I love spring and everything that comes with the awakening of nature – I feel like all my senses are back to life after a long winter sleep. The problem is that spring doesn’t last very long, neither do treats that come with it. Let’s learn how to store green onions and extend the spring, at least in your kitchen.
During cold days we tend to eat more spicy food, but with sunlight in our eyes, we crave something a little lighter. Spring onions are my first choice because of their mild taste and beautiful green color.
My boys like to eat healthily, but they are also gourmands like me, so we found a compromise – Asian cuisine.
An abundance of vegetables, rice, and flavoring are proven components of meals suitable for your health with a delightful taste.
All you need is a wok, authentic spices, and proven recipes, and you’ll have a little Asia on your plate. These meals are mostly easy to prepare and don’t require a lot of time – ideal if you’d rather spend the days in the sunlight than next to the hot stove.
Related: Woks Reviews 2022: Top 5+ Recommended
How To Store Green Onions?
Green onions can be a good substitute for onions for almost every meal, an excellent addition to fresh salads, and on top of that, they are very decorative.
These are just a few reasons why it is important to know how to store green onions and have fresh pieces of spring at your hand for weeks!
I will not keep you in suspense; here are the three proven ways to store green onions:
The Refrigerator Method
I like to shop for food once a week since I like to plan ahead (but following that plan is another story). That often indicates a full refrigerator and a shortage of room.
Although maintaining structure gives you a lot of room to start, the organization is the key. Unfortunately, I can’t fit as much food in my fridge. I utilize one of my two approaches of storing green onions in the refrigerator, depending on the situation. Choose the one that best fits your storage needs; both are acceptable.
1. Zip-lock bags technique
This technique is convenient when you don’t have much space available, but it has one flaw – you’ll have to separate white parts from the green ones.
Directions:
- Remove onions out of the package – usually, onions are packed in a plastic bag (or wrap) or tied with a rubber band, be sure to remove gently both.
- Halve the greens to fit into a ziplock bag (don’t use small bags, go for medium or large ones). You should cut them a little above the part where the greens start.
- If onions are wet, use paper towels to wipe them gently.
- Place the white parts in the center of the paper towel sheets and wrap them firmly but without squeezing them too much. You can spray some water on the bundle before putting it in the zip-lock bag to ensure there is enough humidity. Seal the bag.
- Repeat with green parts
- Place them in the fridge – because spring onions are in a sealed bag, you can put them in any place in your fridge.
Storing green onions in the refrigerator will keep them fresh for up to five weeks. After use, wrap green onions in new paper towels and spray them with water. If you notice that some of the green parts are dry, remove them before putting them back in the fridge.
2. Jar technique
This technique doesn’t require cutting but you’ll need a tall glass or a tall jar with a heavy bottom. I try to avoid glasses because they are not as stable as jars, but sometimes I must save some space, so I pick wider glasses that can fulfill this role.
Directions:
- Pick a jar or a glass and fill it with water, just enough to cover the roots. The water should be cold or at room temperature, not hot.
- Remove the package, plastic or/and rubber band from the onions
- Place the onions into the jar with water
- Cover the top of the container with a plastic bag or zip-lock bag.
- Seal it with the band or if you are using zip-lock bags, seal zip-lock edges as much as possible toward the sides of the container.
- Place it in the fridge in a safe spot, to avoid spilling water or breaking the container.
You don’t have to seal the bag, so it is airtight totally – you simply need to preserve humidity for onions. After using some of the onions from the container, repeat the process and be sure to change the water once in a few days.
Windowsill method – the mini garden at your hand
Nothing beats fresh ingredients – ask any professional chef! And there is nothing purer than vegetables just picked from the garden.
If you don’t have one don’t worry – all you need is a tall jar or a pot at least six inches deep, and you will have an unlimited source of spring onions.
1. Jar garden method
This method is ideal if you don’t have conditions for a pot or you don’t like to get involved with dirt.
Directions:
- Find a suitable jar that is tall enough and fits your windowsill
- Fill it with approximately two inches of water
- Stick the root end of your green onions into your jar with water
- Place the jar on your windowsill or in another sunny spot
- Clip of the new growth with scissors and keep the white root section intact
Remember to change water to avoid mold. If you see some brown or dried parts simply trim them.
2. Pot method
If you have a windowsill spacious enough and volition to get your hands dirty, this method is for you! You’ll need a pot deep enough for soil and onions to stand up on their own!
Directions:
- Put at least five inches of potting soil into the pot
- Stick the root end into the ground and then press the soil down around them
- Place the container on a sunny spot
- Trim the green parts and don’t touch the roots
Green onions should be placed two inches apart when planted in soil. Water them when you see that soil is dried up.
When you use them, trim the green part and leave the roots intact-if you don’t touch the roots onions will continue to grow<.
Once you trim the greens, the tips tend to brown, and the onion will grow a whole new green sprout.
The freezer method – It’s springtime whenever you like it!
You deserve to treat yourself once in a while, so why don’t have spring onions in the middle of December?
In many places, green onions will even survive the winter, but to be sure you will be able to use them whenever you want you should go for the freezer method. It’s effortless and makes cooking easy – you even don’t need to thaw green onions because they don’t need a long time to prepare!
Directions:
- Wash the green onions with a mix of one part white vinegar and two parts of water.
- Chop the roots and discard them, separate the bulbs from the greens and freeze them separately. Chop the greens into little finger-thick circles.
- Spread them on a cookie sheet.
- Place them in the freezer for about six hours.
- Move them into the zip-lock bag, a plastic box, or an empty bottle – choose what is most convenient for you.
- Place your containers with chopped green onions in the freezer.
Due to freezing, onions will lose their crispness so don’t use them as a garnish or in salads. Frozen green onions are excellent for soups, marinades, etc.
How To Store Green Onions – Final Thoughts
Beautiful green color, moderate and pleasant taste, and also good for your health – green onions are called a superfood for a reason.
Spring is a great time of the year fresh fruits and vegetables are available at any market or in your garden (if you are lucky enough to have one). Chop some onions and sprinkle health on your favorite dishes!
Don’t keep secrets from me, if you have another idea of how to store green onions, please share!
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