Onion Salt Vs. Onion Powder | Which One Is Better?

Onion is a common ingredient we all have in our kitchen. But adding onion requires some effort, like peeling and chopping. If you don’t have that much time at hand, try onion salt or onion powder which could easily produce some onion flavor in your recipe.

Onions are great on their own. It has a crispy texture when added raw. It can also be cooked and sautéed to bring a caramelized flavor to your food. However, you could always run out of onions and that’s where onion powder and onion salt could save your day.

But are they the same? The answer is no! Both onion salt and onion powder may sound similar but are entirely different. They have different tastes and different culinary functions. If you are new to these ingredients, give this article a read.

Onion salt and onion powder use dehydrated onion as their main ingredient. However, onion powder only uses onion. It is 100% dehydrated onion and nothing else. It has a sharp onion taste with a hint of sweetness and sulfur taste.

Onion salt, on the other hand, contains salt, onion powder along with other spices. It is salty with a slight onion taste with a slight sweetness.

This is just one of the many differences between onion salt and onion powder. If you are keen on finding many more differences, read this article. 

This article discusses the similarities and differences between onion salt and onion powder. We will also discuss some amazing recipes you can prepare using these two ingredients.

Onion Salt Vs. Onion Powder | Difference Table

What Is Onion Salt?

Onion salt is a type of ingredient which uses onion powder and salt as its primary ingredient. It is widely used to bring the slight flavor of onion into your dish without the chunkiness of the onion.

If you want to bring the taste of onion into your recipe without adding the original onion, then onion salt is perfect for you. These are widely available in supermarkets. Most onion salt sold in the markets uses some kind of preservative to prevent caking.

However, if you want, onion salt can be easily prepared at home. Mix three parts of salt with one part of onion powder, and your homemade onion salt is ready to serve. Onion salt can be used as a garnish for some dishes and as an ingredient.

What Is Onion Powder

Onion powder is an ingredient made from dehydrated onions. It is simply dehydrated onions in ground form. It almost reciprocated the real onion flavor in the recipes. It has a strong onion taste to it, along with a strong sulfur taste.

It also has a hint of garlicky taste to it. Just like onion salt, onion powder is mostly used in places where we cannot use real onion. It brings in the real onion flavor without onion and is extremely convenient for many people who do not have much time on their hands for cooking.

Cooking onions is a task of its own. It needs peeling and chopping; of course, we have to cook it to perfection to bring in the real flavor. All these issues are sorted with the use of onion powder. This powder effectively brings in the onion powder to your recipe without much effort.

Onion powder can be used in almost all dishes that demand onion as one of its main ingredients. However, they are mainly used to flavor meat and vegetable dishes, soups, stews, and marinades.

Onion powder is available in different forms. They are often classified based on the type of onion used for making the powder. With the change of onion, there is a slight change in the flavor and color of the onion powder.

• Red Onion Powder – Red onion powder has a spicy and peppery fragrance. It has a mild flavor and blends very well with most other ingredients.
• Pink Onion Powder – Pink onion powder has a mild flavor and sweetness. It doesn’t carry as much pungent as that normal onion powder.
• White Onion Powder- This has a more acidic flavor with a pungent onion-like aroma.

Onion Salt Vs. Onion Powder| Similarities Between The Two

Onion salt, as well as onion powder, aren’t the same ingredients. But there are considerable similarities between the two making it hard for some people to differentiate between them. So in this section, let’s look at some similarities before counting the differences.

1. Both Are Made From The Same Ingredient 

Just as its name suggests, onion salt and onion powder use dehydrated onion as their primary ingredient. Also, the main flavor both these ingredients carry is that of onion. 

2. Both Are Used To Flavor The Dishes

Onion salt and onion powder are primarily used as flavoring agents. They are widely used to bring the taste of onion to stews, soups, and marinades.

3. Both Can Be Substituted With Each Other

There is a considerable flavor difference between onion salt and onion powder. However, both of them bring in an onion taste and, when in need, can be used as each other’s substitute. Not just that, many people even use both of these ingredients in a single dish.

4. Storage

Both onion powder and onion salt are dehydrated ingredients that contain zero amount of water. Hence when it comes to storage, both should be kept in a sealed packet without much contact with moist air or water.

If it comes to contact with water, caking could happen.

Onion Salt Vs. Onion Powder | What Are The Major Differences?

Onion salt and onion powder can be used interchangeably. However, despite all the similarities, the two ingredients have very distinct differences. This section looks into the differences between the two.

1. Origin

The origin of onion powder has a great history. It is said to be originated somewhere in the Middle East, especially in Egypt. Drying vegetables to enhance their sustainability has been done for a long time, and Egyptians were the first ones to dry onions.

On the other hand, onion salt’s origin cannot be traced easily. Onion salt has boomed as a commercial ingredient only recently. Even before that, many people have been using it at home as a common ingredient.

2. Taste And Aroma

Onion salt has a pungent onion flavor with the saltiness of salt and a light sweet flavor. It contains onion flakes mixed with some salt. Onion powder, on the other hand, has a very strong flavor. It has a strong onion taste with a hint of sulfur and sweetness. It also has a strong onion-like aroma to it. 

3. Appearance 

Onion salt has a light cream color to it with a slightly grainy texture. The salt may either contain grounded onion powder or flakes of dehydrated onion. It has a slightly delicious onion aroma to it.

Onion powder, on the other hand, has a very ground texture. It is in powdered form and has a cream color to it.

4. Culinary Usage

Both onion salt and onion powder are extremely useful culinary ingredients. Both are extremely handy and can bring so much flavor to your recipes. Onion salt can be used in all savory recipes for regular salt.

It brings in the salt flavor and some onion flavor, making your dish even more flavorful. It can be used for flavoring all kinds of meats. If you want to go a little bit fancy, mix some spices with this onion salt.

Not just for meat dishes, onion salt is just a perfect addition to all vegetables. If you have some sautéed vegetables, try adding onion salt rather than real salt. It just makes your otherwise ordinary dish delicious. 

 Onion powder can be used in any dish that calls for fresh onions. If you don’t want to peel the onion or just don’t want the chunky pieces of onion in your food, then use onion powder instead of real onion.

Onion powder can be added to anything from stews and soups to meat dishes. It can be used as one of the ingredients while making the dish or as a meat rub or seasoning for your favorite bowl of salad.

Onion powder works exceptionally well with dishes that use potatoes as their main ingredients. Next time you make some creamy mashed potatoes, try adding some onion powder along with fresh cream and taste the best of mashed potatoes.

5. Nutrition 

Both onion salt and onion powder have a comprehensive nutrition profile. In this section, let’s overview the nutrient content in both of these ingredients. These ingredients not just add flavors but also bring in many nutrients to our food.

Onion powder is a great source of vitamins like vitamins A and C. It also contains magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium. Besides these, it also contains a myriad of antioxidants that are extremely good for our bodies.

Onion salt also contains similar nutrients. It also contains most of the nutrients that onion powder carries. This includes vitamins A and C and many antioxidants. However, onion salt contains all of this in small amounts.

Onion salt is one portion of onion powder and three portions of salt. Hence the main mineral it carries is sodium.

6. Substitutes 

Throughout the article, we have discussed the usefulness of onion salt and onion powder. Both are great culinary ingredients, and just a pinch is needed to bring so much flavor to your food.

However, chances are high that we could run out of these ingredients when we need them the most. What to do in such situations? Without thinking much, look for some of its best substitutes.

 Onion powder can easily be replaced by fresh ingredients. Grated fresh onion, shallot, a fennel bulb, scallion, garlic salt, onion salt, and celery are some of the best onion powder substitutes. They bring in a similar onion flavor to your recipe.

When it comes to onion salt, garlic salt, onion powder, garlic powder, herb salt, and celery salt are some of the best onion powder substitutes.

7. Health Benefits

Onions might make you cry while slicing them, but in return, it gives you a lot of health benefits. In this section, we will look into some of the best health benefits offered by both onion salt and onion powder.

 Onion powder has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus it helps to build immunity and helps to fight common diseases like common flu and caught to a certain extent. Onion powder is also hypoglycemic in nature and may reduce blood sugar levels.

Onion powder is also great for your heart health. Onion powder has anticoagulant and anti-fibrinolytic properties, which prevent clot formation and artery blockage. Thus including onion powder in your diet is beneficial for your heart.

Not only this, but onion powder is also great for gut health. Onion powder has anti-flatulent properties, restricting the gas formation in our gut. Not just that, it helps in better digestion and reduces the hyperacidity of the gut.

Onion salt, made from onion powder, essentially carries most of these health benefits. However, onion salt has fewer health benefits when compared to that onion powder. Onion salt also contains sodium. 

Thus if you are looking for a good source of sodium that has added benefits, choose onion salt. It is also low in calories and doesn’t contain any amount of cholesterol in it. Thus if you are keen on your diet, replace regular salt with onion salt.

Can Onion Salt And Onion Powder Be Used Together?

Onion salt and onion powder can be used together in many dishes. Since both of these bring in a similar onion flavor, using both of these together won’t ruin the taste of your dish in any sense. However, there will be an enhanced onion flavor.

So in this section, we will see some of the dishes that use both onion salt and onion powder as their main ingredient. 

1. Fried Chicken – If you love chicken, fried chicken could be your favorite, just like mine! Crispy outside, juicy outside, there is no way anybody can hate a fried chicken. While making fried chicken, we use onion powder and onion salt to bring the bright side of the flavor.
2. Veggie Frittata – Not just meat dishes, but you can also combine onion salt and onion powder in vegetable dishes. Veggie frittata is the perfect morning breakfast that is tasty and extremely healthy. If you haven’t tried it yet, take it as a sign and make it today!
3. Flavored Cashews – Cashews are great on their own. But once roasted, its taste just elevates. We all love flavored cashews, and onion salt and onion powder are two of the main ingredients for flavoring roasted cashews.
4. Fish Stick – If you haven’t tried a fish stick yet, you are missing out! Or if you hate fish in general, the fish stick is the best thing you could have to start eating fish dishes. Take a bite, and your mouth will be filled with so much flavor: onion powder and onion salt are two of the main ingredients used to enrich the flavor of fish sticks.

Top Dishes To Make With Onion Salt

In this section, we will see some of the dishes that use onion salt as one of their main ingredients. Thus, next time you have some spare time and an onion slat, you can try these recipes.

1. Mediterranean Salsa

Mediterranean salsa using onion salt is a classic and yummy recipe. It can be made using simple ingredients and brings in a lot of taste and so many health benefits.

For making this salsa, we need some plum tomatoes, olive oil, basil leaves, marjoram leaves, and garlic salt.

Just chop all the ingredients and mix them with some onion salt. Give a good mix, and let it sit there for 30 minutes. Serve it with some pita chips.

2. Creamy Garlic Herb Salad Dressing

This creamy herb salad dressing is the perfect dish for all your meals. Mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, apple cider vinegar, onion salt, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning is all you need to make this bowl delish.

Simply mix all these ingredients together, and your garlic herb salad dressing is ready!

3. Basil Buttermilk Dressing

Summer might be over, but not our cravings for some summer dishes. If you have some fresh basil in your garden, then you need to try our basil buttermilk dressing. It can be served as a dressing or as a side dish to your dishes.

For this recipe, we need some basil, buttermilk, onion salt, minced garlic, and mayonnaise. Whisk mayonnaise and buttermilk in a bowl. Add onion, salt, and minced garlic to it, giving it a good blend. Add some chopped basil and refrigerate it for some 30 minutes.

4. Vegetarian Cauliflower Steak

If you are a vegetarian yet want to try the flavor of a steak, then this cauliflower steak recipe is for you. As its name suggests, this recipe uses cauliflower as one of its main ingredients.

Along with that, it also uses red onion, garlic cloves, parsley, basil, tomato, white wine, cheese, onion salt, and pepper.

For making this recipe, bake the cauliflower until it is golden. Into a pan, add some olive oil and sauté all other ingredients. Mix it with cauliflower and serve it with some seasonings for the best flavor.

5. Eggplant Lasagna 

Eggplant lasagna is a very flavorful dish. It uses onion slat as one of its main ingredients. However, eggplant lasagna requires a lot of other ingredients and long-making processes. However, all your efforts will be paid off with its flavor.

Top Dishes To Make With Onion Powder

Onion powder, I would say, is one of the most convenient ingredients we have ever had. It brings in all the goodness of onion in a pinch! Thus, if you are searching for some dishes that use onion powder as ingredients, here they are!

1. BLT Dip

This BLT dip is one of the most flavorful dishes you can make from onion powder. It is so easy to make and only requires a handful of ingredients. It is a perfect side dish for all your other recipes, especially fried chicken.

To make this recipe, we need cooked and crumbled slices of bacon, mayonnaise, sour cream, seedless and chopped tomatoes, onion powder, and salt. Mix it all well and serve it along with your favorite dish.

2. Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole

Bring all your family members together to enjoy this cheesy yummy hash brown casserole. It can be cooked for under 10 minutes and doesn’t require many ingredients.

Its main ingredients are hash brown patties, egg, milk, sour cream, crumbled slices of bacon, cheddar cheese, sliced onion, and onion powder.

To make this recipe, bake the hash brown patties and add whisked egg along with milk, sour cream, onion powder, and canon slices.

Finish it off with some cheese and bake it for another 40 minutes. Your cheesy hash brown casserole is all ready to serve!

3. Easy Egg Salad

Eggs for breakfast can be a constant for many. However, if you are tired of eating the same old poached egg, baked eggs, and omelets for breakfast, try this easy egg salad recipe. This doesn’t require much time and is extremely healthy.

 For this recipe, we need some boiled and chopped eggs, chopped celery, mayonnaise, a teaspoon of ground mustard paste, onion powder, and seasoned salt. Mix all this in a bowl and serve it among two pieces of bread!

4. Sesame Steak

We all love steak. I could eat it all day. It not only has such a vibrant flavor profile but also carries so much goodness. We all have our own style of sesame steaks, but if you haven’t tried the sesame steak yet, you have to try it! 

It uses soy sauce, oil, brown sugar, sesame seed, onion powder, black pepper, garlic salt, and boneless beef steak. Make a marinade using all these ingredients and coat the beef steak. Refrigerate it for some time and grill it when you need it!

5. Peri Peri Masala

We all love peri-peri dishes. Whether it’s chicken or vegetable, all dishes coated in peri masala taste good. Peri peri masala uses onion powder as one of its main ingredients. To make this, we just need a couple of spices.

For making peri peri masala at home, put red chili powder, paprika powder, garlic powder, dried ginger powder, onion powder, dried oregano, sugar, and salt together in a bowl! Your peri-peri masala is ready to use.

Onion Salt Vs. Onion Powder | Which Is Healthier?

In this article, we have already discussed the nutrient and health benefits of both onion salt and onion powder. The discussion clearly shows that onion powder is much healthier than onion salt. 

Onion salt does contain most of the nutrients that onion powder carries, however, in small amounts. Therefore we can say that between the two, onion powder is much healthier than onion salt.

Onion Salt Vs. Onion Powder | Which Is Tastier?

I would like to choose onion salt over onion powder when it comes to taste. Onion powder does bring an onion taste to the dish, but the onion flavor is too strong. Therefore if you are a newbie in cooking, onion powder could be too much for you.

On the other hand, onion salt has a milder onion flavor with a hint of saltiness. It can be used as an ingredient as well as seasoning. Therefore when it comes to taste, onion salt is much more flavorful than onion powder.

Onion Salt Vs. Onion Powder | Which Is More Versatile?

Regarding versatility, we all have to give in to onion powder. There are different varieties of onion powder available to us. Not just that, but many dishes use onion powder as one of their main ingredients.

Moreover, if you have onion powder and salt at hand, you can quickly make some onion salt at any given time. Hence we could simply say that onion powder is much more versatile than onion salt.

Onion Salt Vs. Onion Powder | Which Is Better?

If you are given a chance to grab either onion salt or onion powder, always go for onion powder. Onion powder, as we have read, is an extremely flavorful ingredient that could totally bring a whole new flavor to our dishes.

Not just that, onion powder has so many nutrients and health benefits to it. Onion salt, on the other hand, acts, acts as a flavoring ingredient and a seasoning.

It also has so many nutrients similar to onion powder but in less quantity. Hence we could say that onion powder is better than onion salt.

Conclusion 

Finally, we have reached the end of the discussion regarding onion salt vs. onion powder. Both onion powder and onion salt have so many culinary uses as well as health benefits. Due to their ease of use, both of these ingredients are extremely popular among millennials.

However, go for onion powder if you are asked to choose between the two. Onion powder brings both nutrition as well as taste to your food. It’s not just a culinary ingredient, but can also be used as a beauty ingredient. 

Onion salt, on the other hand, does add so much flavor to the recipe. However, if we have onion powder and some salt at hand, making some onion salt isn’t a great task. Thus we can conclude by saying that if given a chance, go for onion powder over onion salt. 

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