Veg-O-Feast

Dry-Garlic

Farm to Table: The Journey of Dehydrated Onions

Over the past couple of years, the farm to table movement has gained much interest amongst people who care about knowing what they put into their mouth. The dehydrated onions have been one of the products that have attracted much attention from customers due to the resourcefulness attached to this product in the food industry. From flavoring flavor within everyday recipes to being a defining ingredient in packaged snacks, dehydrated onions have become an essential element in both home kitchens and professional culinary applications. On the blog, we are going to take you through an interesting journey that a dehydrated onion will take-from when they are still fresh in the farm up to when they come onto your table. We will go into the processes meant to ensure that these onions retain their flavor and nutritional value; we will also learn the benefits accruing to your health from using dehydrated onions instead of their fresh ones. What are Dehydrated Onions? It is quite essential to know what dehydrated onions are before embarking on this tour. Dehydrated onions are fundamentally onions that have undergone some form of drying to remove the water from the onions while retaining their flavor, color, and nutritional profile. This method of preservation extends the shelf life, hence making them much more convenient for use in many recipes where fresh onions may not be readily accessible. They come in various forms, including dehydrated onion flakes, powder, and granules that could be utilized differently according to the usage. The Farm Stage: Onion Cultivation and Harvesting 1. Onion Cultivation From the farm, it is the journey of dehydrated onions. Onions are one of the most cultivated vegetables across the globe and best fit for temperate climates that have well-drained soils. When the farmers from the farmlands pick the best varieties of onion used, they often have strong flavors since the dehydration process intensifies the natural taste of the onion. Farmers directly sow the onion seeds or bulb onions, and then observe the crop growth. Thereafter, whether the crop will ripen nicely during harvest time depends on proper soil health and irrigation system and also pest control. Onions are mainly grown in large fields and harvested at the exact maturity of the bulbs, in late spring to early summer. 2. Collecting Onions Once mature onions reach a certain age they are collected in the harvest. This is an important step because onions should only be brought in at the right time so that they can achieve optimal quality in the dehydration process. After the onions have been harvested, they are left to dry in the field for a couple of days where their skins will dry and harden with minimal moisture. This will prepare the onions for other processes such as dehydration. The Dehydration Process: Fresh Onions to Dehydrated Onions 1. Decanting and skin peeling Right after harvesting, the onions will be taken directly to the factories for processing. Cleanliness follows in the factories by completely removing dirt, debris, and all the soil that may be attached to them. The peeling of onions is followed by washing; hence the onions can be sliced and cut for use. 2. Cutting and slicing Now cut onions into different dimensions depending on the different desired end products. Dehydrated onion flakes, powder, and granules vary in size according to the pieces of onions used. Onion flakes require longer slices, while onion powder requires smaller cuts of pieces. 3. Methods of Dehydration The onions are now ready to be dehydrated. It has an advantage over other dehydration methods because it is quite inexpensive. The pieces are placed in drying machines or dehydrators, using hot air circulation at low temperatures to remove moisture while preserving nutrients. During drying, the water content of an onion is reduced to about 80-90%. As a result, an onion loses considerable weight and volume but can be stored and transported efficiently at the cost of flavor and nutrients. 4. Packaging and Distribution Quality and Freshness After dehydration, the dehydrated onions are packed and then distributed. Packaging would further become an important activity to maintain the product quality. Packaging typically is done airtight, often through vacuum packaging so that the dehydrated onions don’t get any further moisture re entry and related spoilage. Often the dried onions are placed in nitrogen-flushed bags and bagged to maintain freshness. The information needed for the packaged product, which may include weight of the product, nutritional facts, and date of manufacture, often accompanies such packages. From here, dehydrated onions are spread across international markets, restaurants, and food manufacturers. This product boasts a shelf life that is quite impressive and can be very handy for food businesses to look for reliable supplies of ingredients with a diminished chance of spoilage. Benefits of Dehydrated Onions Over Fresh Onions 1. Shelf Life One of the most important benefits of dehydrated onions is longer shelf-life. In contrast, fresh onions go bad within weeks. Dehydrated onions, when preserved properly, are good for months and even years, which is excellent for emergency food supplies, as well as for camping trips or to cut back on waste. 2. Convenience Even dehydrated onions can help in time saving. They can save time because the peeled, chopped onions do not give their owner tears from onion crying while cutting; just take a handful of onion flakes or granules and go. It makes them suitable for busy household, professional kitchens, and food manufacturers. Owing to the lightness and lesser volume of dehydrated onions, it is cheaper to transport and store them compared with the fresh onions. This means greater efficiency is passed on to customers in terms of reduced prices without compromise on quality. 3. Uniform Taste Fresh onions differ in flavor for each season, varieties, and their growing region. Dehydrated onions, by contrast, are predictably flavored and thus ideal for food manufacturers seeking uniformity in their products. Applications of Dehydrated Onions in Cookery Dehydrated onions can be used in countless ways in nearly every kind

Farm to Table: The Journey of Dehydrated Onions Read More »

Dehydrated-Garlic

How Dehydrated Garlic is Made: From Farm To Table

Although garlic is a staple in every kitchen, providing the rich flavor in many dishes, have you ever wondered how dehydrated garlic is prepared? From the farm to your table, dehydrated garlic goes through a very interesting process. It not only saves time preparing meals but is chock-full of health benefits and promises you a way that is more sustainable while thinking about food storage. In this blog post, we’ll take you on a journey through making dehydrated garlic and how it could be that revolution you never needed to have in your life’s cooking. The Life Cycle of Dehydrated Garlic: From Fresh to Dehydrated Delight Step 1: Garlic Harvest Dehydrated garlic stems from fresh garlic bulbs harvested from a garlic farm. The garlic bulbs are cleaned and peeled; then the cloves are separated. For maximum flavor and nutrition, garlic is harvested when it is at its peak. Step 2: Dehydration Of Garlic Once you have harvested your garlic, they are brought to out facility where the garlics are selected based on numerous factors such as quality, freshness, size, aroma and many more. This process is done in two steps where the garlics are hand picked and then(next) they are screened by the machines on the mentioned important factors and sent forward to a collection box using a conveyor belt. The garlics are then cleaned properly to process, peeled for preparation and then(later) fed to the dehydrator. Once the dehydrator is done removing the moisture, the prepared Dehydrated Garlic is then(next) sent to a colour sorter where they are sorted and selected on the basis of their colour. From here some quantitity(batch) of Dried Garlics are picked to prepare Chopped, Minced, Granular and Powder Dehydrated Garlic. Post this step the Inspection of Dehydrated Garlic is first done using Metal detector machine and then(later) it has to pass the Manual inspection and sorting process to be checked for presence of foreign substances such as metal pieces. This brings us to the final step where the prepared Dried Garlic is sent for packaging. When the garlic has been fully dried, it can then be processed into several forms such as: Dehydrated Garlic Cloves (5mm to 10mm) Dehydrated Garlic Diced (3mm to 5mm) Dehydrated Garlic Chopped (3mm to 5mm) Dehydrated Garlic Minced (1mm to 3mm) Dehydrated Garlic Granules (0.1mm to 0.3mm and 0.3mm to 0.5mm) Dehydrated Garlic Powder(80mesh to 110 mesh) Practical Cooking Tips Using Dehydrated Garlic Do you ever wonder how to use dehydrated garlic as an ingredient in your dishes? Dehydrated garlic is the most versatile and very convenient when you are short on preparation time in the kitchen. Here’s how to be creative with using it in your cooking: Soups and Stews: Add dehydrated garlic granules or minced dehydrated garlic to soups or stews for that deep, savoury flavor. Salad Dressings: Add a pinch of dehydrated garlic powder to your homemade dressings for that extra zing. Garlic Bread: Mix dehydrated garlic powder or minced garlic into butter, spread on bread, and toast for the perfect garlic bread. Dehydrated garlic minced or chopped is great for seasoning marinades for meats, vegetables, or tofu. Spice Blends: Make your own spice blend using dehydrated garlic powder combined with herbs like oregano, rosemary and thyme. Pro Tip: You don’t have a dehydrator? No worries. You can also make homemade garlic powder by drying garlic in the oven or air-drying it. The result is an amazingly flavored homemade seasoning. Health Benefits of Dehydrated Garlic Not only does dehydrated garlic add flavor, but it also yields you a ton of health benefits. With the contents, it mainly manages to preserve most of the nutrients by comparing it with fresh garlic. Here’s how dehydrated garlic might benefit your health. Antioxidant-Rich: Dehydrated garlic is full of antioxidants that help protect your body from oxidative stress. Promotes Heart Health: Garlic increases the level of cholesterol in the body, lowers blood pressure, and improves heart health. Boosts Immune System: Consuming garlic every day can give strength to the immune system and reduce the risk of infections. Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties: The presence of sulfur compounds in the ingredient makes the best joint and body health. With the addition of this dehydrated garlic, whether diced, minced, or powdered, you will then be able to get these health benefits in a more convenient form. Why Dehydrated Garlic Appeals to Everyone Dehydrated garlic is a hero in the kitchen for various reasons: it is appealing to home cooks who want to enhance their recipes’ flavor and nutritional value, food storage enthusiasts always on the lookout for long-lasting food, and people trying to live a healthy lifestyle by using healthy ingredients. Convenience: Dehydrated garlic doesn’t need to be peeled and chopped like fresh garlic. Regardless of whether you’re working with garlic cloves or garlic powder, it can go directly into your dish. Flexibility: Use dehydrated garlic in countless recipes-from pasta sauce and stir-fries to dressings and spice rubs. Sustainability: Because dehydrated garlic lasts much longer than fresh, the less often you have to go shopping for it, which minimizes food waste. Ecologically-friendly: It doesn’t need refrigeration or preservatives on the garlic for it to be dehydrated, thus an ecologically friendly method in preserving food. You can try Dehydrated Garlic Cloves, Garlic Minced, or Garlic Powder, and you can experiment with the difference in using different textures and flavors, hence what you would prefer for the cuisine needed. Reduce Food Waste and Long Shelf Life One of the most significant benefits of dehydrated garlic is that it prevents you from wasting food. The people do not like to use fresh garlic much, as it will turn bad before all of it is used. Dehydrated garlic is stored up to two years if placed at the right place and properly taken care of. That is why it is perfectly suitable for an individual wishing to reduce kitchen waste yet have an assured stock of garlic. Storage Tips: Store the dehydrated garlic in an airtight container, kept

How Dehydrated Garlic is Made: From Farm To Table Read More »