Is it possible to freeze onions for the winter? How to freeze green onions, leeks and chives in the freezer? Russian farmer

Are onions frozen for the winter? We have already discussed in our article this method of storing various types of onions for the winter, such as drying. Freezing can also be called one of the ways to store onions for the winter at home.

Of course, any preparation of vegetables begins with purchasing or harvesting your own harvest. Read our article about how and when to harvest onions.

Basic Rules

Where can I freeze onions? Before you begin the process of freezing onions, it is important to make sure that the freezer compartment of your refrigerator is capable of maintaining a temperature within -18...-20 degrees.

If the refrigerator does not have similar qualities, it is better to purchase a special freezer .

At the specified temperature, frozen onions can retain all their beneficial properties for up to 6 months .

If freezing is carried out at higher temperatures ( 0...-8 degrees ), then the shelf life of onions will be halved.

How to freeze onions?

Onions must be frozen in plastic bags suitable for food purposes , or in plastic containers, which must also be suitable for safe contact with food.

Freezing is done in small portions in order to use them in their entirety in the future, avoiding re-freezing, since upon contact with oxygen, frozen onions lose their taste.

How and for how long should frozen onions be stored? Frozen onions can be stored for 3 months to six months , but it is best to use the preparation in the first 4-6 weeks, since after this period the onions begin to lose their taste and aroma. After 6 months, the preparation will completely lose its taste.

In any case, these periods far exceed the period of storing onions in a cellar or basement in winter.

When preparing onions by freezing, it should be taken into account that in the first weeks the smell from it will be so strong that it will be absorbed into other foods in the freezer.

It is better to place the container with the workpiece away from other products or place it on top of them.

How to freeze onions for the winter? An interesting way to freeze green onions for the winter in plastic bottles in this video:

How to defrost onions

Heat-treated vegetables do not need to be defrosted before freezing. They can be used frozen, adding to soups, sauces and other dishes. However, in some cases, the vegetable will still have to be defrosted.

To preserve all the vitamins and minerals that make up onions, it is important to know how to defrost them correctly.

You can defrost the onions in water by placing the bag with the preparation in it for 30 minutes.
You can also defrost vegetables in the microwave. To do this, you need to place the package with the workpiece in a plate, put it in the microwave and select the defrost mode.

Experts advise against defrosting vegetables, including onions, at room temperature. This method of defrosting will take too much time and can lead to the loss of beneficial substances that are included in their composition.

Green

How to freeze green onions for the winter? To properly freeze green onions, you must first prepare them:

It is necessary to separate the feathers from the roots, eliminating the yellowed and withered parts.
the onions well under running water and dry thoroughly to avoid lump formation when frozen. You can dry the onions on a newspaper, napkin or waffle towel.
After the green onions have dried, you need to chop them with a knife as you usually do with a fresh plant.
You need to remove the air from the bags in which the chopped onions are placed, then tie them tightly (or use ziplock bags) and place them in the freezer.

How to properly freeze green onions for the winter? You can freeze green onions either fresh or heat-treated . Frozen fried or blanched onions are suitable for preparing first and second courses.

Can you freeze green onions with butter? If you decide to fry greens, you should use animal fats, since vegetable oil does not freeze.

A good way to prepare green onions is to freeze them with butter . To do this you need:

Combine a little softened butter with finely chopped onion and mix carefully.
Place the mixture on the edge of the cling film/foil and roll into a sausage shape.
Seal the ends of the film/foil together.
Place the resulting bundle in the freezer and use as needed, cutting into small portions.

Learn how to freeze green onions for the winter using olive oil in this video:

You can also freeze onions in ice cube trays or silicone molds. To do this, the onion feathers must be crushed using a blender to a pulp consistency , pour the mixture into molds and place in the freezer. You can use this preparation by throwing “onion ice” cubes directly into the dish while cooking.

A method for freezing green onions for the winter in the freezer in this video:

For other ways to store green onions, read our article.

How to prepare the heads for such preservation?

Onions of any variety and size are suitable for freezing in the refrigerator for the winter , but how to achieve the quality of the final product? The most important thing is that the bulb is in good condition:

whole;
fresh;
no surface stains.

Important!

If the bulb has damage, traces of mold, or has a strong or putrid odor, then it is not suitable for this storage method.

Peeled and well-washed onions must be chopped and placed in small portions in containers: bags or food containers suitable for freezing.

You can also prepare onions using heat treatment: lightly frying, boiling or drying in the oven.

The advantage of this method is that onions fried in vegetable oil do not freeze or harden completely, which allows you to avoid pre-thawing and immediately use them when preparing dishes, reducing cooking time.

Bulb

Is it possible to freeze onions for the winter? The debate about whether it is worth freezing onions has not subsided among experienced housewives for a long time. There is an opinion that onions can completely destroy the own smell of all foods in the refrigerator.

Many people also claim that after freezing, onions become “glassy,” watery, soft and tasteless.

All this takes place if the freezing process is approached incorrectly. In order for frozen onions not to lose their qualities , they must be prepared in stages, adhering to some rules:

To prepare for the winter, choose only fresh onions, without a sharp putrid odor or surface stains.
Peel the top layer (husk) of the onion.
Cut the onion into slices 0.5-1 cm thick.
Chopped onions must be divided into portions and placed in bags, leaving a little free space (frozen onions increase in volume).
Carefully squeeze out excess air from the bag and tie or zip it closed.
Shake the bag to evenly distribute the cuttings in it.
Place portions in the freezer.

Onions can also be frozen lightly fried and blanched . Read about this and other ways to store onions on our website.

Is it possible to freeze onions for the winter?

Not all housewives know whether they freeze onion slices for the winter. Like many other vegetables, turnips can be prepared for future use using low sub-zero temperatures (freezing). Before freezing onions, it is important to understand that exposure to sub-zero temperatures changes the vegetable somewhat.

When frozen, the crunchy elasticity that gives salads an interesting texture disappears. What remains retains the aromatic smell and specific taste with which the onion still enriches the dish, but after freezing it becomes soft.

Did you know? Chopped onions can be used to polish silverware and other metal objects to add brightness and shine.

Leek

How to freeze leeks for the winter? The taste and smell of leeks is much softer and sweeter than that of the plant we are used to, so freezing it will bring much less hassle due to the absence of a strong aroma .

Housewives often refuse the upper dark green leaves of onions because of their fibrous structure.

However, it is in this part of the plant that the maximum amount of useful substances , so dark leaves should also be harvested. Freezing leeks is done in the following way:

Peel the onion, removing any yellowed, wilted leaves.
Rinse with running water and dry on linen cloth or towel.
Without removing the leaves, leeks should be cut into small pieces (2-3 cm) and placed in plastic bags, divided into portions.
Remove excess air, tie tightly, place in freezer.

Leeks must be frozen at a temperature no higher than -18 degrees , but can be stored in conditions of -18...-5.

There is another way to freeze leeks, namely their stems :

After cleaning, the plant stems must be cooled. Cooling is carried out at a temperature of -2…+2 without packaging.
After 1-2 hours, the cooled onions are placed in plastic bags (no more than 8 stems in 1 bag).
Once the air has been removed from the bags, they should be placed in the freezer for further storage.

Read useful information about storing leeks on our website.

Freezing dried in the oven

To get rid of excess moisture and create conditions for greater preservation of frozen onions, you can first dry them a little in the oven.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Number of servings: 6

Energy value

calorie content – 134.5 kcal;
fats – 5;
proteins – 3.4;
carbohydrates – 19.

Ingredients

onions – 1.2 kg;
olive oil – 30 ml.

Step-by-step preparation

We set the temperature on the oven thermostat to 180℃ and leave it to warm up, and in the meantime, let’s get on with the rest of the preparatory processes.
We peel fresh vegetables, wash them under a cold running stream and, after wiping them dry with paper napkins, chop them in the way you need.
Take a large baking sheet and, grease it with olive oil, spread the chopped onions on it. Place the container in the preheated oven for approximately 5-7 minutes.
After the specified time, remove from the oven and cool. Place the cooled, dried vegetable into special bags in portions (always leave free space, as the onion will increase in volume during freezing), label it with a sticker and transfer it to the freezer for storage.

Schnitt

How to freeze chives for the winter? Chives, known as chives, have a bright, rich flavor that is reminiscent of a mixture of regular onions and garlic . Very often, chives are used as a special seasoning for a wide variety of dishes.

If you are a lover of this plant and want to preserve it for the winter, then freezing is the best way to prepare it. In order to properly freeze chives, you must follow the instructions:

Rinse cut onion feathers with cold running water.
Trim off the roots and wilted leaves of the onion.
Dry the onion on a towel or sheet of paper. is completely dry before placing it in the freezer , since when the plant is frozen with residual water, the taste of the product is significantly reduced.
It is also important that the chives dry on their own in the air, since external mechanical impact on them (for example, wiping with a towel) can damage the delicate feathers and loss of aroma.
Chop the onion with a knife to the size usually used for cooking.
Place chopped onion in freezer bags.
Place the bags in the freezer.
Smooth out the slices in the bag in a horizontal layer (for uniform freezing), remove excess air, close or tie tightly.

Rules for marinated preparation

In order for the vegetable to retain all its beneficial and taste properties for a longer period of time, it can first be lightly pickled in table salt.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Number of servings: 5

Energy value

calorie content – 89.6 kcal;
fats – 0;
proteins – 3.4;
carbohydrates – 19.

Ingredients

onions – 1 kg;
table salt – 350 g.

Step-by-step preparation

First, you need to process the main ingredient - selecting whole, unspoiled fruits, thoroughly clean them, wash them under a running stream and, after drying them from excess moisture, cut them in any convenient way (cubes, rings, half rings).
Then, transferring to a deep container, sprinkle with table salt and leave to marinate for about 7-8 minutes.
We place the resulting product in special plastic bags or sealed containers and, after pumping out excess air, close it tightly and store it in the freezer.

Important: just before cooking, you will definitely need to soak such a preparation in cool water for about half an hour so that all the excess salt comes out of it.

Some useful tips

Blanch onions before freezing for no longer than 3 minutes over low heat with the addition of a small amount of water. To maximize the preservation of vitamins and nutrients, it is better to place chopped onions in a metal sieve and lower them into boiling water for 30 seconds , then rinse with cold water.

Frozen onions should not be used raw . It is only suitable for preparing various dishes.

As you can see from this article, freezing is an excellent way to store onions, but it is worth noting that it is completely unsuitable for storing onion sets, as we discussed in our other material.

You should not defrost onions , as in this case the product may lose its taste, change consistency and color. It is better to add it to dishes during cooking.

Ideas for using frozen onions

The frozen product completely retains its aroma and the taste remains virtually unchanged. Only the consistency suffers greatly. The pieces become soft, slimy, and the onion no longer crunches. Therefore, it is used mainly in hot dishes.

What is it suitable for:

regular, cream soups;
stew, main courses;
hot sauces, gravies.

What it is not suitable for:

sandwiches;
salads;
bakery.

You can add onions to the filling for pies and pies, but only after thawing. Otherwise, the actively released water will negatively affect the quality of the dough. Pizza with frozen onion slices will not bake and the bottom will become soggy. After thawing, the fried vegetable can be added to cold appetizers and salads. An alternative is to freeze the green onions.

Frozen raw onions cook much faster than their fresh counterpart. It is enough for the pieces to simmer for 5-6 minutes.

How to store after blanching

One of the best methods for freezing food is to blanch it first. During this process, a kind of protective film is created on the vegetable, which prevents it from losing its beneficial properties, and also allows it to maintain its juiciness and taste characteristics. This processing method slows down the action of enzymes and promotes better storage.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Number of servings: 5

Energy value

calorie content – 89.6 kcal;
fats – 0;
proteins – 3.4;
carbohydrates – 19.

Ingredients

onions – 1 kg;
water – 4 l;
table salt – 60 g.

Step-by-step preparation

Wash the peeled vegetables thoroughly, dry them with paper towels and chop them into small cubes.
After this, take a deep container, fill it with 4 liters of clean water and, sending it to a medium flame, bring it to a boil. As soon as the liquid begins to bubble, add 2 tablespoons of salt, stir and place the chopped onion in boiling water for literally 15-20 seconds.
We place the scalded product on a culinary sieve and immediately transfer it to ice or rinse it under ice water - this must be done in order to stop the heat treatment. Leave the cooled vegetable in the kitchen utensil until all the water has drained.
We put the resulting workpiece into bags in portions, sign it, not forgetting to indicate the freezing date, and put it in the freezer.

Why do they put onions in the freezer?

Anyone who has ever chopped an onion may have noticed that this process is associated with a certain discomfort. Soon the nose begins to sting treacherously, a pain appears in the eyes, and they fill with tears. To finish what you started, you have to put up with pain. At such moments it is very easy to cut your fingers.

Freezing onions solves the problem of lacrimation and stinging in the eyes.

You don't have to freeze the onion until it's solid for this tip to work. It is placed in the freezer for literally 10–15 minutes. After this, the vegetable is calmly peeled and cut. It doesn't cause tears.

Does it work?

Before I learned the method of freezing onions, I fought onion tears by wetting a knife with cold water. It didn't help for long. I had to get distracted every 1-2 minutes and rinse the blade again. Therefore, I decided to try this life hack from the tenderloin right away.

It turned out that the method really works. Onions are peeled and cut without any discomfort. What is important is that short freezing does not in any way affect the taste and structure of onions. It fries beautifully and turns golden. You can safely add such an onion to cutlets. They come out just as juicy and tasty as with fresh onions.

Freezing onion heads

Not everyone likes freezing whole onions, since they can be stored at room temperature for 2-3 months without losing their taste.

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But if there is a need to freeze onions in heads for later use in first courses, broths and soups, this method also has a right to exist.

In advance, the onion heads are blanched in boiling water for several minutes, after which they are cooled and placed in the freezer (can be transferred to a bag or stored without it).

Preparing the refrigerator before starting the process

The refrigerator or freezer must be properly prepared before preparing fruits and vegetables in the fall.

Last year's preparations must be reviewed and removed from the freezer. Some may have already passed their possible shelf life. If there is snow and frozen ice, the refrigerator must be unplugged and defrosted. It is better for it to stand turned off for three days.