cooled piece for doneness.
For a first try, prepare a small batch: even pieces are easier to space well and check without rushing.
| Temperature | Dehydrator stage: 60 °C / 140 °F |
|---|---|
| Ready when | Once cooled, pieces should be dry, brittle or crisp as appropriate for the food, with no visible moisture inside. Elapsed time alone does not establish completion. |
| Compatible models | WetAir WFD-K1000S, WetAir WFD-K700BSS |
Ingredients
- onions 850 g
Method
-
Prepare
Peel the onions, cut away damaged parts and rinse them quickly in clean water.
-
Cut the onions into even rings or dice and separate layers that cling together.
-
Arrange the sliced onion without blanching. Dry it in a separate batch from fruit and herbs because of its strong smell.
-
Arrange and dry
Arrange the prepared food in one layer with clear gaps for unrestricted airflow.
Leave space between pieces so air can move freely around them. -
Select the temperature shown in the table above and do not overload the trays.
-
Near completion, cool a separate piece before testing; remove pieces individually as they reach the endpoint.
-
Check and cool
Move the finished pieces to a clean rack and let them cool completely before packing.
Check the texture on a separate piece after it cools briefly.
After cooling
Store it airtight in a cool, dry and dark place, and check for condensation or mould.
How to enjoy it
Add flakes to soups and sauces or grind fully dry pieces into onion powder.
Sources and evidence
Compatible WetAir models
Sources
- Colorado State University Extension — preparing and drying vegetables
- University of Minnesota Extension — blanching and cooling vegetables
- National Center for Home Food Preservation — packaging and storing dried foods
- University of Minnesota Extension — home food drying fundamentals
- WetAir instructions for the large steel dehydrator
- WetAir instructions for the compact steel dehydrator
Frequently asked questions
Can I pack the whole batch after checking one piece?
No. Check several thicker pieces from different trays. Keep drying any that remain damp; remove and cool the finished pieces separately.