Dehydrated onion granules from India, tested before they ship
Free-flowing particles for seasonings, rubs, shakers and meat products. We find the plant that mills and sieves them, set the mesh and dust limits and test every lot.
Onion granules are dried onion milled and sieved into coarse particles, often quoted around 0.2 to 1 mm or in the region of 16 to 80 mesh, and sold in the US trade as granulated onion. Seasoning and snack makers, rub and shaker brands and meat processors buy them because they flow, dose evenly and cake less than powder. The main risks are size drift, as fines build up in handling and worn sieves let oversize through, and faults that milling hides, such as dark particles and foreign matter. We work for you, not the factory: we set the mesh, fines and colour limits with the plant, test each lot at an NABL-accredited lab and draw sieve samples before the container is sealed.
Specification
What goes into a dehydrated onion granules spec
| What to set | What buyers usually write, for illustration |
|---|---|
| Particle size | A mesh band such as 40 to 80 mesh, or a named coarse or fine grade, with the sieve series (US or ISO) and a minimum share in range |
| Oversize | A maximum percentage retained on the top sieve |
| Fines and dust | A maximum percentage through the bottom sieve, since powder in a granule lot dusts, separates and cakes |
| Moisture | A maximum, commonly in the region of 5 to 6 percent for dehydrated onion, with the method named |
| Colour | Measured on the granules themselves against a sealed reference sample, not assumed from the flake grade |
| Microbiology | Limits for total plate count, coliforms, E. coli, yeast and mould by named ISO methods |
| Salmonella | Absent in 25 g on every lot, with no release until results are in |
| Treatment | Untreated or steam sterilised, and no ethylene oxide (ETO), tested for ETO and 2-chloroethanol |
| Pesticide residues | A multi-residue screen against your market's limits, for example EU MRLs |
These are typical trade figures for illustration only, so set your own limits for your recipe, market and grade.
Uses
Where buyers use it
Automated seasoning lines
Granules pour and meter consistently through feeders and dosing equipment, where fine powder can bridge in hoppers.
Dry rubs and barbecue seasoning
Visible particles are part of the look of a rub, and granules release flavour more gradually than powder.
Retail shakers
Flow from the cap matters and caking causes complaints, so shaker brands often choose granules over powder.
Burgers and sausages
Granules spread evenly through a meat mix and add a little texture with no visible onion pieces.
Dry soup and noodle mixes
Slower hydration is acceptable in these mixes, and granules handle better than powder in filling machines.
Ordering
What to write into the order
- A mesh band, the sieve series and a minimum share in range
- Oversize and fines limits, with samples drawn from several points in the lot
- A colour limit tested on the granules, with a sealed reference sample
- Maximum moisture and the test method
- Untreated or steam sterilised, and no ETO treatment
- Microbiology limits and Salmonella absent in 25 g
- Metal detection at packing, with test records
- 100 percent onion, with no additive unless agreed in writing
Shipping
HS code, packing and loads
HS code
Onion granules sit under HS 0712.20 with other dried onion, whether cut or milled, and the Indian line is 0712 20 00. Your customs broker confirms the full import code.
Packing
Cartons or multiwall paper bags, both with sealed polyethylene liners. Bags fit more into a container but protect less against crushing and give less stable stacks.
Container load
Granules are dense, so a 20 ft container can come close to full use, very roughly in the low to mid teens of tonnes. Check the shipping line's weight limit and ask for the plant's last actual loading.
Shelf life
Suppliers commonly state 12 to 24 months in sealed packs stored cool and dry. Granules keep their flow better than powder, but humid storage still causes lumps.
Questions
Dehydrated onion granules: common questions
What mesh size are onion granules?
There is no official standard. Granules are often quoted in the region of 16 to 80 mesh, split into coarse and fine grades, and 40 to 80 mesh is a common band. Name the sieve series, since US and ISO sieves differ slightly.
Should I buy onion granules or onion powder?
Choose granules when flow, low dust and resistance to caking matter, such as in rubs, shakers and automated dosing. Choose powder when the onion must disperse evenly into a sauce, blend or snack coating.
Are onion granules made from lower grade onion?
Many plants make granules from lower colour grades of flake. That is normal as long as the granules meet your own colour limit, so judge them against a reference sample of the granules, not of the flake.
Why do onion granules arrive with more fines?
Particles rub and break in handling, and fines settle to the bottom of a pack. Sample from several points in the lot, set a fines limit and agree whether size is checked at loading or on arrival.
Do you sell dehydrated onion granules?
No. Creston & Co is a sourcing agent. You buy directly from the plant we help you choose, and we work for you: audits, lab tests, inspection and loading supervision, for a fee agreed in writing.
Buyer guides
Read more on dehydrated onion granules
- Onion powder vs onion granules4 min
- Dehydrated onion powder, granules and mesh sizes explained3 min
- Onion flakes vs minced vs granules vs powder: forms compared4 min
- What are the standard particle sizes for each onion form?3 min
- How many tonnes of dehydrated onion fit in a 20 ft container?3 min
- Steam-sterilised vs untreated dehydrated onion4 min
- How should dehydrated onion be packed: cartons with liners or bags?3 min
Start with a free 20-minute sourcing call.
Tell us the product, the spec and the volume. We'll tell you what it should cost from India, what to test for and where the risks are. No fee, no obligation, and you keep the notes.