In short, yes, you can freeze onions, but they will lose their crispness and be better suited for cooked dishes due to ice crystal formation during freezing. Properly pack and seal them in airtight packaging to prevent flavor permeation.
During busy times, convenience is king. That is why even grocery stores have started selling chopped onions in the frozen foods section to make cooking preparation a little easier for consumers.
Why not save yourself a little money and do it yourself?
Or, maybe you have already chopped more onions than you need and are wondering if you can preserve onions in the freezer. Yes, you can! Freezing onions is a great way to prolong their shelf life, save on food waste, save time, and money.
Here is your guide to freezing onions successfully.
Can Onions Be Frozen?
Yes, you can freeze onions. Whether it’s for easy meal prep or to prolong their shelf life, you can use frozen onions in many ways. It is, however, important to note that frozen onions will not be as crisp or firm as fresh onions.
Ice crystals form during the freezing process which damages the cell walls. This results in a loss of moisture and crispness once the onions defrost making them suitable for use in cooked dishes only.
Due to their strong flavor and odor, improperly packaged sliced onions will easily permeate their flavor into surrounding food items. Therefore, it is essential to pack and seal the onions in freezer-friendly airtight packaging before placing them in the freezer, or fridge for that matter.
How To Freeze Onions
When freezing onions, there are two methods you can use. The best way to freeze onions will depend on what you are using them for. Follow steps 1 and 5 for both options.
Make sure you only use fully mature onions that are in good shape.
Step 1: Peel
Completely peel away the outer wispy layer of skin. Place the onions on a cutting board and cut off the top papery root end and stalk end of the fresh onions.
Option 1: Sliced
Step 2: Slice
With a sharp knife, cut onions in the way you need to use them in your cooked dishes. If you use a food processor to dice onions, only pulse a few times as dicing the onion too small will result in a mushy texture once thawed.
Step 3: Pack
Portion the onion pieces into the quantity you may need to use at any given time. If you use large portions, for example in an onion soup, place it directly into a heavy-duty freezer-friendly zip lock bag.
If you use smaller amounts at a time, place each portion onto a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper, wrap it up, and then place the wrapped portions together into a resealable freezer bag.
The chopped onions will freeze together in a clump. It is thus better to divide them before freezing, so you can easily remove only the amount required without having to thaw the entire batch.
Step 4: Seal
To prevent the strong onion odor and flavor from permeating your freezer, press any remaining air out of the bag and seal well.
It is important to use good quality freezer bags that lock in the odor and keep air out to prevent freezer burn. Make sure the outside of the freezer bag is clean with no onion liquid or juices left from handling the bag.
Option 2: Puree
Step 2: Blend
Start by roughly chopping onions into chunks and placing them into a blender. Blend until very fine, or until you have a rough puree.
Step 3: Freeze
Scoop the onion puree into silicone ice cube trays and place it into the freezer until the onion cubes are frozen solid. The onion flavor may remain in the tray even after the cubes have been removed, so you will want to keep a special ice cube tray specifically for this purpose.
Step 4: Pack
Once frozen, remove the onion cubes from the tray and pack them into a zip lock sandwich bags. Press out as much air as possible before sealing.
Step 5: Label and Freeze
Using a permanent marker write the date on the freezer bag to keep track of the storage time. Place the onion slices or cubes in the freezer.
How To Thaw Frozen Onions
Onions can be added straight from frozen to the pot or pan you are using to cook them in. Onion cubes are great to add as is to casseroles, ground meat mixtures, sauces, and stews and will thaw during the cooking process.
If you are adding the sliced onions to a baked dish such as a quiche or savory muffins, thaw them in the refrigerator or place the freezer bag in a cold water-bath for a few minutes. They will defrost pretty quickly.
Just in case you run out of onions, there are many onion substitutes you can use.
Types of Onions
Large onions generally come in 3 varieties namely brown onions, red or purple onions, and white onions.
Brown onions are sweeter than other types and turn a rich brown color when caramelized, making them perfect for use in French onion soup.
Red onions are known not only for their purple layers of skin but also for their sharp flavor. They are often used raw in salads, grilled, and popular in Asian cooking.
White onions are milder with a golden color when cooked and sweet flavor when sauteed.
Although generally cooked, onions can be used in a multitude of different ways. They can be added raw to salads and salsa’s, pickled, crumbed and deep-fried, roasted, sliced, and added to stir-fries, curry, omelets, casseroles, pie fillings, quiche, soups, and stews.
Onions can be featured as the star ingredient of a dish in the form of a caramelized onion tart, soup, and stuffed.
FAQs
How long do onions last?
Fresh whole onions can last for up to 4 weeks if kept in a cool, dry place. Once sliced, store onions in an airtight container in the fridge. They will last up to a week.
You can freeze onions for three to six months. For the best quality, use your frozen onions within three months.
How do you know if onions have gone bad?
When onions start sprouting it is a sign that they are going bad. They will develop dark soft spots which will eventually grow moldy.
Can you freeze whole onions?
Whole onions can be frozen although this is not recommended. They will be too hard to slice when frozen and turn mushy once thawed. Whole onions will need to be blanched before freezing.
Can you freeze cooked onions?
Caramelized onions can be frozen however they will lose some flavor and become mushy when thawed. If you are freezing a leftover dish that contains onions such as curry, go right ahead and freeze it. If you are using the onions to cook with, it is best to freeze them raw and then add them to the dish when cooking to get the best flavor.
Should you flash freeze diced onions?
To prevent the sliced or diced onions from sticking together when freezing, you can flash freeze them first. To do this, line some cookie sheets with parchment paper. Spread the onion pieces out in a single layer on the baking sheet. Place it in the freezer just until the onions freeze completely. Quickly transfer the frozen pieces into freezer bags and place them back in the freezer.
Do you need to blanch onions before freezing?
If you freeze sliced onions, you do not need to be blanch them before freezing. Whole onions should be blanched for around 7 minutes depending on the size of the onion. Small onions only need two to three minutes.
Do green onions and yellow onions taste the same?
Although they have a similar flavor, scallions have a much milder flavor than white/yellow onions.
Is it better to freeze onions raw or cooked?
It is better to freeze onions raw if you plan to use them in dishes that require fresh texture and flavor. Cooked onions can be frozen too, but they may have a softer texture and are best used in cooked recipes.
Conclusion
These simple steps to freeze onions are a great time saver and make meal prep a breeze.
A fantastic addition to soups, stews, sauces, omelet, hash, quiche, ground beef, and stir-fry, onions can be added to almost any savory dish to bring a wonderful flavor.
When freezing raw onions, make sure they are well sealed in airtight freezer bags so that surrounding foods do not pick up the odor and flavor of the onion. This can be unpleasant especially when you have milk or baked goods nearby.
No more tears while chopping and cooking. Simply pull your ready-chopped onions out of the freezer, and you’re ready to cook dinner without a mess.
We’ve got more easy tips on home food preservation! Also learn how to freeze green onions and garlic.
As a qualified Holistic Nutritionist, Helga has also combined her passion for good food and healthy living in wellness coaching. After years practicing in the catering and hospitality industries, Helga now focuses on sharing her knowledge and experience with others through writing about food tips, cooking advice, wellness, global food trends, and travel.
