Green onions are some of the most used food items because they can give your meals a lot of flavor and color. Green onions or scallions can be used in a variety of food types but sadly don't have the longest shelf life if they are freshly plucked.

The best way to keep your green onions preserved for longer is by dehydrating them. In this guide, we will share some tips on how to dry green onions so you can keep them nice and fresh, no matter how much time passes. 

How to Dry Green Onions

The best way to dry or dehydrate onions and all other food types is by using a dehydrator. Unlike your oven or microwave, these machines are specially developed to extract moisture from foods at an even, low temperature. This slower drying method preserves the color, fragrance, and taste of foods so they can taste better when used in meals or rehydrated. 

Green onions are pretty easy to dehydrate, but you will need a lot of fresh onions, as three bunches will give you one cup of dried onions.

Here is a quick look at the best steps for drying these tasty vegetables. 

Things You Need

Step 1 - Wash the Onions

It is always best to wash your onions before processing and drying them. Place the onions in a bowl of water and strip off all dead leaves or pieces that look unappealing. Inspect each onion stalk carefully for sand since these fine granules can sometimes get stuck at the base of the leaves as the plant grows.

Step 2 - Remove the Roots

By cutting the green onions one or two inches above the root level, you can regrow them and get a fresh, new (and free) batch in a couple of weeks. You can regrow green onions by planting the root cutoffs in pot soil or by positioning them in a bowl of shallow water in a sunny area. 

Step 3 - Cutting and Processing

Onions usually dry into thin green onion flakes, and they are pretty quick to dry. You can cut your onions in any size as long as sizes or cuts are consistent. Most people prefer to cut their onions into small slices so they can be used for soups and sauces. But you can make longer cuts if you prefer foods with more texture. 

Cut the bulb and big stems in half so they won't take too long to dry. Some prefer to separate the white bulb section of the onion from the green leaf section. But you can also mix these two parts together in the dryer or storage container. 

Give all cut pieces a rub to separate the cut parts and onion rings, but don't spend too much time separating each ring since they dry better when the cuts are relatively thin. 

Step 4 - Place in the Dehydrator

Once the onions have been chopped, you can place them in the dehydrator trays. You can also place a mesh tray on top of the chopped onions to keep them from blowing about in the dehydrator.

Spread the onions into a thin layer so they can dry evenly and quickly. 

The dehydrator should be set at a temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit, and the onions will take about 3-5 hours to completely dry.

Step 5 - Remove and Store

When the onions are fully dehydrated, they should be crinkly and easy to break or crush. If the onions are still bendable, they can be left for longer. Foods need to be properly dried, or it may result in mold growth which could ruin your foods. 

Remove the finished product from the dehydrator and allow them to cool down before you place the dried herbs in an airtight container. 

Step 6 - Blend (Optional)

If you want to turn your dried onions into a spice, you can add these green onion flakes to the blender. A blender will chop them into tiny pieces so you can add them to a spice bottle. This is an ideal solution if you want to season foods like meats.  

How to Store Dehydrated Onions

Dehydrated foods stay fresh for longer if they are correctly stored. Here is a quick look at the best way to store dried onions to keep them fresh and crunchy.

Use an Airtight Container

Dried foods will absorb moisture from the air and can become hard and unpleasant. An airtight container will keep your food nice and dry and will also keep the delicious onion fragrance trapped inside, so your herbs will stay aromatic for longer.

Store in a Cool Dry Place

It is best to store these dried foods in a cool environment. The back of your food cupboard or in a cold room is ideal, but you can also refrigerate or freeze your airtight container to keep the onions for longer.

Avoid Direct Light

Sunlight or direct bulb light can cause your onions to fade in color and reduce the fragrance. Storing these foods in a dark environment or away from direct light, especially sunlight, will help preserve them for longer.  

How to Use Dried Onions

There are so many different uses for dried green onions. Once dried, these foods can offer a lot of fragrance and act as a spice or vegetable powder. Scallion onions and green onions are perfect for making all sorts of savory foods like soups, sauces, salads, or pies, and many love to use them on meat products like steak, baked chicken, pork chops, and more. If you love onions, this can be a terrific ingredient for any non-sweet food recipe. 

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to dry green onions, you can make the most out of every green stalk you see in your home and start saving money on spices. We hope that you enjoyed our guide. 

If you are looking for other tips on the best ways to make healthy foods, you should look at the other guides we have on Healthy Meals Hub. With our advice and guides, healthy living can be a fun adventure.