Today, more and more housewives choose the most profitable and convenient way preparation of products for the winter - freezing.
This is due to the fact that when frozen, the maximum amount vitamins and nutrients, as well as the shape, color, aroma and taste.
In addition to vegetables and fruits, onions are subject to freezing - a vegetable, without which neither borscht, nor appetizing stew, nor various kinds of salads can be imagined.
Do the onions freeze for the winter? We have already considered in our article such a method of preservation of onions of various kinds for the winter, as drying. Freezing can also be called one of the ways to store onions for the winter at home.
Of course, any harvesting of vegetables begins with buying or harvesting your own harvest. On how and in what time it is necessary to harvest the onions, read our article.
Fundamental rules
Where to freeze onions? Before you begin the process of freezing onions, it is important to make sure that the freezer compartment of your refrigerator is capable of maintain the temperature within -18 ... -20 degrees.
At a specified temperature, frozen onions can retain all their beneficial properties up to up to 6 months.
If freezing is performed at higher temperatures (0 ... -8 degrees), then the shelf life of onions will be halved.
What is freezing onions?
Onions must be frozen in plastic bags suitable for use. for food purposes, or in a plastic container, which should also be suitable for safe contact with food.
Freezing is done in small portionsin order to use them in the future as a whole, not allowing re-freezing, as when in contact with oxygen, frozen onions lose their taste.
How and how much to store frozen onions? Onions frozen stored from 3 months to six months, but it is best to use the billet in the first 4-6 weeks, since after this period the onion begins to lose its taste and flavor. After 6 months, the harvesting will lose its taste altogether.
In any case, these periods are much longer than the storage period for onions in the cellar or basement in winter.
It is better to place the container with the workpiece away from other products or place on top of them.
How to freeze onions for the winter? An interesting way to freeze green onions for the winter in plastic bottles in this video:
Green
How to freeze green onions for the winter? For proper freezing of green onions, you must first prepare it:
- It is necessary to separate the feathers from the roots, eliminating yellowed and wilted parts.
- Green onions rinse well under running water and dry thoroughly to avoid coma formation during freezing. Drain onions can be on a newspaper, napkin or towel.
- After the spring onions have dried, it is necessary chop with a knife the way you usually do it with a fresh plant.
- From the bags in which crushed onions are placed, you need to remove the air, then firmly tie (or use bags with a clasp) and send them to the freezer.
How to freeze green onions for the winter? It is possible to freeze a green onion both fresh, and heat treated. Frozen fried or blanched onions are suitable for cooking first and second courses.
Can I freeze chives with butter? If you decide to fry the herbs, you should use animal fats, as the vegetable oil does not freeze.
A good way to harvest green onions is freezing. with butter. For this you need:
- Combine slightly softened butter with finely chopped onion and mix gently.
- Put the mixture on the edge of the plastic film / foil and roll sausage.
- The ends of the film / foil fasten.
- Place the resulting package in the freezer and use as needed, cutting off small portions.
For information on how to freeze chives for the winter using olive oil, in this video:
Onions can also be frozen in ice tins or silicone molds. To do this, onion feathers must be chopped. using a blender to the consistency of mush, pour the mixture into forms and place in the freezer. This preparation can be used by throwing onion ice cubes directly into the dish when cooking.
The way to freeze green onions for the winter in the freezer in this video:
On other ways to store green onions, read our article.
Onion
Is it possible to freeze onions for the winter? Disputes about whether it is worth freezing onions, do not subside among experienced housewives for a long time. Argued that onions can completely destroy own smell of all products in a refrigerator.
All this is the case if the process of freezing is wrong. For frozen onions not lost its qualities, it is necessary to harvest it step by step, following some rules:
- For harvesting for the winter select only fresh onion, without sharp putrid odor and surface stains.
- Peel the onions from the top layer (husk).
- Cut the onion into slices, 0.5-1 cm thick.
- Chopped onions should be divided into portions and decomposed into packages, leaving them in some free space (frozen onions increase in volume).
- Gently squeeze excess air out of the bag, tie or fasten.
- Shake the package for uniform distribution slicing in it.
- Put the portions in the freezer.
Onions can also be frozen slightly roasted and blanched. Read about this and other methods of storing onion on our website.
Leek
How to freeze leek for the winter? The taste and smell of leeks are much milder and sweeter than those of the plant we are used to, so freezing it will bring much less trouble no sharp aroma.
Often the housewives refuse the onion leaves of dark green because of their fibrous structure.
However, it is in this part of the plant that is concentrated maximum amount of nutrientstherefore, dark leaves should also be harvested. Leek freezing is performed in the following way:
- Peel the onions by removing the yellowed, wilted leaves.
- Rinse under running water and dry on a linen cloth or towel.
- Without removing the leaves, the leek should be cut into small pieces (2-3 cm) and placed in plastic bags, divided into portions.
- Remove excess air, tightly tie, put in the freezer.
There is another way to freeze leeks, namely stalk:
- After cleaning, the stems of the plant must be cooled. Cooling is carried out at a temperature of -2 ... +2 without packaging.
- After 1-2 hours, the cooled onion is placed in plastic bags (no more than 8 stems in 1 package).
- After removing the air from the bags, they should be placed in the freezer for further storage.
Read useful information about storing leek on our website.
Schnitt
How to freeze chives for the winter? Chives, known as chives, have a bright, rich aroma that resembles a mixture of onions and garlic. Very often chives are used as special seasoning to the most varied dishes.
If you are a fan of this plant, and you want to keep it for the winter, then the best way to harvest is just freezing. In order to freeze well chives you must follow the instructions:
- Rinse the onion feathers with cold running water.
- Trim the roots and wilted leaves of the onion.
- Drain onions on a towel or sheet of paper. It is important that before placing onion in the freezer completely dried, because when you freeze a plant with water, taste qualities blanks are greatly reduced.
It is also important that the chives dry on their own in the air, since the outer mechanical stress on it (for example, toweling off) can cause damage to delicate feathers and loss of flavor.
- Chop the onion with a knife to the size that is commonly used for cooking.
- Arrange crushed onions in packages for freezing.
- Place the bags in the freezer.
- Smooth out the cutting in a package with a horizontal layer (for even freezing), remove excess air, close tightly or tie.
Some useful tips
Blanch onions before freezing should be no longer than 3 minutes on low heat with the addition of a small amount of water. For maximum preservation of vitamins and nutrients, chopped onions are best placed in a metal sieve and dipped in boiling water. for 30 seconds, then pour over cold water.
Frozen onions should not be used raw. It is suitable only for the preparation of various dishes.
It does not follow defrost onionsas in this case the product may lose its taste, change the texture and color. It is better to add it to the dishes in the cooking process.
