My cooking is enriched by the fact that green onions provide the perfect pop of freshness, flavor, and color, making them the perfect final touch to almost any dish.
My problem is, one or two green onions are not easy to get in the grocery store, and they tend to wilt rather quickly in the fridge after a while. In the current times, where we are stuck at home and cannot get to the grocery store as frequently, I wanted to give you some ideas on how to keep green onions on hand and avoid wasting them.
You will find below a list of tips for keeping green onions fresh in the refrigerator as well as an explanation on how to freeze green onions in order to preserve them for a longer period of time.
How to preserve Apronese details will be introduced below, don’t miss it.
Green Onion Shopping Guide
Keeping your green onions fresh is not too difficult as long as you do a few things to keep them from going bad before we get to those instructions.
First, we have to ensure that your green onions are fresh when you buy them. If they are already on their way out before you get them home, they will only be good for 2-3 days in your refrigerator.
When choosing green onions, make sure the ends are firm (they do not fall over very easily) and if they are not broken or torn at all. It has also been my experience that those green onions that are sold unwrapped (just held together with a rubber band) tend to last much longer than those that come sealed in a plastic bag.
I think the reason for this is that the unwrapped green onions are able to breathe and absorb moisture from the misters on the produce wall because they are permitted to breathe.
Refrigerator Storage of Green Onions
As a rule, green onions require moisture to survive. You will get the most longevity from your green onions if you place them in a glass or jar of water with the root end. It is also recommended that you use a loose plastic bag over the tops of the refrigerators to reduce evaporation resulting from the high air flow that circulates throughout the refrigerators.
It is imperative that you do not close off or secure the bag in order to prevent airflow from being blocked. If you have purchased fresh green onions when you bought them, this method may extend their usefulness for a week or more depending on how fresh the onions were at the time of purchase.
When to Freeze vs. Refrigerate Green Onions
There are many things that you can do with green onions. If you happen to buy a large quantity that you know you will not be able to use within the week, then it’s a good idea to freeze some.
It’s important that you freeze green onions as soon as possible after you purchase them. you want them to stay fresh for as long as possible.
When it comes to gardening, I still prefer to grow fresh green onions over frozen green onions. However, having frozen green onions on hand is far better than not having any green onions at all in case you need them. So when in doubt, freeze half of the bunch you buy.
How to Freeze Green Onions
Throughout this article, we will take you through the process of storing and freezing green onions so you can reduce waste, save money, and keep them ready to use in any recipe whenever you need them during the cooking process.
Author: Beth
Prep Time: 5 mins/ Cook Time: 0 mins/ Total Time: 5 mins
Ingredients
- 1 bunch green onions
Instructions
- You should first rinse the green onions thoroughly and then pat them dry with a paper towel or a clean dish towel that is lint-free.
- Take the green onions and slice them into thin slices.
- The green onions should be placed in an air-tight, freezer-safe container; either an airtight jar, a freezer bag, or another storage container. Close this container tightly to prevent air from getting into it.
- You can freeze green onions for 3-4 months. To use them, just sprinkle the frozen green onions on your meal. The frozen green onions will thaw within seconds.
Nutritional
The nutritional values shown here are only estimates. Please see our nutrition disclaimer.
Equipment
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What to Make with Green Onions
Throughout my life, I have used green onions in pretty much everything from salads to fish to dips to sauces. Here are some of my favorite ways to use green onions:
- On eggs – Ultimate Southwest Scrambled Eggs, Green Chile Migas
- Vegetable Salads – Cumin Lime Coleslaw, Sesame Slaw, Thai Cucumber Salad, Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad
- Protein Salads – Curry Chicken Salad, Tuna and White Bean Salad, Smoky Quinoa and Black Bean Salad, Sriracha Egg Salad, Sesame Tuna Salad, Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad
- Soups – Hot & Sour Vegetable Soup, Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen, Easy Homemade Egg Drop Soup
- Stir Fry – Beef & Cabbage Stir Fry, Hoisin Stir Fry Bowls with Peanut Sauce, Crunchy Chicken Ramen Stir Fry
- Noodles – Garlic Noodles, Spicy Dragon Noodles, Stir Fry Beef Noodles, Mushroom and Broccoli Stir Fry Noodles, Lime Shrimp Dragon Noodles, Cajun Cabbage and Noodles
- Skillet Meals – Creamy Spinach and Sausage Pasta, Southwest Chicken Skillet, Chorizo Sweet Potato Skillet, One Pot Teriyaki Chicken and Rice
- Bowl Meals – Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Bowls, Sweet n’ Spicy Chicken Bowls, Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls, Loaded Mashed Potato Bowls
- Pasta – Pastalaya, Blackened Shrimp Pasta, Skillet Cheeseburger Pasta, One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Above are all the ways to store green onions for a long time, fresh and delicious that Apronese wants you all to know. If you find a better way, please share it with us.
