

Cold temperatures will prevent the homemade onion powder from caking. But if there is no space in the refrigerator, it can also be placed in a cooler area than the rest of your kitchen. Unlike manufactured onion powder, homemade onion powder must be kept in the refrigerator. But you have to store it well because it does not last as long as a powder comes from the grocery store. Making your homemade onion powder is great because the flavor is twice as strong. You can also add some tape over the hole, so the bag of onion powder is ready for storage in the pantry with the rest of the spices. Or you can keep the onion powder in the bag and put it in the refrigerator. Leaving the onion powder in the small bag while it has a large hole will mean that it is unprotected from the air and from the many bugs that want to crawl inside and lay their eggs. If you purchase the type of onion powder that comes in a small baggie and does not have a seal to keep the air out, then place it in a small Ziplock bag. So, it is likely to damage onion powder if it is kept in direct sunlight. The sun tends to bleach and damage everything it so shines on. It should also be kept away from exposure to light. It is best stored in a plastic or glass container and kept in a cupboard or pantry where it will not experience too much temperature change. Storing onion powder is just like storing garlic powder. If it is affected by moisture, there could be bacteria rolling in the powder, so it may not be safe to eat. Onion powder that clumps together and does not break apart is a sign that moisture has gotten into the container.Īlso, onion powder that is contaminated by moisture will develop a darker color. If you see hard clumps inside your onion powder container that are not breaking down easily if you hit the container against the table or counter, then don’t eat it anymore. If it does not smell like anything after the rubbing, it has probably expired. The warmth of your hands should bring out any lasting smell. To test this correctly, take a pinch of onion powder and rub it between your hands. Onions have an obvious strong smell and taste, so if there is no sign of either of these, the powder must be tossed. No smell or flavor is the most obvious sign that onion powder is no longer fit for consumption. Learn More: Can you eat chickpeas raw? No smell or flavor Do not eat onion powder that has a dark color. This is also another way to see if there is water inside the container. Onion powder that develops a darker color does so because the powder is oxidizing. So, when you spot a few disgusting white larvae crawling around in the onion powder, just throw it out. No one should eat food that has been infested by bugs. Here are the signs you can watch for to see if your onion powder is expiring: Bugs Onion powder would expire even if it were not affected by moisture or air. If it is well sealed, garlic powder will not go bad.
#ONION SHELF LIFE HOW TO#
Item Length of time Onion powder, grocery store 3-4 years Onion powder, fresh 6-8 months How to Know if Onion Powder Goes Bad How Long Does Onion Powder Last? Shelf Life Powdering a single onion doesn’t make that much onion powder, so it will be gone by the end of the month if you cook regularly. But you may not have to worry about keeping it for that long. Homemade onion powder kept in an airtight container will last 6 to 8 months, perhaps even a year.

But it will last long enough to justify doing all that hard work and powdering the onion yourself. How Long Does Homemade Onion Powder Last?Īll the freshly made onion powder is twice as intense as manufactured onion powder. It lasts far longer than whole onions, and it tastes much better than onion oil.

So that means onion powder is great if you are making a long-term food storage kit. Onion powder can even be eaten during its fifth year. As long as the onion powder is kept in an airtight container, it can easily last 3 to 4 years. If you love onions, you’ll be happy to know that onion powder has a very long shelf life. There are four ways to tell if the powder has gone bad: bugs inside the powder, if there’s moisture damage, a darker color, and if it has no smell and flavor. Homemade onion powder only lasts from 6 to 8 months. If you make fresh homemade onion powder, then it must be stored in the refrigerator. Onion powder will last about 3 to 4 years if kept in an airtight container and protected from moisture or the sun’s light. It is not like garlic powder, which lasts indefinitely as long as it’s protected. The powder has salt and spice mixes that, make it a great seasoning.ĭoes onion powder go bad? Yes, onion powder does go bad. Onion powder is dehydrated, ground onion that can be made from red, white, and yellow onions.
