How to freeze green onions for the winter? Step-by-step instruction. How to prepare and store green onions for the winter

We freeze green onions, namely chives. Sort out the cut chives, wash them, and place them on towels to drain. We don’t wait for it to dry completely, cut the onion finely, pack it in plastic bags and freeze it.

Of course you can. And even necessary! After all, in winter its cost increases sharply, and you want to eat greenfinches. We freeze in freezer refrigerator. Fortunately, there is a dry freezing function. You cut green onions(like a salad), put it in a bag and throw it in the freezer. You can get it at any time of the year and eat it. You can add it to a salad, you can throw it in soup. And in this way you can freeze not only onions, but also all other greens, be it dill, parsley and even spinach.

Of course, you can freeze green onions for the winter; this is the most profitable option and does not present any difficulties.

By freezing any greens for the winter, we save money by not buying seasonings in the store, and besides, you will have fresh greens all winter long, which we can add to any dishes (first and second).

I even add frozen greens to Olivier salad and vinaigrette, and taste qualities don't change.

Wash and dry the green onions so that the moisture disappears, chop them finely and put them in bags, then put them in the freezer.

It is possible and I think it is necessary for the winter, since it will not lose its qualities in the freezer. And in winter it can be added not only to first courses but also to second courses, which will be very tasty and healthy!

Green onions can be frozen different ways. Most simple method is to cut the onion into transverse pieces from 5 to 10 mm long, then pour over boiled water for half a minute, put in molds in dense pieces and freeze.

You can also freeze already fried onions. The shelf life of fried onions is about 3-4 months, and unfried onions are about 6 months.

Like other greens, onion feathers are perfectly stored frozen. In order to preserve it for the winter you need:

collect onions;
rinse it thoroughly in cool water;
cut into pieces as you usually eat;
pour onion into plastic bag;
put in the freezer.

It is very convenient to use such onions, you just take out the bag and break off the required amount of onions from a common piece and put them in soup, salad or side dish.

I mainly cook green onions when they are already in chopped form, finely chop them and add them to the first courses, sprinkle them on top of the second courses and on salads. Therefore, I simply chop it finely and in this form and freeze it in bags or in plastic containers.

It makes it easier for me to use it later.

You can freeze a lot of things for the winter and in almost 100% of cases, the plant will not lose its beneficial features. But here are the taste properties and appearance often suffer from freezing.

I would not freeze green onions; after defrosting, their appearance leaves much to be desired, the structure of the plant disintegrates, it becomes sluggish and slippery. You can, of course, use it for first or second courses, but is it worth it?

Green onions grow very quickly, even in winter they grow well on a windowsill, you can plant the onion in a glass of soil, in sawdust, in sand, in the end, just put the roots in water, this will not cause any difficulties, but you can eat fresh, healthy greens at least every day. And leave the freezer for other greens - dill, parsley, spinach.

Of course it is possible. And because of this, its beneficial properties are not lost.

I do it very simply: I take onion pimples, wash them, dry them a little, cut them with a knife or cut them with scissors and put them in a bag or pour them into a small container. The whole thing can be stored in the refrigerator for quite a long time.

I use frozen green onions to make soups and add them to vegetable stews. Of course, it won’t go into a salad, but I don’t need it, because I only eat heat-treated onions.

I also freeze dill and parsley, green peas, green beans- everything survives well until spring and gives me vitamins.

If you decide to freeze green onions for the winter, then this can be done.

Let's look at how you can do this. First, wash the onions well. Remove dried ends. And dry it completely.

Cut the green onions into pieces and place them in a plastic container, no need to eat them.

Cover the container with a lid and place it in the freezer.

This onion can be used both for salads and for cooking.

There are several ways to freeze green onions. In any case, it will not lose its properties and its taste will hardly change.

Finely chop the onion and place in a bag or plastic container (do not crush). Place it in the freezer and add as needed.

Finely chop the onion and crush it with salt. Place in ice trays and top with cream or sour cream. Freeze and use cubes for soups, sauces and salads.

Green onions, compared to lettuce or sorrel, are stronger in structure and do not suffer as much from freezing.

Therefore, it can be frozen, but only for hot dishes. You can’t put such onions in salads, as they will be soft and slimy after defrosting. You should not defrost it before throwing it into hot broth or gravy, otherwise it will no longer be what you need.

We break off a piece of finely chopped frozen onion and immediately throw it into the hot dish.

Then both taste and vitamins are preserved.

You can throw a piece into a hot frying pan for frying (for some dishes), but the taste and appearance are not the same as fresh.

Freezing green onions is considered one of the most common methods. winter preparations. The increased interest in this method is explained by the preservation in vegetables maximum quantity vitamins and microelements, as well as the accessibility of the procedure. Most simple solution is freezing onions in the freezer.

Peculiarities

Although any type of onion can be frozen, it is best to freeze green onions. This is due to the fact that, in addition to preserving useful properties, onions almost completely retain their shape, structure and color. This property is most valuable when decorating dishes in winter period when purchasing fresh herbs is not possible. One more important quality frozen green onions is its ability to preserve phytoncides - substances that help fight colds, which have a moderate antiviral effect and improve appetite.

In addition to phytoncides, green onions contain a large number of chlorophyll, which has a huge impact on the process of hematopoiesis in the human body. Of the vitamins present in onions, special place occupy B vitamins. They are responsible for brain activity and have a positive effect on the central nervous system. Thus, vitamin B1 controls the level of acidity in the body and helps optimize cholesterol levels, and B5 is involved in the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates, as well as in lipid metabolism.

Group A vitamins are active participants in redox reactions, stimulate cell growth and help improve metabolism. Vitamin C is actively involved in many processes in the body, and vitamin E has a positive effect on reproductive function, improves hair growth and is considered a powerful antioxidant.

Freezing methods

Before freezing green onions, you should free up enough space in the freezer and start selecting the feathers. You should choose only elastic and bright green specimens; yellow and withered leaves must be removed. Dried ends, if any, must be cut off, after which the onion should be washed in several waters and the roots should be cut off. Then it is recommended to lay the feathers on a towel and, in order not to wrinkle them, gently blot them with a napkin. After the greens have dried, you can start cutting them.

There are several methods for this, and which one to use is decided individually, taking into account the planned shelf life, the required amount of greens and the purpose of the preparations for certain dishes.

The most in a simple way is classic freezing, a process in which the onions are laid out on wooden cutting boards or trays and placed in the freezer. To prevent the greens from sticking to the board, it is recommended to cover its surface with cling film. This will make it easier to collect frozen onions and prevent the rings from sticking together. Trays or boards with herbs are placed in the freezer and left for 3-4 hours, after which the onions are poured into plastic containers and stored. In the absence of containers, the use of thick plastic bags is allowed.
You can freeze onions in plastic or silicone containers. To do this, fill the molds or glasses to the top with herbs, add cold boiled water to them also to the very top and put them in the freezer. When the onion liquid freezes to solid state, you need to remove it from the molds and put it in thick plastic bags and indicate the freezing date on them.

The most interesting is the method of preparing green onions in combination with butter . To do this, take unsalted high-fat butter and leave it at room temperature for one hour. When the butter softens, you need to mix it with chopped onion rings and place in molds. Instead of forms you can use cling film, wrap the mixture in it like a “sausage” and put it in the freezer compartment. After freezing, the onions and butter should be removed from the molds and poured into a bag.

For ease of use, some housewives recommend freezing in layers. To do this, the mixture is placed in a plastic bag and rolled out in it until a thin layer is formed. After freezing, the greens can be easily broken off from a single piece and added to dishes.

You can freeze greens in a plastic bottle. This method is quite simple. The only condition is to thoroughly dry the onions before placing them in containers. Otherwise, during the freezing process, the mass will stick together, and getting it out of the bottle will be problematic.

This method will require heat treatment of the onions before freezing. Selected feathers should be cut into small pieces, placed in a colander and placed in boiling water for 1 minute. Then you need to quickly cool the onion in cold water, let the liquid drain, compact the mixture tightly into plastic containers and put it in the freezer. After freezing, the ice cubes should be removed from the molds and placed in bags. Instead of blanching, you can use frying. To do this, fry the onion in oil for 5 minutes and then freeze it.
The fastest freezing method is the following: finely chopped onion feathers should be placed in a bag with a special lock and distributed evenly inside.

Then you need to take a cocktail straw, insert it into the bag and close it. Next, you need to run the edge of your palm over the surface of the bag, thereby releasing the air accumulated in it, then quickly remove the tube and close the valve completely.

Storage and use The shelf life of frozen green onions varies from 2 to 6 months and depends on the harvesting method and freezing temperature. Thus, a mixture frozen at -18 degrees retains its beneficial properties for up to six months and can be stored all winter. If freezing was carried out at -8 degrees, onions can be stored no more than three months . After given period

the product partially loses its nutritional value and aroma. Despite the possibility of long-term storage, it is recommended to use the product within one to two months. It is at this time that the beneficial properties of onions will be maximum. Therefore, it would be correct to place onion packages away from other products or above them. You can use frozen green onions as a seasoning when preparing hot dishes.

Freezing is not suitable for salads, the only exception being vinaigrette or sauerkraut. But as a filling for pies, as well as in omelettes, soups and main courses, frozen onions will be simply irreplaceable. Frozen onions with butter are ideal for sandwiches. Water cubes are good for soups, chicken, meat and fish.

You need to know that onions frozen with whole feathers are much more fragrant than chopped greens, but you should keep in mind that immediately after defrosting, a whole feather loses its original appearance and instantly becomes limp.

According to reviews experienced housewives, the most the best way Preserving whole onions is to use the “shock freezing” function. This method avoids the appearance of large ice crystals and helps preserve nutrients for a long time.

When defrosting the product, under no circumstances should the greens be placed in the microwave or under hot water. Neglecting this rule will lead to loss of color, aroma and nutritional properties of green onions. It is recommended to add frozen greens to the first and second courses, breaking off or chipping off the required amount from a large piece. To prepare vinaigrettes and cold dishes, it is recommended to defrost the mixture first.

Freezing green onions in the freezer is the simplest and most affordable preparation option and allows you to winter time fully enjoy the taste and aroma of fresh herbs.

You will learn more about whether onions can be frozen in the following video.

Fresh onions are rich in useful microelements. In frozen or dried form, it retains less nutrients, but at least it can improve the taste of food. Therefore, it makes sense to prepare for the winter. Below we provide basic recipes for preparing green onions.

Preparing green onions for storage

In order to be stored for a long time and not spoil, it is important properly prepare it for storage. This the process is underway in several stages. It starts with choosing feathers to store. They should be bright green, without damage, signs of wilting or yellowing.
In most cases, they will be shredded, so you need to remove any remaining soil from them and then rinse them well.

Important! The onion must be completely dry, so after washing it, place it on a towel and let it lie for at least an hour.

After they have dried well, they are cut and then used depending on the chosen storage method.

However, if we're talking about about regular greens in the refrigerator, It is not recommended to wash it, otherwise it will quickly deteriorate. For this storage method, it is enough to wipe it from dust. If there is too much dirt stuck to it, the feathers are washed in a bowl of water, placed in a colander, allowed to drain and laid out to dry on a towel.

In the question of how to preserve for the winter, the method of shredding feathers is not particularly important. It usually depends on what dishes the chopped feathers will be used in later. For example, for sauces you need fine cutting, and for borscht and soups - medium. To dry it, it is chopped into pieces from 5 to 7 cm. And if large feathers are found, they are first cut lengthwise. It is important not to grind it in a food processor.
Before you start, you need to decide how to store green onions at home; the container in which they will be stored depends on this. So, if it is simply placed in the refrigerator, ordinary bags will do, dried onions are kept in linen bags, pickles and preparations in oil should be in glass containers, and plastic containers are used for freezing.

Storing green onions in the refrigerator

The ideal, simple and convenient place to store onions is a regular refrigerator. How long can I keep green onions in the refrigerator? If you keep chopped feathers in it at a temperature of 3–4°C, it will not lose its marketable condition within 2–3 weeks. If the temperature is lowered to 0°C, the shelf life will increase to 1–2 months. There are several ways to keep vegetables in the refrigerator.

In a plastic bag

This method allows you to have fresh herbs on hand during one and a half months. It is enough to pack the feathers in a plastic bag, pierce several holes in it for ventilation and put it in the refrigerator on the vegetable shelf.
There is a more complex method, but it will work for feathers that have not been separated from the bulbs. To use it, you need to remove all yellowed and damaged parts of the plant, and dip it in water. Now the bulbs with roots need to be wrapped in a damp rag, wrapped with paper on top and tied with a ribbon. Only after this can the onions be placed in a bag in the refrigerator. This method allows you to keep it fresh for a month.

Did you know? For long-term storage, it is important that the feathers do not get wet. Usually, if you place the bag directly in the refrigerator, condensation will form on it and water will inevitably fall on the greens. To prevent this from happening, the empty bag is placed in the refrigerator for a while so that it cools down to the temperature inside the chamber. Then they take it out, immediately put the onion in and immediately put it back in the refrigerator.

In a glass container

Place washed and dried greens in glass jars, cover with nylon lids and place in the refrigerator. Greens like this about a month will save fresh look, aroma and beneficial properties.

Important! Only whole greens can be stored in this form, since bent and broken they quickly deteriorate. Therefore, select only small feathers for jars.

In paper

You can store green onions in the refrigerator wrapped in paper. This way it is preserved for two to three weeks. To do this, wash the vegetable well and allow the water to drain. Then wrap it in clean paper. It should not be a newspaper, as typography is hazardous to health.
You can take paper napkin, which does not crumble from water, or kraft paper. It is only important that it is not waxed. The top of the package is sprayed with a spray bottle, hidden in a bag and left in the refrigerator.

Important! Onion greens have different shelf life depending on the harvesting method. So, salting green onions for the winter allows you to store them for up to six months; onions placed in oil can be stored for the same amount of time. Dried onions retain their properties for two years, and frozen ones - no more than a year.

Freezing green onions

Most housewives prefer to use greens for long-term storage. This is quite easy to do. Fresh and sorted greens are washed under running water and dried.
After this, use one of three freezing methods:

The feathers are cut and fried in a pan until they are cooked. Cooled onions are placed in containers and frozen. Roasting and subsequent freezing give the vegetable a special taste, which it then imparts to all dishes in which it is used.
The feather onions are kept in boiling water for three minutes, placed in a colander and waited for the water to drain. Then cut into pieces the right size and compacted into plastic containers that are frozen.
Washed and dried feathers are cut into small pieces and blanched for about five minutes. After this, place in a colander and wait until the onion has cooled. Then they are put into plastic containers and sent to the freezer.

Drying green onions

Greenery is another way to preserve healthy vegetable for a long time.
Before harvesting, it is washed well, cut and laid out on clean paper to dry in a warm room. Make sure that the workpieces are not exposed to direct rays of the sun, otherwise everything in them will be destroyed. useful material. If there is no such place, you can cover the onion with another piece of paper.

You can determine whether the onion is dry enough by rubbing it between your fingers. When it crumbles easily, it has reached the desired state. Now it is poured into jars, covered with lids and stored at room temperature in a dry place. This preparation method takes about a week.

Pickling greens

Pickled onions are used for soups, vegetable side dishes, salads.

How to pickle green onions? Take a kilogram of onions and wash them well. When it dries, chop it and mix it with 200 g of salt. Tamp the resulting mass into glass jars to release the juice. The cans are compacted tightly, but so that there is a little space left on top for vegetable oil. Jars covered with plastic lids are stored in a cool place.

How to ferment green onions

Another interesting way harvesting green onions for the winter - sourdough. To do this, the prepared feathers are chopped with scissors or a knife to about two centimeters in length and poured into glass jars in layers. Sprinkle each layer with salt.

After all, everyone will want to add a piece of summer to the soup in winter and feel its aroma.

In addition, during freezing, vegetables and fruits retain 90% of vitamins and microelements.

Procurement process

Everything is very simple and fast.

Ingredients:

Green onion feathers - any quantity.

Pick it from the garden or buy it at the market.

It needs to be sorted out and the yellowed parts of the feathers removed. Wash. Remove from the water. Place in a colander; when most of the water has drained, place on a towel and let the onions dry completely.

I put it on the windowsill, on the sunny side. It dries out for me in a short time.

Chop very finely.

Place everything in a regular clean plastic bag and tie it. Place in the freezer for further storage. You can, of course, also use freezer bags. If you have one, you can put it in them. I didn’t have them at that time. And there was no time to run to the store.

other methods

Can be frozen in trays. Place in a tray. Cover with a lid and place in the freezer.

If you want it not to stick together, and each onion ring to be separate. Distribute evenly over a surface, such as a plate, lid, cutting board, and place in the freezer as is. When the green onions are frozen. Just put it in a bag.

Can be made in batches in ice cube trays or silicone muffin tins.

Place the green onions as tightly as possible into the mold.

Pour boiled (cold) water and put it in the freezer. When it freezes, put it in a bag and tie it.

How long do frozen green onions last?

This workpiece is stored at a temperature of minus 18 degrees. Its shelf life is from 2 to 6 months. At this time, the most vitamins are retained, and that wonderful spring aroma remains.

You can store it without any problems until the next harvest; this will not affect the taste. It is not recommended to store for several years. If you have a little of this preparation left, it is better to throw it away and prepare a fresh one.

If possible, use blast freezing.
The greens for harvesting must be completely dry.
Use only young feathers, they are tastier, juicier and contain more vitamins.
Place in bags in small portions.
To prevent the contents of the freezer (for example, berries) from absorbing the smell of onions, place the onions in several plastic bags. Wrap it in foil, it doesn't let in odors.

How to defrost green onions

For hot dishes, there is no need to defrost. Throw the frozen piece directly into a pot of hot soup or potatoes.
If such a need arises, take out the required amount of the workpiece and put it in a tray with a lid and put it in the refrigerator. In a few hours it will open up on its own.
No need to defrost in water.
I categorically do not recommend using it in the microwave, because all the vitamins will be lost, for the sake of which we made this preparation in the first place.

What can you cook with frozen green onions?

All those dishes that you are used to cooking with fresh onions: soup, potatoes, borscht, fillings for pancakes and pies, omelet, casserole.

The only thing is that it is not suitable for salads.

Now you know how to freeze green onions for the winter in the freezer, how to store them and what to cook, don’t miss the opportunity to stock up on vitamins for future use.

Prepare the food. The freshest green onions with young feathers are perfect for freezing (it is better to take onions whose feather tips have not dried out). Peel the onion, rinse thoroughly under running water, remove the limp parts (if any). Place in a colander to drain.

Separate the green feathers from the white bulbs.

The white and green parts of the onion must be cut separately (the frozen white part of the onion is convenient to use, for example, for frying, and the green part can be added when preparing various dishes). Cut the white part of the onion approximately 1 cm wide, that is, cut it the way you cut an onion for okroshka or in a salad.

Separately chop the green onions.

In part plastic containers or freezer bags, being careful not to overcrowd, fold in the chopped green feathers and fill the remaining containers or freezer bags with the chopped white part of the onion. Close tightly and place in the freezer.

You can also freeze green onions in foil. To do this, rinse the green feathers, remove the flaccid parts, if any, and let the onion dry. Place the green onions on foil.

Frozen green onions will keep in the freezer for about 6 months. Perfect for preparing omelettes, various casseroles, sauces, first courses, savory pastries. Frozen white onions can, for example, be fried and added to various dishes. It is not necessary to defrost the onions before cooking. Excellent preparation for the winter, try it!