Preserving Onions: [Conditions, Time and Method]

Onions represent one of the most cultivated and consumed vegetables in the world.

Many dishes in different cuisines use it to add flavor and nutritional density to food.

Also, it is not a difficult vegetable to grow. However, once we have had a successful harvest, how can we preserve them?

In the following article we explain the most important points that you should take into account if you need to preserve onions and be able to enjoy them whenever you want

How to preserve onions?

The onion is one of the vegetables that are used most frequently in the kitchens of any family.

It has a unique flavor that combines with a wide variety of dishes and can be consumed both raw and cooked.

Its internal composition is basically made up of water and sugar , so it will be necessary to keep them under certain conditions to ensure that they last longer.

But you should also consider that onions that have the property of being stronger in terms of their structure last longer .That is, those that usually cause crying when crying. The reason is that the amount of sulfur present in them helps them in the conservation process.

Do you want to know how to get the most out of your onions, whether you have them outdoors, in the fridge or in the freezer? Go for it.

What should we do to preserve onions?

The conservation of onions is based on a system of actions that seek to prevent the effects of the environment from harming them.

Generally, we seek to preserve onions for longer due to the arrival of winter , so it is ideal to carry out these steps with those that have been harvested in the fall.

The reason is that they have been less time since they were removed from the plant and their conditions are better because the heat is harmful to the onions.

Temperature

Onions will keep better when they are located in a place with a constant temperature that does not present sudden changes.

Ideally, it should be between 4 and 10º C , that is, neither too cold nor too hot.This is because onions kept in hot weather can start to sprout.

While if they are kept in an excessively cold environment, what it will generate will be rot.

light and ventilation

To preserve onions it is necessary to keep them away from direct sunlight because this will have a harmful effect on the flavor , making them bitter.

It is also important that they are in a ventilated place , where the humidity present is not excessive to avoid damage to the structure.

In case of keeping them inside some support, it is necessary that they have a mesh structure, through which the air circulates and never work with plastic bags. When there is no mesh, an alternative is paper bags that will have to be pierced to ensure air circulation.

Contact with other vegetables

The absorption capacity of onions is very high and, if they are placed near potatoes, they will remove the latter’s own moisture.

For this reason, while both vegetables do well in similar environments, it’s best if they’re kept separate.

This same condition applies between the same onions, so it is better that they do not collide with each other.

How long do onions keep?

When onions are kept in the best conditions, they will be able to stay fresh and great tasting for up to 6 weeks .

How long does an onion last in a fridge?

The onions can be placed in the fridge if the conditions explained above are not met outside, lasting in the same way about 5 or 6 weeks.

In this case, care for them will vary a bit, with the main focus being avoiding excess moisture.

A good way to combat it is to protect each onion with absorbent paper , also avoiding that they are not in contact with each other or with the potatoes.When this procedure is not carried out, what will happen is that the cold from the fridge will end up damaging the texture of the onions, making them soft.

Although the refrigerators have the vegetable drawer available for this job, it is best to place them spread out in a flat plastic container.In this way, you will have more freedom to use the drawer with the rest of the vegetables that you have available.

Keep onions in a freezer?

The conservation time in the freezer will be from 6 weeks to 2 months.The procedure will vary greatly because onions cannot be frozen whole, just as they come from the garden or the supermarket.

Here it will be necessary to cut them into strips or slices and place them on the surface of a plastic tray , taking care that it is a single level.The next thing is to cover them with plastic wrap and put them in the freezer.

After they are frozen, the next step will be to separate them from the tray and place the frozen pieces in individual bags where they will be kept until later use.Depending on the number of onions you have, you will have to carry out this procedure several times, but never all together.

This is because the amount of water when freezing will be detrimental when it comes to preserving its flavor and texture properties.