Why dehydrated powders?
Making dehydrated powders is a great way to get the most out of your fresh produce, save room on food storage and is an easy way to add extra flavour to your meals. When it comes to choosing what foods are best to make into a dehydrated powder, the choices are endless!
- You can keep it simple with a single ingredient powder—think garlic or lemon.
- Or you can get creative and make your own customised blends of fruits, vegetables or spices which can be added to soups, used to season meats, sprinkled over desserts, or scooped into your morning smoothie for that extra zing!
- Another reason why dehydrated powders should be filling the shelves of kitchen pantries everywhere is that we’re all conscious of living a healthy way of life and want to ensure we’re getting the required intake of daily nutrients in our diet. Although dehydrated powders are no substitute for eating a well-balanced diet of whole foods, they can be easily added to various dishes or foods to boost the nutritional levels of what we’re consuming.
- Did we mention that making your own dehydrated powders can save you money and the planet too? No more supermarket spices, powdered stock, seasonings or even tomato paste—you can now create all of these yourself, which will keep some items off of your shopping list and therefore cut down on unnecessary packaging/waste in the home or business.
So, where to start? Let’s look at the different types of dehydrated powders and their benefits.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF POWDERS & THE BENEFITS
dehydrated Vegetable powders
As we know, dehydrated vegetables are great for a healthy snack and they make fabulous garnishes for drinks, but vegetables are also super nutritious when converted into dehydrated powders. Whether they’re fresh from the grocer or no longer in peak form, veggies can make delicious dehydrated powders—use what you have around the home and simply cut off any bruising or damaged bits if needed and you’re good to go. There really isn’t a vegetable that doesn’t work well as a dehydrated powder—it’s more a matter of what tickles your fancy and your tastebuds the most. We’ve listed our favourite dehydrated vegetable powders below, but get creative—the sky’s the limit!
1. Beetroot powder
Beets are a powerful superfood that are not only a rich source of fibre, iron, potassium and vitamin C but they’re also packed with antioxidants, providing a tonne of physical and mental health benefits. Whether you enjoy eating the actual vegetable or not, dehydrated beetroot powder is a great alternative being that it’s super concentrated and delivers the same nutritional perks—even with just a teaspoon or two added to your daily diet.
With a subtly sweet flavour that’s not overpowering, beetroot powder can be added to almost anything.
- Scoop a spoonful into your morning smoothie, for that extra energy and vitality before your workout.
- Sprinkle over your salads or vegetables for extra flavour.
- Blend into your homemade yoghurt or dip, giving it that vibrant, rosy colour.
Beetroot powder delivers anti-inflammatory benefits, supports healthy liver function, assists with weight loss, can improve blood and heart health, helps with muscle recovery and repair, and boosts mental focus and alertness.
2. Tomato powder
Another powder that’s filled to the brim with nutritional benefits and flavour is tomato powder, and it can be added to almost anything.
- Sprinkle over eggs, pasta, pizza and baked veggies.
- Blend into your juices, sauces and dips.
- Stir through salad dressings and soups.
- Mix with water to make your very own tomato paste.
No matter what you combine it with, dehydrated tomato powder is guaranteed to give any dish that zesty tomato flavour. Tomato powder is rich in antioxidants as well as vitamins A, B and C, and is also high in minerals including potassium, magnesium, fibre and iron, amongst others. The benefits of adding dehydrated tomato powder to your daily diet are that it supports healthy digestive/bowel function, improves skin and bone health, protects the immune system and can assist in the prevention of chronic disease.
3. Greens powder
Think of a greens powder as a superfood powerhouse! You may have seen a bunch of greens powders on the shelves of health food stores, but you can create your own dehydrated greens powder at home—packing in as much nutritional goodness as your heart desires! We’ve all heard that we should eat more greens—well this is one way to boost your daily intake of veggies—and you can even mix in other nutrient-rich, non-green produce too, which will only increase the health benefits.
When it comes to deciding what to make your dehydrated greens powder with, there are really no set rules. Think dark leafy greens as a base, like kale and spinach, which are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants but low in calories and carbs. From there you can add pretty much anything—celery stalks/leaves, lettuce/salad greens, herbs, wheatgrass, broccoli, cabbage—you can even add fruits such as berries and apples, or root vegetables like beetroot and turnips—these will all increase the nutrient content and provide a sweeter flavour to your greens powder.
Dehydrated greens powders are easy to use and can be enjoyed simply by mixing a spoonful with a glass of water or in various recipes.
- Add a scoop to your smoothies or shakes.
- Sprinkle over your salads, casseroles or stews.
- Mix with various sauces, condiments and eggs.
- Combine with yoghurt, dips and morning oats.
- Use to make savoury breads, including pumpkin and sweet potato.
This dehydrated powder of concentrated nutrients can help your body cleanse and detoxify, aid in balancing hormones, protect heart and blood health, and support brain function and mental well-being.
4. carrot powder
Whilst whole carrots are packed with nutrients, the nutritional value of dehydrated carrot powder is much greater. This is because the dehydration process removes the high moisture content found in the vegetable, making it much more nutrient-dense and super easy to incorporate into your diet. Who wants to peel a carrot every morning to add to their daily juice when instead, you could just add a teaspoon of dehydrated carrot powder and get all the nutrients you need?!
A great source of antioxidants, dehydrated carrot powder can be used in a variety of ways.
- Add to smoothies, juices or soups.
- Stir through yoghurt or dips such as hummus or garlic dip.
- Mix into stews, gravies or various meat dishes.
- Use when baking sweet treats such as carrot cake, muffins or scones.
- Enjoy simply by mixing a teaspoon with a glass of water.
- Make at-home skincare products including face masks and exfoliators.
Dehydrated carrot powder is rich in vitamins and minerals including fibre, iron, niacin, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin B6, and contains very little fat or calories—proving beneficial for those with weight loss goals. Other health benefits gained from dehydrated carrot powder include improving heart and blood health, assisting with digestion and general bowel health, reducing inflammation in the body, and protecting the skin from damaging free radicals—preventing dark spots, fine lines and signs of ageing.
5. Celery powder
Who doesn’t love a bit of celery salt on the rim of their cocktail glass? Think Bloody Mary or a Caesar if you’re in Canada, celery powder mixed with salt creates the perfect finishing touch for cocktail hour!
Dehydrated celery powder is filled with antioxidants and is rich in vitamin C which protects the immune system, as well as vitamin K which is associated with bone and blood health. It also contains an adequate amount of dietary fibre that allows for the proper function of your digestive system and helps to reduce cholesterol levels.
Whilst dehydrated celery powder is commonly used with cocktails, it also has many other uses.
- A great addition to salad dressings and juices.
- Mix with water to make a simple celery juice.
- Create your very own homemade celery salt—perfect as a meat seasoning or bbq rub.
- Stir through soups to give them a thickness and savoury flavour.
Feeling inspired? Get creative and try some of our other suggested vegetables below to make dehydrated powders. You can even make your very own vegetable stock!
Dehydrated spices and seasonings
Having a kitchen pantry stocked with an array of spices is a must-have for any foodie or chef. No more spending money on jars of powders from the supermarket, now you can make your very own dehydrated seasonings. Herbs are generally the leafy parts of plants that are used to provide a subtle flavour to food, and will often be added towards the end of the cooking process, or even used fresh as a garnish.
Like herbs, spices are sourced from plants (think more of the seeds/buds/roots) and are typically used to add flavour and even colouring to your cooking, as they tend to be more aromatic and deliver a more intense flavour to your dishes. Seasonings are a combination of herbs and/or spices and can be great as a meat rub, dusted over seafood or sprinkled onto salads. We’ve highlighted a few of our go-to dehydrated spices, seasonings and herb powders below for you to enjoy.
1. garlic powder
Although a vegetable, dehydrated garlic powder is in fact considered a spice and is super easy to make at home. Think of it as your must-have dehydrated powder for any recipe that calls for garlic, as it saves you peeling and chopping up fresh garlic but still delivers the same delicious flavour to any dish. Dehydrated garlic powder is often more concentrated than fresh garlic, so it’s best to start with less when using it in cooking and add more as needed. Because of its higher concentration, dehydrated garlic powder offers more nutrients from just a small amount, rather than consuming several garlic cloves to gain the same nutritional benefits (a teaspoon is equivalent to 8 x garlic cloves).
Garlic powder provides an array of health benefits and has been used throughout history to fight disease and prevent various illnesses. Garlic is rich in vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants and can support overall blood and heart health, protect the immune system, and help to lower cholesterol levels. Mix with salt to make your very own homemade garlic salt.
Dehydrated garlic powder can add flavour to many dishes.
- Use it to season eggs, veggies or dips.
- Perfect for marinating meats, seasoning fish or combined with other spices/seasonings to create a meat rub.
- Mix into salad dressings or homemade sauces/condiments.
- Sprinkle over snacks such as popcorn and fries.
- Dust over bread to make delicious garlic bread/pizza.
2. chili powder
Dehydrated chilli powder is essential in delivering that heat and rich flavour to your cooking. As with most homemade dehydrated powders, making your own dehydrated chill powder will deliver a flavour and intensity unlike any store bought variety. Also, you can get creative with the types of chillies used—there are so many available across the globe and each will deliver a distinct flavour that differs from the next. When you start exploring, you’ll uncover fiery, smokey, earthy and even sweet flavours from the different varieties.
Chilli powder is commonly found in Mexican, Asian and Indian cooking and can also be used in various recipes.
- Season or cook with meat, poultry and fish.
- Add to pasta, stir-fries and rice dishes.
- Use in curries, stews and beans.
- Sprinkle over vegetables or even snacks, like popcorn, for added heat.
Chilli powder is also packed with nutrients and is a rich source of vitamins A and C, iron and dietary fibre. Red chillies contain even more vitamin C than those found in oranges, so they’re great in helping to fight sickness and prevent illness. Some of the other benefits of adding dehydrated chilli powder to your diet are that it reduces inflammation, improves brain function, assists with digestion, supports heart health, and being it contains high levels of both vitamins A and C, it helps to improve both skin and hair.
3. turmeric powder
This is a dehydrated powder that you never want to have a shortage of as it provides an abundance of health benefits, being that it contains active herbal compounds with medicinal properties. The most predominant of these compounds is curcumin, which has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, helping to reduce the risk of chronic disease, including heart disease and various cancers.
Dehydrated turmeric powder is one of those spices that can be added to many dishes.
- Mix through curries, soups and roasted vegetables.
- Add a spoonful to your smoothies and fresh juices.
- Make a deliciously creamy turmeric latte.
- Sprinkle through scrambled eggs or frittata.
- Use in various rice recipes.
Turmeric powder is full of flavour and although it’s often used in curries, it delivers more of an earthy, slightly bitter yet subtly sweet flavour, rather than a spicy one.
4. ginger powder
Like most homemade powders, dehydrated ginger powder delivers more flavour and a stronger aroma than the store bought varieties. Ginger has a distinct sweet and spicy flavour which is widely used in many recipes, particularly throughout Asian cuisine.
- Mix with other spices and/or seasonings to create your own spice blend.
- Add to curries, stir-fries, rice and soups.
- Combine with other spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and fennel to make a home remedy of hot tea, helping to relieve a sore throat or cold.
Ginger powder provides a heap of health benefits and has been used for medicinal purposes for decades. With its anti-inflammatory properties, dehydrated ginger powder can settle an upset stomach, helping to neutralise stomach acids and assist with digestion, as well as cure motion sickness or even morning sickness. Dehydrated ginger powder also delivers skincare benefits—it can help kill bacteria that cause acne and clears the skin by unclogging pores. Simply mix dehydrated ginger powder with milk to create a paste, and you have your very own at-home mask that will leave your skin feeling refreshed and glowing.
So, a tonne of benefits for your overall health, mind and body, simply by creating a variety of dehydrated spices and seasonings with your dehydrator. These are a few of our favourites, but try our other suggestions below and if you’re feeling adventurous, create your very own spice blend.
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground parsley
- Ground coriander/cilantro
- Onion powder
- Curry powder
- Meat/poultry seasoning
- Pumpkin spice powder blend
- Chilli powder blend
dehydrated Fruit powders
Fruit powders are something we may not see or use as often as dehydrated vegetable powders or spices/seasonings, however, they’re a great addition to any kitchen and can be used in a variety of desserts and baked goods, or even combined with spices to create a uniquely flavoursome meat rub.
You can also use dehydrated fruit powders to create at home face masks and skin care remedies, to flavour water or tea, or combine with sugar to use on the rim of cocktail glasses!Many fruit powders are made with the peels of the fruit rather than the fruit itself—so don't throw out those fruit skins and scraps as they’re likely what you’ll need to make your own stash of delicious fruit powders.
Dehydrated fruit powders are very concentrated, deliver high levels of flavour and retain a lot of their nutritional value through the dehydration process. As with vegetables, there are so many fruits to choose from when making dehydrated fruit powders at home—there really is no limitation. Check out some of our favourites below.
1. orange powder
Dehydrated orange powder is made from the peels of oranges and it’s a vitamin-packed powder that can be used in a variety of ways, especially as a part of your beauty regime. Like a lot of fruit and vegetable powders, dehydrated orange powder is a great addition to your morning smoothie as it will increase your nutrient and vitamin intake for the day significantly. Orange peels contain higher levels of vitamins and minerals than the actual fruit, so it’s also super beneficial when used to create at-home skin care products for both the face and body.
A rich source of vitamin C, calcium and magnesium, dehydrated orange powder can help to boost collagen levels in the skin, clear acne with its antibacterial properties, reduce the appearance of fine lines and pigmentation, brighten and give a glow to the skin, and it also acts as a great skin exfoliator for both the face and body. Dehydrated orange powder also supports internal health—assisting with digestion, protecting the immune system and promoting good heart and cardiovascular health.
Other uses for dehydrated orange powder include:
- Add to cake, biscuit or scone recipes.
- Sprinkle over salads or use to create various dressings.
- Provides flavour to many pork and chicken recipes.
- Mix with milk or yoghurt to create an at-home cleanser, face mask or hair mask.
2. lemon powder
Like orange powder, dehydrated lemon powder is made with the peels of lemons and provides a tonne of nutritional benefits for the body, both inside and out. Out of all the fruits and vegetables, lemons are one of the richest sources of vitamin C, which is a super powerful antioxidant that can improve skin health and protect you from damaging free radicals. Mixing dehydrated lemon powder with warm water can help to relieve constipation and improve digestion, and a spoonful added to your water glass or daily water bottle can increase the flavour and improve hydration.
The uses for dehydrated lemon powder are endless!
- Sprinkle over salads, cooked vegetables, yoghurts and avocado on toast.
- Combine with salt, pepper and various other dehydrated herb powders to customise your own seasoning for meat or seafood.
- Add it to baked goods, such as cakes, muffins, cookies and sweet breads.
- Use it to create body care products including face masks, body exfoliators and bath oils.
- Make your own eco-friendly cleaning products.
3. berry powder
There are many berries you can use to create dehydrated berry powder including goji berries, acai berries, raspberries, maqui berries, cherries and blackcurrants. Most are rich in vitamins C and E and are packed with nutrients like fibre, magnesium, calcium, iron and antioxidants which offer a range of health benefits. Dehydrated berry powder supports brain function, boosts energy and performance, improves skin health and helps to fight disease and illness.
You can start off by making a single berry powder if you wish, or boost the nutritional value and create a powerful blend by combining a variety of berries together.
Dehydrated berry powder is made using the whole berry rather than just the skin, and can be used in a variety of ways.
- Add to yoghurt, smoothies and breakfast oats.
- Mix through salads or salad dressing.
- Combine with milk, whipped cream or cream cheese to add flavour.
- Increase flavour and add colour to homemade bread, pancakes and muffins.
- Use in desserts such as pies, cakes/icing and ice cream.
- Combine with dehydrated spice/seasoning powders to create BBQ rubs and various meat seasonings.
4. pineapple powder
Dehydrated pineapple powder will intensify the flavour of any dish or recipe it’s added to. Another fruit that’s a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, it's packed with nutrients such as magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron, and offers a variety of benefits for your body and overall health and well-being. Dehydrated pineapple powder can assist with digestion, reduce inflammation and help the body rid itself of toxins. It also contains the fruit enzyme bromelain, which helps promote healthy, youthful looking skin through the exfoliation of dead skin cells. Dehydrated pineapple powder also supports the development of muscle and helps to maintain lean muscle mass in the body.
Like other fruit powders, dehydrated pineapple powder can be used in a variety of ways.
- Add to homemade juices and smoothies.
- Sprinkle over yoghurt, morning oats and granola.
- Use to make cakes/icing, muffins, scones and cookies.
- Make homemade sauces and glazes.
- Create various meat rubs for pork and chicken.
You can also combine other fruit powders with dehydrated pineapple powder and customise your own fruit blend—boosting the levels of vitamins and minerals.
Dehydrated fruit powders are not only delicious and flavoursome, but they’re super nutritious and super easy to make. Start off with these, but then why not explore other dehydrated fruit powders, including our suggestions below.
- Mango powder
- Lime powder
- Strawberry powder
- Banana powder
- Citrus powder blend
how to make dehydrated powders
Making your very own dehydrated powders is super simple and made even easier if you have a good quality food dehydrator. At Commercial Dehydrators, our dehydrating units range from a 16 tray dehydrator, right up to a 60 tray dehydrator, and are all made with premium quality materials and superior features—ensuring a quality product and efficient dehydrating process. Before starting the dehydrating process you can pre-treat your fruits and vegetables which will help preserve the colour, texture and flavour. This is done by dipping them in citric acid or lemon juice, or alternatively, dropping them in boiling water for a couple of minutes, followed by quickly immersing them in a bowl of ice water. This process is optional, and if you’re not too fussed about the colouring of the end result then you can skip this step—but it can also help to speed up the dehydrating time.
After you have washed your fruits and vegetables (or pre-treated them), slice them as thin and as evenly as possible to ensure they all dehydrate at the same time. With leafy greens and herbs, just lay them out in a single layer across the dehydrator trays.
All fruits and vegetables will take different times to dehydrate but both should be completely dry and without any moisture. Fruits will tend to have a leathery texture, whilst vegetables will be hard and brittle. To ensure all the moisture has been removed during dehydration, it’s important to condition the fruits and vegetables before grinding them into a powder. This can be done by placing them into a glass jar for approximately 4-10 days, and if the dehydrated food sticks together or to the glass jar/container when shaken, you will need to put them back in your dehydrator for a little longer and repeat this process. Following this step, it’s time to grind your dehydrated fruits and vegetables in a food processor, high powered blender or coffee grinder to create your dehydrated powder. If you notice any larger pieces haven’t blended, simply sift your powder and re-blend any of the larger remaining pieces.
BEST STORAGE SOLUTIONS AND SHELF LIFE
To avoid clumping or caking of your powders during storage, place your powder on a paper-lined baking tray and pop it in the oven at 90°C for around 15-20 minutes, before transferring it to your jar or container. This will help preserve the powders and ensure they last for years. Dehydrated powders are best kept in airtight containers or glass jars and stored in a cool/dark location to maintain their quality.
Both dehydrated vegetables and dehydrated fruit powders last up to 6-9 months if stored correctly and dehydrated spices or seasonings can last up to a year. If you don’t feel you’re going to get through your dehydrated powder this quickly, simply store your dehydrated fruits, vegetables and spices whole and grind them into a powder when needed.
our conversion guide
See below for a quick guide on the conversion ratio of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs to dehydrated powders.
Fruits
1 cup fresh fruits
=
½ cup dehydrated fruits
=
½ Tbsp dehydrated fruit powder
Vegetables
½ - 2 cups fresh vegetables
=
1 cup dehydrated vegetables
=
½ cup dehydrated vegetable powder
herbs
1 Tbsp fresh herbs
=
1 tsp dehydrated herbs
=
¼ teaspoon dehydrated herb powder
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