onion powder

A small amount of onion powder brings onion flavor to soups, sauces, marinades and spice blends without adding moisture or pieces of fresh onion. The name onion powder is clear about the job: it is dried onion ground fine, and McCormick is the brand associated with it here. It mixes readily into wet dishes and dry rubs, while fresh onion gives more texture and a brighter, less concentrated taste. The powder is convenient when chopping is unwanted or an even seasoning matters, but it cannot replace the sweetness and bite that come from cooking fresh onion. By our assessment, this is a straightforward pantry seasoning rather than a complete substitute for the vegetable. Its value depends on using it where a dry, evenly spread onion flavor is wanted.