What to do with peeled onions: how to preserve them longer

Every housewife, at least once after cooking, has some peeled vegetables left over that have nowhere to use and don’t want to throw away. Many people tend to use them right away, but there is another way out. By using preserved peeled onions, you can significantly save time on future cooking.

How to store peeled onions so that they do not spoil? We offer several ways.

Is it possible to store peeled onions?

It is better to store the bulbs in their husks without damaging them in any way.. However, it happens that after cooking there are several unused heads left. The peeled vegetable has a much shorter shelf life, but can be extended by using an airtight container or processing.

How to properly prepare peeled onions for storage

Previously peeled vegetables must be washed thoroughly and make sure that there are no spoiled ones among them.

Note! Do not leave peeled or chopped onions at room temperature overnight. During this time, the vegetable will deteriorate and become unfit for consumption.

If you know in advance that only half of the onion will be needed for cooking, do not peel the other part. But also it should be processed before putting it in the refrigerator.

Important! Do not store onions near potatoes. They will pick up moisture and quickly deteriorate.

Methods for storing peeled onions

Depending on the condition of the onion and how long you need to keep it fresh, there are different storage methods.

In a refrigerator

The easiest and fastest ways, since after them the vegetable does not need to be defrosted or cooked:

1. Rinse the peeled onions under running water at room temperature. Place in a container with cold water. Store the container in the refrigerator, replacing the water with fresh water at least once every two days. In this state, onions can be stored for up to two weeks.
2. Pour salt onto a flat plate and place the cut side of the onion on it, then place the bowl with the onion in the refrigerator. This way you can keep it fresh for 6-7 days.
3. Wrap tightly in cling film and place in the refrigerator. This way you will extend the shelf life by another 3-4 days.
4. Cut the onion into rings and marinate. To do this, place the chopped vegetables in sterilized jars and pour boiling water for 7-10 minutes. While they are standing, prepare the marinade: mix 1 tbsp. l. salt and sugar per 0.5 kg of vegetable, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and keep on fire for 3 minutes. For taste, add cloves or black pepper to the marinade. Pour the hot mixture over the vegetables and roll up.
5. The same marinade can be used for short-term storage. Pour the marinade into the bottom of the container, place the chopped onions on top and close the lid tightly. In this state it will be edible for another month.
6. If the onion heads are small, you can not chop them, but marinate them whole. Before rolling, pour boiling water over them first and then cold water. Add acetic acid to the marinade.

If the jars have been sterilized, you can store the twists not only in the refrigerator, but also in the cellar or basement.

Interesting things about onions:

What is contained in onions: what vitamins and microelements

Types of onions and their characteristics

In the freezer

It is better to store chopped onions in the freezer:

1. Grease the cut area with vegetable oil or fat, place the vegetable in a plastic container and place in the freezer. In this state it can be stored for up to 10 days.
2. Finely chop the onions and place them in a plastic bag so that the onion layer does not exceed 5 cm. In this case, you do not need to tie or close the bag; you should place it open in the freezer.
3. Place peeled onions, cut into rings, into silicone molds and place in the freezer. When stored in this way, it can be eaten after heat treatment, since the composition changes significantly due to low temperatures.
4. Freeze already cooked onions. Most often, housewives fry the vegetable in a frying pan and place it in plastic bags, remove excess air and seal it tightly, after which they place it in the freezer. You can fry it immediately with carrots so that you always have a dressing for the soup on hand.

After removing a frozen product from the freezer, you should not put it back there, as the vegetable will lose its beneficial properties, taste and aroma. To avoid this, pack onions in small portions.

Dried

Many people choose drying to store peeled onions, because during the drying process the onion retains all its properties. This method is simpler than the previous ones, although the process of preparing vegetables for storage takes longer.

The advantages of this method are that dried vegetables will not spoil due to a breakdown of the refrigerator or freezer and take up less space.

There are several ways to dry onions:

1. In the oven, place the vegetable cut into rings on a baking sheet. The rings should be thin, no more than 5 mm thick. If the onion is large, cut the rings into 2-3 parts. Can be dried on a cooling plate.
2. In a special electric dryer.If you dry onions in it, you should set the temperature to 40-60°C; the onions dry in such conditions for 5-7 hours. Do not exceed the drying temperature so as not to overdry the vegetable, otherwise it will darken and lose its taste.
3. In the microwave, place the chopped onion in a special bowl and set the desired mode.
4. Outdoors in the sun, placing the onion rings on cloth or paper. If it is not possible to dry in direct sunlight, you can do this in a well-ventilated, dry area.

Don't forget to stir the onions regularly. Properly dried it will be white or pale mauve in color, depending on the variety. If you want the dried vegetable to have a golden yellow hue, first soak it in cold salted water (40 g of salt per 1 liter of water).

Important! During the drying process, onions emit a characteristic odor and fumes that can irritate the mucous membrane of the eyes, so ensure good ventilation of the room in which the vegetable will be dried.

If you want to speed up the process, soak the onions in hot water before cutting.

After drying, the onions can be chopped and placed in fabric or paper bags, metal or ceramic jars and put them in a dry place, where they can be stored in this condition for several years.

Read also:

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Shelf life of peeled onions

You can store peeled onions without film and water in a container with other vegetables for no more than 12 hours. In the refrigerator - up to two weeks, depending on the storage method and the onion itself.

It will keep in the freezer for about a year, but heat-treated onions last half as long.Dried - up to three years, if the room is dry, since humidity significantly reduces the shelf life of such products.

Conclusion

Keeping onions fresh is sometimes difficult, especially if they have already been peeled. However, even in this case there is a solution. Separate the bulbs that are suitable for storage from those that are not and store them in the refrigerator or freezer; alternatively, dry them and store them for long-term storage.