*Onion is the name of many plants in the onion family, Alliaceae. But used without any specific name, it most commonly refers to the onion, Allium cepa.

*Onions have an external thin, papery non-edible layers of skin and internally, many concentric fleshy layers.

*Dehydrated onions have a lighter weight, inexpensive than the fresh ones, and keep well indefinitely.

*These need to be rehydrated for 15-20 minutes before cooking. On rehydration, the weight and volume increases 2.5 to 3 times their dry weight.

*They can also be added to soups, stews, etc.

*These are excellent as emergency foods, and widely used in army, military, hiking, etc.

*Rehydrated onions may not be as crunchy as the fresh ones, but cooked rehydrated onions taste almost similar to their cooked fresh counterparts.

*Buying and storage: Select good quality dehydrated onions. They keep very well for several months to several years when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. No need to refrigerate or add oxygen absorbers to the storage container.

Is it raw?

Yes and No.
*Yes, generally dehydrated onions are raw.
*No, because sometimes commercially dehydrated onions are sulphured. Make sure you read the label.

Health Benefits

1. Dehydrated onions are low in calories, sodium, fats with absolutely no cholesterol.

2. A lot of sulphur containing compounds and phytonutrients are lost during the dehydration process, but they still retain many other nutrients.

3. The flavonoid quercitin has antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties, and is shown to protect the colon cells from carcinogenic damage and reduce the risk of colon cancer.

4. Onions also reduce the risk of several types of cancers like that of oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, GI tract, breast, ovaries, and prostate.

5. Onions also promote bone health by reducing the resorption of bones and inhibiting the action of bone-destroying osteoclasts. Regular consumption can reduce the risk of osteoporosis in older women.

6. Onions also reduce the risk of anti-inflammatory diseases like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and relieve the pain from inflammation.

7. Moderate source of Vitamin C, manganese and selenium together act as antioxidants in scavenging the free radicals, thus reducing the risk of degenerative diseases and heavy metal poisoning.

8. Good source of manganese, which is an essential cofactor in many enzymatic reactions in the body, especially in the production of energy and antioxidants defenses.

9. Good source of chromium, which is the mineral that helps the cells to respond to insulin, thus lowering the blood sugar levels.