Freezing Onions

Mizmo

Mizmo

Well-known Member
Location
Ontario, Canada
I like the small spring onions but but now when shopping find that they come in bags. Too many for me.
As I do not cook too much anymore they end up going bad and are discarded.
I used to be able to buy them locally by quantity, usually two or three at a time which was good for me.
So what I want to know is.....can I freeze them whole. Peeled or unpeeled.
Anyone ever done that successfully ?

Internet search was unsatisfactory so would like some real time experience
Please and thank you...
 

It's not recommended to freeze whole onions because it's hard for them to thaw out all the way through to the middle.. but if you do freeze them you must Blanche them first.. 3 minutes small onion, 7 minutes larger onions.. cool then, freeze in a sealed airtight bag...

Better just to freeze chopped onions... but remember Onions start to degrade in quality after a year..
 
hollydolly said:
It's not recommended to freeze whole onions because it's hard for them to thaw out all the way through to the middle.. but if you do freeze them you must Blanche them first.. 3 minutes small onion, 7 minutes larger onions.. cool then, freeze in a sealed airtight bag...
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yes, did see all the ways to do it but just wanted some actual experience feedback...
 

@Mizmo, if you're talking about green onions AKA scallions, I've been freezing them for many years. I cut off the roots, then rinse, dry and slice them into small rings, white and green parts. Put them in a big freezer bag for future soups, stir-fries, scrambles and other foods where the onions don't need to be raw.

@hollydolly, you mentioned chopping regular onions before. Because of your tips, last week when I stumbled over a sale for (beautiful) brown/yellow onions at 39¢/lb, I bought 6-7 lbs. Got them home and chopped, ziplock bagged, and froze them. For the past six months at least, onions have ratcheted up in price and dropped in quality, so this was a real find.

It's very handy to have them ready to use in the freezer! Such a great idea.

green onions.JPG
 
StarSong said:
@Mizmo, if you're talking about green onions AKA scallions, I've been freezing them for many years. I cut off the roots, then rinse, dry and slice them into small rings, white and green parts. Put them in a big freezer bag for future soups, stir-fries, scrambles and other foods where the onions don't need to be raw.

[U
Click to expand...

StarSong said:
Thanks not scallions...small onion brand here called spring onions, as they come early in the year ....about size of medium tomato.
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Not that this comment is pertinent, just that onions is the topic. I was so sick of buying 2 or 3 pounds of onions and having them go rotten quickly, I bought a bag of organic onions a few weeks ago and still have one firm one left. I’ll check them out again.

Green onions at the grocery stores are $.97. If it looks like the price is going up instead of down, I’m going to try the freezing.

In the winter I sometimes buy frozen, chopped onions. They’re handy but not seem to have the zing I like. Will do in a pitch.
 
Onions will keep much longer if you hang them in a cool place, in the mesh bag they come in, so air can circulate around them. I have kept them a couple of months that way, often longer. They don't do as well in bins or the fridge. They need the air.
 
StarSong said:
@Mizmo, if you're talking about green onions AKA scallions, I've been freezing them for many years. I cut off the roots, then rinse, dry and slice them into small rings, white and green parts. Put them in a big freezer bag for future soups, stir-fries, scrambles and other foods where the onions don't need to be raw.

@hollydolly, you mentioned chopping regular onions before. Because of your tips, last week when I stumbled over a sale for (beautiful) brown/yellow onions at 39¢/lb, I bought 6-7 lbs. Got them home and chopped, ziplock bagged, and froze them. For the past six months at least, onions have ratcheted up in price and dropped in quality, so this was a real find.

It's very handy to have them ready to use in the freezer! Such a great idea.

View attachment 230250
Click to expand...
Oh yes, as you know.. I've been using frozen chopped onions for decades.. nothing simpler than having them all ready to just throw into everything ... so time saving and so easy for a few minutes initial prep..
 
Jules said:
Not that this comment is pertinent, just that onions is the topic. I was so sick of buying 2 or 3 pounds of onions and having them go rotten quickly, I bought a bag of organic onions a few weeks ago and still have one firm one left. I’ll check them out again.

Green onions at the grocery stores are $.97. If it looks like the price is going up instead of down, I’m going to try the freezing.

In the winter I sometimes buy frozen, chopped onions. They’re handy but not seem to have the zing I like. Will do in a pitch.
Click to expand...
Green onions are very cheap here, usually no more than 33¢/bunch, occasionally as low as 10¢/bunch. I buy to stock the freezer when they're tween 10-20¢/bunch.

Like you, I've been having a problem with onions spoiling very quickly. I jumped on the 39¢/lb sale because the price was right and they're really nice onions.
 
I have fresh green onions all winter. I buy onion sets in the spring at the hardware store. Some I use in the garden but the rest I store in the fridge in one of those perforated containers that strawberries come in.

I have an east facing window and plant the individual bulbs in a container just about a dozen at a time and as I use them I just stick another few in. I have green onions all winter this way.

They do not get as big around but come out about the same length as a regular store bought green onion.
 
Lee said:
I have fresh green onions all winter. I buy onion sets in the spring at the hardware store. Some I use in the garden but the rest I store in the fridge in one of those perforated containers that strawberries come in.

I have an east facing window and plant the individual bulbs in a container just about a dozen at a time and as I use them I just stick another few in. I have green onions all winter this way.

They do not get as big around but come out about the same length as a regular store bought green onion.
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What are onion sets?
 
I'm glad this topic came up, onions are near & dear to my heart. During warm weather I'm always in a mild state of anxiety over using fruits and vegetables before they rot. Freezing chopped onions is a great idea. Got me thinking: how about dehydrating onions? I've got a dehydrator... going to do a batch of onions dehydrated. May cost some in electricity, but I will save some $$ as I've regularly been buying dehydrated onions (minced actually)on Amazon.
 
I buy green onions fresh (we mostly call them scallions here), but I get frozen chopped onions for many other onion uses. They are sold in bags in the frozen vegetable bin, and are not at all expensive. You can get them with just onions, or mixed chopped onions and green peppers. I use both kinds. So much easier than bothering to slice and chop the onions myself. I guess I'm a lazy cook.
 
Mizmo said:
I like the small spring onions but but now when shopping find that they come in bags. Too many for me.
As I do not cook too much anymore they end up going bad and are discarded.
I used to be able to buy them locally by quantity, usually two or three at a time which was good for me.
So what I want to know is.....can I freeze them whole. Peeled or unpeeled.
Anyone ever done that successfully ?

Internet search was unsatisfactory so would like some real time experience
Please and thank you...
Click to expand...
I ‘ve never tried freezing them, but I’ve had good results placing them in a jar or glass of water in the refrigerator, like a bunch of flowers.

Be sure to change the water every few days and rinse them well before you use them.
 
Sunny said:
I buy green onions fresh (we mostly call them scallions here), but I get frozen chopped onions for many other onion uses. They are sold in bags in the frozen vegetable bin, and are not at all expensive. You can get them with just onions, or mixed chopped onions and green peppers. I use both kinds. So much easier than bothering to slice and chop the onions myself. I guess I'm a lazy cook.
Click to expand...

I did try the frozen chopped from Walmart. I felt they did not have enough flavour.
Think I will just settle for peeling, slicing not chopping and freeze.
 
Mizmo said:
I did try the frozen chopped from Walmart. I felt they did not have enough flavour.
Think I will just settle for peeling, slicing not chopping and freeze.
Click to expand...
I prefer - and usually have - fresh produce on hand, but when prices are crazy and quality is poor, I'm happy to have back up in the freezer.

These frozen, chopped onions will undoubtedly come in handy sooner rather than later, just as my bag o' green onions have.
 
Mizmo said:
I like the small spring onions but but now when shopping find that they come in bags. Too many for me.
As I do not cook too much anymore they end up going bad and are discarded.
I used to be able to buy them locally by quantity, usually two or three at a time which was good for me.
So what I want to know is.....can I freeze them whole. Peeled or unpeeled.
Anyone ever done that successfully ?

Internet search was unsatisfactory so would like some real time experience
Please and thank you...
Click to expand...
Like you, I don't do a lot of cooking. I used to buy onions (the ones in our local supermarket are huge) and I'd wind up wasting half an onion. I also used to buy peppers, wash them and cut them into slices to be frozen. I'm now using the frozen onion and pepper mixture which is so much easier and working great for me. If you don't care to have the peppers, I'd guess that the onions would freeze well. Make sure to put them in an airtight container or heavy freezer bag (I always double bag those using general mill cereal bags). Here's the brand we get; I find the flavor is fine. I believe Birdseye has something similar.

20220721_113519-1.jpg
 
OneEyedDiva said:
Like you, I don't do a lot of cooking. I used to buy onions (the ones in our local supermarket are huge) and I'd wind up wasting half an onion. I also used to buy peppers, wash them and cut them into slices to be frozen. I'm now using the frozen onion and pepper mixture which is so much easier and working great for me. If you don't care to have the peppers, I'd guess that the onions would freeze well. Make sure to put them in an airtight container or heavy freezer bag (I always double bag those using general mill cereal bags). Here's the brand we get; I find the flavor is fine. I believe Birdseye has something similar.

View attachment 230373
Click to expand...


Hmmm..haven't seen anything like that in our supermarkets but then again not really looking so I will next time I am out.
That combination appeals to me.

I just tossed a smelly squishy onion . (got into the back of the cupboard....grrr)
 

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