Dehydrated Powders

Beets are a classic Canadian storage crop and a brilliant first powder to make. They grow well in home gardens across many regions, are common at autumn markets and keep well before drying. Their deep colour and earthy-sweet flavour make a small amount of powder go a long way in baking, smoothies and savoury dishes. Beets provide fibre, folate and minerals, but powder is concentrated, so use it for flavour and variety rather than as a health cure.

With a subtly sweet flavour that’s not overpowering, beet 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.

‍Check out our recipe on how to make this here.

Tomato powder is a standout Canadian pantry ingredient, especially after the late-summer tomato rush. Field-grown tomatoes are a major Ontario crop, while greenhouse production helps extend domestic availability. If you grow tomatoes or buy a flat from a farm stand, drying ripe, sound tomatoes into powder is a practical way to use every last one.

• 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.

‍Check out our recipe on how to make this here.

Think of a greens powder as a flexible home-made pantry blend rather than a miracle product. Canadian gardeners often have an abundance of kale, chard, parsley, beet greens and spinach in late spring through early autumn, depending on the province and growing conditions. Dry only clean, fresh leaves and make modest batches so the colour and flavour stay at their best.

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.

‍Check out our recipe on how to make this here.

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.

‍Check out our recipe on how to make this here.

Who doesn't love celery salt on the rim of a Caesar? In Canada, celery powder mixed with salt is a natural fit for this iconic brunch cocktail, as well as for homemade savoury rubs, soups and stocks.

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.

‍Check out our recipe on how to make this here.

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!

• Broccoli powder
• Capsicum/Pepper powder
• Pumpkin powder
• Bean powder
• Mushroom powder
• Cauliflower powder

Dehydrated orange powder is usually made from the peel. Oranges are imported in Canada rather than locally grown, so choose unwaxed fruit where possible and wash it well before drying. The zest-like powder is useful when you want bright citrus flavour without wasting peel. 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.

Like orange powder, dehydrated lemon powder is commonly made with peel. Lemons are generally imported into Canada, but they are available year-round and are especially useful for preserving a small amount of zest before fruit goes soft in the refrigerator. 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.

Canada offers excellent berries for powder: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, Saskatoon berries, cherries and blackcurrants. B.C. is particularly important for highbush blueberries and many other berry crops, while Atlantic Canada is well known for wild blueberries and cranberries. Use local berries in season or Canadian frozen berries when they are more available or economical. 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.

Dehydrated pineapple powder will intensify the flavour of any dish or recipe it is added to. Pineapple is imported in Canada, so it is best treated as a flavourful occasional ingredient alongside more local fruit powders such as apple, berry or cranberry. 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