How To Freeze Chopped Onions
Freezing onions isn’t just a kitchen hack; it’s a game changer. It’s the ultimate way to save time, reduce waste, and always have this ingredient at your fingertips. Learn How To Freeze Chopped Onions in just four easy steps and save time with meal prep.
Chopping onions can be a messy and teary job, but guess what? You don’t have to do it every time you cook! When you’ve got a freezer full of pre-chopped onions, there’s no need to cry over slicing and dicing. Just grab what you need and get cooking. No more tears—just tasty, easy dinners!
I freeze fruits and vegetables quite often. Be sure to check out Freezing Fresh Okra, Freezing Peaches without Blanching, and Freezing Fresh Strawberries without Sugar.
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💗Why You’ll Love Freezing Chopped Onions
Freezing onions is an awesome way to make cooking easier, reduce waste, and always have onions ready when needed. Onions make food taste and smell fantastic, but chopping them can be a real pain. That’s why freezing diced onions is such a great idea. Whenever I cook, I grab a bag of frozen onions from the freezer, take out what I need, and throw them into my dish.
👃Will My Freezer Smell Like Onions
I have never had a problem or a strong odor with an onion smell, but if you have concerns, you can always double-bag the onions. Onions should be stored in airtight containers or airtight freezer bags.
🛒Ingredients Needed
You’ll only need one ingredient for this freezer recipe. When they are on sale, I try to buy onions to restock my freezer. Our local school has a big Vidalia Onion fundraiser yearly, and I usually buy at least 50 pounds. This is also when I make my easy recipe for pickled onions.
Onions— I have used white, yellow, Vidalia, and red onions. I like to chop a lot of onions at once. Sliced onions are also handy to keep in the freezer for southern hamburger steak with gravy and onions.
📋Recipe Variations
- If I have bell peppers from my garden, I sometimes add them to a bag of onions and freeze them.
- Can you freeze chopped celery? You bet! Add some chopped celery to the bags of chopped onions, and you will have a great soup starter. I use them in this pot roast soup recipe.
🔪How To Freeze Onions
The method for preserving onions is simple. Follow these steps to prevent them from freezing in one big, giant blob. When you are ready for chopped onions, reach into the bag and grab what you need. You do not need to thaw the onions. Just drop into whatever you are cooking. Easy!
Step 1: Peel and chop or slice onions to your desired size.
Step 2: Spread the chopped onions in a single layer on a parchment-paper-lined sheet pan. Place the pan/cookie sheet in the freezer and leave it there for about 30 minutes (flash freeze) or until the onions are mostly frozen.
Step 3: Transfer the onions to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container once the onions are frozen. Seal the plastic bags or containers tightly to remove as much air as possible and prevent air from entering.
Step 4: Label and date the container and place it back into the freezer for long-term storage.
💭Pro Tips
- Chop onions in bulk. I like to chop a lot of onions at one time.
- Package onions in small portions for ease of use in recipes.
- Label and date each package before freezing.
- Add frozen onions directly to recipes.
- Try different varieties of onions, such as yellow onions, red onions, sweet onions, or Vidalia onions.
- A food processor may help in chopping the onions. It will save on onion tears.
🧊How To Flash Freeze Onions
I often get asked if one can freeze raw onions. People are usually surprised when I tell them how easy it is to freeze fresh onions. Flash freezing is a helpful technique and keeps the onions from sticking together and freezing in a clump. This makes it easier to portion out and only remove the amount needed for a recipe. This is an excellent food storage method, and it not only saves time but can also help save money.
To flash freeze, spread chopped onions in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Freeze for about 30 minutes to an hour before transferring them to freezer bags or an airtight container.
Check out my post on How to Freeze Strawberries. This is another good freezer hack and a great way to preserve strawberries.
❔Recipe FAQs
Onions last for months in the freezer. I have used them up to 6 months in the freezer.
There is no need to blanch onions before freezing. Slice, chop, and flash-freeze them first before adding them to a freezer-safe bag.
Most of the time, I just use frozen onions in the dishes I am cooking. The onions will thaw as they cook. You can also transfer the onions from the freezer to the refrigerator and let them thaw overnight.
Preserved Onions are unsuitable for eating raw or as toppings for hamburgers, hot dogs, or salads. They lose some of their crunchiness and can be soggy. They are best added to cooked dishes.
Freezing whole onions is possible but not recommended. Frozen whole onions are hard to cut up for recipes and take up more space in the freezer. For best results, chop, dice, or slice the onions before freezing them in freezer bags or an airtight container.
More Delicious Recipes with Onion
If you tried Freezing Chopped Onions or any other recipe on my blog, please consider leaving a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting!
👩🏻🍳Recipe
How To Freeze Chopped Onions
Ingredients
- 10 pounds Onions this recipe works for any amount
Instructions
- Peel and chop or slice onions to your desired size.
- Spread the chopped onions in a single layer on a parchment-paper-lined sheet pan. Place the pan/cookie sheet in the freezer and leave it there for about 30 minutes (flash freeze) or until the onions are mostly frozen.
- Transfer the onions to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container once the onions are frozen. Seal the plastic bags or containers tightly to remove as much air as possible and prevent air from entering.
- Label and date the container and place it back into the freezer for long-term storage.
I love freezing onions to have on hand for those busy nights. They are perfect for soups and stews.
I freeze onions for my single son. I chop and put a small amount in a snack bag get all air out seal, do several bags like this and place in freezer bag. You can fit about five bags Been doing this over a year with no problems. I do his peppers like this also after they are chopped.
I am so glad I came across your blog, Thank you so much for the wonderful content.
Thank you so much for posting how to freeze onions! I have never bern able to buy in bulk because I didn’t have the information on how to freeze chopped onions!
You are so welcome!