Introduction
Who doesn’t love a little flavor on their mashed potato? And what can do this better than onions?
What’s more, onion granules and onion powder can make our cooking much easier. It also keeps the flavor of the fresh onions intact. However, they have their differences, and it’s pretty common to get confused when to use which.
So, onion granules vs onion powder-what are the differences?
The basic difference between the onion granules and the onion powder is the texture, particle size, and the amount of flavor they add to a dish. They both can be used interchangeably. However, the quantity used is different.
These are the differences between granules and powder in a nutshell. However, if you want to know more about the differences in detail, then read along.
Let’s dig in-
Onion Granules Vs Onion Powder: A Quick Comparison
You must be wondering how come two granulated onions make so much difference?
They do! Because of their particle size, flavor addition, texture, use of quantity, and many more. These features help you differentiate between the two famous ingredients for cooking. Take a quick look at their comparison.
| Onion Powder | Onion Granules |
| Particle size is small and dust-like | Particle size is bigger than powder, coarse |
| Does not add texture to a dish | Adds texture to a dish |
| A little amount adds a lot of flavors | Needs a lot to add flavor |
| Strong onion flavor | Weak onion flavor |
| Made from dehydrated onions | Made from freshly chopped onion |
Onion Granules Vs Onion Powder: Face-off
We all want that pungent flavor no matter what we cook for lunch. Adding a little onion powder will give you that oniony flavor. On the other hand, onion granules are used to get the perfect freshly-cut-onion equivalent taste. Any recipes that require onion can be replaced with granules.
Apart from flavor, there are some other major differences between onion granules and onion powder. Just like toasted cheese and grilled cheese are different. Trust me it’s not as simple as sprinkling any of the two into your dish. The features that set them apart are explained below-
Availability
The availability of onion granules and onion powder depends on the location and the country you live in! Because not all countries require onion powders or granules in their recipes.
However, in most cases, onion powder and onion granules are considered kitchen staples!
Onion powder is the most demanded among the two. And they are available in all departmental stores and online groceries. Onion powder has various kinds depending on the type of onions. Make sure you choose the one that you need.
Onion granules have a low demand although it’s still available. The reason behind the low demand is that a lot of people make them at home with a grinder. They dehydrate the onion and then simply grind it. Homemade granules have a similar texture to that of the ones from the market.
Price
That’s right! They don’t have a similar price.
There is a slight difference in the price of onion granules and onion powder. Onion powder and onion granules aren’t like any other spice. They are the very substitute for using onion in any dish. So they have a lot of demands in the market.
Onion granules and onion powders are not manufactured in the same way. Onion powder is made from dehydrated onions and ground into fine flowing particles. Since the powders are hygroscopic, many anticaking agents/additives are added.
On the other hand, onion granules are made from dehydrated onions. No extra additives are added to it. And the particles are not as finely grounded.
The price of onion powder on average is 8.40 US Dollars. Whereas, the average price of granulated onion is 12.81 US Dollars. Which means 0.71$ per ounce. The price difference is due to the manufacturing process.
Type Of Onion
If you’re a chef, you probably already know the varieties of onions and how to use them. But don’t worry if you don’t. There are a bunch of them and using the right one will require some experimentation.
If you love to add onions to all of your dishes [except desserts, of course], you have good news! Onion powder varies from onion to onion as well.
Onion powders are made from a selected range of onions. The different onions are-
- Spring Onion
- Vidalia Onion
- Yellow Onion
Each of these onions brings a different flavor to our dishes. The action of the onion powder is not that different. Spring onion powder creates a sweet and tender flavor to your dish. Whereas, Vidalia onion powder adds a sweet and fresh taste. Yellow onion powder is best known for its smoothness and flavor.
Although onion powders are available in varieties, onion granules are most commonly made from white onions. So they don’t have much difference.
Particle Size
Like we mentioned earlier in our discussion, particles of onion powders and onion granules differ. Though both of them are grounded from dehydrated onions, they have different textures.
Of course, the particle size of the onion granule is bigger than that of the onion powder. Because onion powder is finely grounded to a dust-like form.
On the other hand, onion granules are grounded coarsely. And the particle size is not dust-like. Rather the particles are bigger and irregularly grounded. The size of the particles of the onion powder and granules makes a huge difference while cooking. Smaller particles blend quickly. The flavors and their concentration also depends on their particle size.
The particle size is the primary difference between the onion granules and onion powder. Because you can differentiate between the two of them only by observing their particle size!
Now that you can identify between onion granules and onion powder, you can now relax!
Quantity
When using the onion powder or the onion granules in cooking, there are some differences in the amount.
It’s good to know that you can’t directly use onion powder and onion granules interchangeably. Because the amount of flavor a powder adds is not the same as that of the onion granule. It also depends on the dish that you are making.
It is estimated that ½ teaspoon of onion powder equals 1/4th cup of onion granules. So whenever you’re preparing a dish that requires ¼ cup of onions, simply sprinkle ½ teaspoon of onion powder. And you’re done! You’ll get that wonderful sweet and savory flavor you wanted.
But of course, not all dishes demand the onion flavor. So you need to be a bit careful about using onion powder.
Onion Flavor Concentration
Another significant difference between onion granule and onion powder is the concentration.
You surely have noticed how little onion powder you need instead of onion granules. This is where the question of concentration comes in!
The onion powder is made from dehydrated onions and ground to fine particles. These particles are condensed with flavors. This is the reason any recipe requires a small amount of onion powder for the flavor.
On the other hand, you need to use a lot of onion granules on your dish to attain that oniony texture and flavor. That’s because the concentration of the granules is less than that of the powder.
We were talking about the flavor for a long time. Now it’s time to break down the difference of flavors between the onion granules and onion powder.
Let’s talk about onion granules-
They are simply made from a freshly chopped and dehydrated onion. The particles are not finely grounded rather they’re coarse. This coarseness adds a certain texture to your dish.
However, if you add insufficient amounts of granules, your dish will neither have flavor nor texture. Because the onions are not condensed and concentrated like the powder. So dishes that require onion granules need to have an adequate amount and a long cooking time.
Whereas onion powder will save you the time to wash and chop onions. Say your homemade sauce needs a certain punch in the flavor. All you have to do is simply sprinkle a bit of onion powder and you’ll have the required flavor.
This happens because of the concentration of the spice. This allows a little amount of powder to work its magic.
The cooking time for both of these spices is different due to that. The granules take time to diffuse and add flavor to your dish. On the other hand, a simple sprinkle of onion powder is enough. It will make your scrambled eggs wonderful.
Texture
The texture is an important aspect when talking about the differences. When cooking a delicious meal, you add onion granule or onion powder for its flavor. Now, which one would give you the perfect texture?
Obviously, when you’re making any kind of sauce or dips, you want the texture to be as smooth as possible. But too much onion granule will make it grainy.
However, if you want your beef stew to be a big hit, onion granules are a must! Onion granules will give your dish a texture with onion bits. These bits will diffuse with cooking time. They will give you the real onion texture rather than the powdered one.
Nutrition
This might be entirely surprising for you. Onions have so many hidden nutritional benefits. So does onion granules and onion powder!
Onion powder has the following nutrients that keeping you headaches, mouth sore, and high blood sugar at bay-
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
- Manganese
- Calcium
- Iron
- Potassium
- Antioxidants
On the other hand, onion granules save you from high cholesterol and triglyceride. Because it is full of antioxidants.
So both do certain benefits for your health. Just like chopped onions!
FAQs
Absolutely! We advise you not to worry about the anti-caking additives that are added with onion powders to prevent absorbing moisture from the air. This also stops the powder from forming clunks. Both the onion and the granules are free of gluten, MSG, sodium, and sugar!
In terms of mathematical calculations, ½ teaspoon of onion powder is equal to ¼ cup of freshly chopped/granulated onion. This is because the onion powder is more compact and a little amount adds a lot of flavor to your dishes.
Answer: Of course! You’ll be surprised to know how enriched onion powder and onion granules are! Onion granules help you keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels low. Because it’s rich in antioxidants. Onion powders are also enriched with various essential nutrients such as Vit B, Vit C, and several other minerals.
Final Verdict: Which One To Use?
There is no verdict incase of onion granules vs onion powder. It all comes down to the dish you are preparing and the flavor you want.
If you want the flavor of onion without any texture, onion powder is ideal for you. So they are great for soup, sauces, and dips.
But if you want a rich texture with a strong flavor of onion, go for onion granules. Try them out with all sorts of spicy curries! Trust me you’ll love it!
Let us know which one is the best according to you in the comment section below!
Till then, keep cooking!
