What is onion powder?
Onion powder is a dry seasoning ingredient made by slicing, drying and finely milling onion (Allium cepa). Fresh onion is about 90% water; after drying the moisture falls below 6% and the product carries an aroma roughly ten times as concentrated as fresh onion. The colour is light yellow-beige and the taste sweet-pungent. It can be produced from white, yellow or red onions; industrial grades favour white and yellow varieties with high dry matter.
How is it produced?
Onions are cleaned, their outer skins removed, sliced and dried in stages in hot-air dryers. The dried slices are first broken (granules) and then milled to the required fineness and sieved. Toasted grades receive a controlled heat treatment at the end of drying that gives a golden-brown colour and caramelised taste. Because onion powder is highly hygroscopic, moisture control from production to packing is critical.
Applications in food manufacturing
It is used in instant soup and powdered sauce mixes, spice and seasoning blends, snack and crisp coatings, processed meat (meatballs, sausages, burger mixes), ready meals, bakery products and dips. It replaces fresh onion in production because it does not raise the water activity of dry mixes and allows repeatable dosing.
Technical properties and quality criteria
Check moisture (typically ≤ 6%), particle size (80–100 mesh), colour (light yellow-beige; dark colour indicates excessive heat), total and acid-insoluble ash, microbiological values (total plate count, Salmonella, E. coli, yeast and mould) and pesticide residues. Some suppliers report pyruvic acid as an indicator of aroma intensity; a higher value means a sharper onion taste.
What to check when buying
Origin (China, India, Egypt) affects colour and aroma profile. Clarify whether an additive-free product or one with a flow agent is required. Because the product absorbs moisture, PE or aluminium inner liners and tight resealing after opening matter. Obtain the specification, lot-specific COA and origin document from the supplier, and assess whether a steam-treated grade is needed based on the cooking conditions of your product.
Wholesale sourcing: price and minimum order
The wholesale price of onion powder is driven by harvest conditions, variety (white/yellow), grind fineness, toasting, packaging and order quantity. The typical minimum order is one pallet (500 kg). PERDIST identifies the grade suited to your application, compares sources and provides a written quotation with documents, then follows the shipment after the order.
Frequently asked questions
Need current pricing, minimum order, origin or technical documents for this ingredient? Tell us the application and monthly quantity; we reply with a written quotation within one business day.