Introducing recipes and a method for making dried onions that are packed with flavor!

Oct 20, 2022by 小島怜

Dried onions are a convenient time-saving ingredient that can be used directly in cooking without any pre-processing. If you make a large batch at once, your daily cooking will become much easier. In this article, dried vegetable brand OYAOYA will introduce "how to make dried onions" easily.

Make Dried Onions Instantly with a Microwave!

There are several ways to make dried onions. Here, we will introduce the easiest and quickest method using a microwave.

1. Cut the onions

Peel the onions, cut off the root ends, and slice them to your desired size. Since they will shrink after drying, it's a good idea to cut them slightly larger than the size you want for cooking.

2. Dry in the microwave

Place parchment paper on the microwave turntable and spread out the cut onions. Heat at 500W for 7-8 minutes without covering. The heating time varies depending on the size and moisture content of the onions, so adjust as needed while observing their condition.

3. Cool

After heating, spread them out on a sieve or similar and let them cool until they become crispy. That's it!

While using a microwave for drying is easy, it has the drawbacks of easily diminishing the sweetness of the onions and making their texture hard. Also, sun-drying can lead to mold growth.

OYAOYA's dried onions are slowly dried at low temperatures, which thoroughly condenses the natural umami and sweetness of the onions, giving them a sweetness akin to melon.

This is recommended for those who "want to enjoy delicious dried onions easily."

How to make "Sun-Dried Onions" if you have the time

For those who "want to make sweet dried onions themselves!", here's how to make sun-dried onions.

1. Cut into small pieces

For sun-drying, cutting them into smaller pieces makes them easier to dry.

Wipe off any moisture thoroughly with a kitchen paper, as residual moisture can cause mold.

2. Dry in a sunny spot

Spread the cut onions on a sieve, trying not to overlap them, and dry them in a well-ventilated, sunny place for 2 to 3 days.

If you're concerned about pollen or dust, you can dry them indoors by a window.

On humid rainy days or in the evenings, bringing them indoors can help prevent mold.

Onions dried for only half a day can be used as semi-dried onions.

How to use dried onions

When adding dried onions to dishes like soup, there's no need to rehydrate them. They will soften by simply adding them directly, making them easy to eat. Click here for rehydration instructions

Rehydrate with water	For fresh vegetable salads, etc.
Add directly	Soups, potato salads, marinades, miso soup, simmered dishes, etc.

They are also delicious when pickled or mixed with canned ingredients like tuna.

Recommended dried onion recipes

Napolitan pasta rich in vegetable broth

Perfect for a weekend lunch, made in a single frying pan. Enjoy a pasta overflowing with vegetable goodness with minimal effort.

Required ingredients

1/2 bag dried onions, 1 serving pasta, other ingredients (see recipe)

Cooking steps

Boil pasta in plenty of water, then discard half the water when the pasta is still al dente.
Then add the dried vegetables and simmer until the liquid reduces, add seasoning, and finish.

Warm vegetable salad soup

A warm vegetable soup made with vegetable broth. It's packed with vegetables, making it almost like a salad you can eat.

Ingredients

Your choice of dried vegetables
Vegetable broth packet
200ml water

Cooking method

Put water, broth packet, and dried vegetables into a pot.
Once the pot boils, simmer for about 1 minute and it's done.

Want more recipes? Click here!: Dried Onion Recipes by Purpose

How to store dried onions

Refrigerator	Approximately 1 week
Freezer	2 weeks to 1 month
Airtight container + desiccant	Approximately 6 months

Thoroughly dried onions can be stored in the refrigerator for about 1 week, and in the freezer for 2 weeks to 1 month. Also, if stored in an airtight container with a desiccant, they can last for about six months at room temperature.

Semi-dried onions should be stored in the refrigerator for about 5 days, so be sure to use them quickly.

Melon-like sweetness! OYAOYA's dried onions

"I want to try using dried onions, but making them myself seems like a hassle..." If that sounds like you, then please try OYAOYA's dried onions.

We use carefully selected, sweet new onions and slowly dry them at low temperatures for two days to create a concentrated sweetness and flavor akin to fruit.

3 Reasons Why OYAOYA's Dried Onions Are Chosen

Meltingly soft and fluffy texture
Enjoy the melt-in-your-mouth texture unique to dried onions.
Uses juicy new onions
When rehydrated, they easily regain the juiciness of fresh new onions.
Flexible use in Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisines
Perfect for any dish, including soups, salads, and pasta.

Please enjoy the sweet and tender umami of dried onions, which cannot be tasted in fresh onions, right in your own home.

Learn more about dried onions

Dried onions have many benefits

Dried onions concentrate their umami and can be eaten as is. Furthermore, they can last for half a year at room temperature, allowing you to enjoy new onions all year round.

If you have leftover onions at home, definitely try drying them in the microwave or sun-drying them to expand your cooking possibilities. And of course, if you want to try melon-like dried onions, please enjoy OYAOYA's dried onions.