Keeping Onions

Posts: 4,274
2/21/12 1:55 P

Wow. Lots of responses. I guess I can see that, onions are good stuff.

SparkPoints: (103,110)
Fitness Minutes: (54,945)
Posts: 9,100
2/21/12 10:50 A

Thank you, all, for your valuable information.

Where I live onions are $1 for a 3-lb. bag, whereas loose one are more expensive.

I will definitely cut them up, freeze them on a tray, then put in individual bags for cooking in the future.

I love it when I get so much information. I never knew that potatoes and onions next to each other make the others spoil. Good info. Nor did I know that onions, like celery, will keep better in the crisper drawer when wrapped in aluminum. And I love the idea of putting in the freezer first, before cutting to avoid spreading the "stuff" that makes you cry.

Thank you, everyone.

Just because I have posted here doesn't mean I won't accept more of your onion wisdom. keep those ideas coming!

Posts: 2,143
2/21/12 7:10 A

That is weird-- the last time I bought onions I got a 3 lb. bag for 1.69-- it wasn't even a "good" price, I just didn't need to stop anywhere else so I got them where I was. It's always much cheaper here to buy a bag of onions, rather than the loose ones.

Posts: 11,054
2/21/12 3:20 A

By the way, if you're not freezing them, keep them away from potatoes, and don't buy them from a store that has the onions and potatoes right near each other. Onions and potatoes make each other spoil.

It's interesting that so many people have said onions are cheap. With the exception of the loss-leader sales at the Mexican grocery, around here onions are one of the more expensive veggies-- rarely less than 79 cents a pound, which adds up fast because they're so heavy. And most supermarkets don't sell bags of onions, just bulk. It's funny what things are regional.

Posts: 2,143
2/21/12 2:10 A

You can wrap each onion individually in aluminum foil, and store them in the refrigerator in the crisper drawer. They keep a lot longer that way, than out at room temperature. When you buy onions, look them over carefully and select a bag where the onions aren't bruised or anything to begin with. If you get them home and notice one or two that ARE bruised, obviously you'd want to use those (or freeze them) first.

If you're only going to use them in cooking, freezing works but they end up being mushier.

Posts: 14,172
2/21/12 1:30 A

Onion powder is not the same as onions..lol. I too buy them loose 3-4 a week, and just store them in a dry space. Putting vegetables and fruits in the fridge spoils them faster. If they aren't lasting a week or 2, shop somewhere with fresher veggies. Try buying local foods when possible.. The trip from Mexico to your dinner table is either hot, or refrigerated, and is a bumpy, long ride.. lots of damage can be done... bruising, wilting, time.. all before you get the onion in your hand. That week in storage, and transportation could be an extra week that your onions stay fresh.

Posts: 11,054
2/21/12 1:19 A

I freeze them all the time. There's a Mexican supermarket near me that periodically has them on special 8 pounds for a dollar. I buy 50 cents' worth, chop them in the food processor, and pack them in FoodSaver bags to vacuum seal. They'll last a year that way. If you don't have a vacuum sealer, ziplocks will keep them for a few months. As others have said, they won't be right to eat raw, but they're actually better in cooking if you want a milder onion flavor. They lose some of their sharpness. (If you want them sharp, you can add a dash of onion powder or a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper.)

This is for yellow or white onions. In my experience, it doesn't work for purple ones. They get mealy and sometimes turn an ugly color. But then, I don't very often cook with the pruple ones; I like those fresh/raw.

Posts: 555
2/20/12 9:34 P

You could maybe use onion powder and abandon onions entirely. Then you don't have to cut them and cry!

SparkPoints: (1,148)
Fitness Minutes: (35)
Posts: 66
2/20/12 1:06 P

You can definitely freeze onions! They actually sell frozen chopped onions in the grocery store--way marked up of course. :-) I usually chop up 4 or 5 at once and then spread them on a cookie sheet to freeze.

Once they're frozen, I transfer to baggies like a PP said. That helps make sure they dont stick together. I also do this with peppers. Then it is super easy to grab some to throw into whatever I'm making...no more prep (or mess) required!

Posts: 1,175
2/20/12 11:40 A

I prefer to buy them loose. They're still very cheap that way, and you're a lot less likely to get home and realize that a third of the bag isn't in good condition.

Frozen onions that you buy at the store are flash frozen, not just tossed in a regular freezer. Onions are pretty hardy, though, and it would be easy enough to find out how well it works. I personally don't care for the texture of frozen onions; I find that once they are frozen and then cooked, they get way too mushy.

Posts: 605
2/20/12 11:34 A

Freezing onions will destroy the texture, but it's the same damage that heat does so it's fine for cooking onions.

I tend to keep my onions in a vegetable crisper in the fridge, but 3 pounds of onion doesn't get us through much more than 2 weeks here.

Posts: 43
2/20/12 10:50 A

Freezing is an excellent option for storing onions. It does nothing to the nutritional value. If it's just you I would consider getting some snack size baggies freezin the portions you would use. Date the little baggies, put those in a larger sized freezer bag (gallon size would work good) and remember to rotate stock :) that way you can make use of the savings that a 3lb bag of onions would give you vs. buying individually ESPECIALLY if you are using onions often. You can slice, dince, mince or leave them whole it's entirely up to you.

SparkPoints: (2,505)
Fitness Minutes: (0)
Posts: 344
2/20/12 10:41 A

Freezing onions is a great option, we do this at work if we have some left over and don't want to waste it. You can just store them in plastic bags, they won't turn a weird color or anything. Just make sure you're using them for cooking, they aren't as good raw after they've been frozen.

Posts: 1,404
2/20/12 10:13 A

you can freeze onions. They sell bags of frozen chopped onions at the store. In fact, freezing an onion for about an hour prior to cutting keeps it from making you cry because the irritants in the onion oil don't become airborne when frozen.

Personally, I just buy the onions I need...but I also don't have a ton of freezer space to spare.

SparkPoints: (4,508)
Fitness Minutes: (1,823)
Posts: 40
2/20/12 10:03 A

Although it's economical to buy in bulk rather than loose, if you're consistently losing onions, then you're probably not really saving any money on the produce that you lose rather than what you use. It depends on how much of a deal they're giving you. I'm not sure you can freeze onions and then thaw them for later use - not with the same kind of quality as a fresh onion!

SparkPoints: (35,840)
Fitness Minutes: (66,181)
Posts: 7,149
2/20/12 9:52 A

Buy them loose and only the one or two you need to use.. It is easier to inspect them for blemishes and damage.. Onions are so cheap- I don't cry if I loss one or two.. I don't let them sit in the plastic- I have seen a clay pot with ventilation holes folks in mexico and other countries store them in... Like garlic sometimes they can be plaided and hanged up too..

download.agefotostock.com/fotos/bajaage/ca
ched/2856/BWI-BLWS019133.jpg
2.bp.blogspot.com/-zNm_b06Sg4Q/TZSwz8I2cnI
/AAAAAAAAAKs/H4I_yoRlHi4/s1600/IMG_141
4.jpg www.kwikwap.co.za/dabella/photos/potato--o
nion-pots.jpg

SparkPoints: (103,110)
Fitness Minutes: (54,945)
Posts: 9,100
2/20/12 9:38 A

I llive and eat alone, so when I go to the store I only need one or two onions. If I buy a 3 lb. bag, usually the most economical, I have onions sprouting and going bad before I can use them.

Can I dice and freeze onions? Would I need any additives to keep them from turning color? How would you suggest storing them? In plastic bags, containers? Glass jars? Other? Is it best to freeze in individual packs or can chopped or diced onions easily be separated for the amount I need for cooking?