How to Freeze Your Onions and Make Them Last for Months (2024)

As the old saying goes, "The road to bad onions is paved with good intentions" … or something like that. Maybe you forgot them on the counter for a while and now they're showing signs of rot. Avoid future disappointment (and save money) by freezing them.

Not only does freezing guarantee you use all your purchased product, but the convenience of pre-chopped onions chillin' in the freezer is quite the luxury come meal prep time, especially during those notoriously hurried weeknight dinners.

Can You Freeze Onions?

Not only do onions freeze exceptionally well, it truly is as easy as chopping them up and chucking them in the freezer. There is no need to cook them first, unless, of course, you'd like to be able to quickly add the depth of flavor that caramelized onions provide to a dish.

Freezing onions whole will require a blanching process first, but whole frozen onions don't offer the same ease of use that chopped ones do, so it's in your best interest to just cut them raw.

Even though onions are freezer-friendly, stick to using them in cooked dishes rather than salads, because their texture will inevitably be different. Frozen onions will retain their flavor for 3-6 months — they're likely still good past that, but they won't be as potent.

The Best Way to Freeze Onions

Before you get chopping, consider these tips:

• Make sure the zip-top bags you're using are thick. Standard freezer bags are likely not thick enough, so double or triple-bag them. The onion's odor can permeate a freezer and it will go through thin bags. If keeping onions in a garage or basem*nt accessory freezer is an option, go with that.
• Consider freezing onions in the portion you'd like to use, e.g., smaller portioned bags rather than one big one. This way, you can use all the onions in the bag at one time – once they're frozen it's difficult to remove only a portion due to clumping.

Get the recipe:

• For the most space-saving storage, lay the filled bags flat on a cookie sheet until frozen, then collect and stack or stand them in the freezer.
• If your onions are soft and/or have sprouted, puree them in a food processor with olive oil and use ice cube trays to freeze the mixture. Then transfer the cubes to a zip top bag. This cube will add delicious flavor to soup, gravy, sauteed beef dishes, etc.

To Freeze Onions

1. Peel the onions and discard any mushy or brown spots.

2. Chop or slice the onions into whatever size or shape pieces you use most often, likely sliced or chopped. Steer clear of finely dicing or using a food processor. Once thawed, you won't have onions so much as sloppy porridge or mush. If you have a lot of onions to freeze, consider freezing some in slices and some chopped for use in a variety of applications.

3. Place the cut onions in freezer bags, squeeze out as much air as possible, and seal. You can also freeze in an airtight container. When doing so, choose glass due to the odor, and spread the onions in single thin layers separated by plastic wrap. A final option would be to pack chopped onions into ice cube trays for freezing, then transferring the frozen cubes to zip top bags for storing.

4. Label and date the bags, so you know when the onions are past their prime and to be sure you use the older ones first.

How to Thaw and Use Frozen Onions

Use frozen onions in cooked dishes like soup, stew, braises, stir-fries, burgers, meatloaf, pasta sauce, casseroles, chile, or any recipe that uses sauteed onions in the first few steps. Just toss them in— no need to thaw beforehand. You can even flour frozen slices or rings to make easy onion rings.

Frozen onions lose their crunch, so raw dishes won't be good or appropriate. And don't try to caramelize them after they've been frozen – they won't brown like fresh onions will, as the extra moisture will prevent them from doing so.

Related:

• Ways to Take the Sharp Bite Out of Raw Onion
• 5 French Onion Dip Recipes That Are Full of Flavor
• Here's How Long Onions Last if You Store Them Properly