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Can you freeze onions? This method works beautifully for preserving this common aromatic vegetable: here’s what to do!

Can you freeze onions
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Did you make a recipe that called for half an onion, only to find it sitting in the fridge days later? Here’s a tip: once you can cut an onion, freeze the rest! Onions hold up well in the freezer. Throw in leftover onions diced, then you can use them right from the freezer in soups, casseroles, stews and more. Here’s how to do it!

Can you freeze onions?

Onions freeze well, and in most cases you can cook them from frozen: no need to thaw! The texture and flavor of onions remain essentially unchanged after freezing. This makes it easy to preserve this aromatic vegetable to use later in soups, sautés, and other dishes.

Some vegetables become mushy after freezing and defrosting, but onions are more stable. Cut onions last in the refrigerator for about 1 week. If you’d like to preserve onions beyond that point, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Use frozen onions only in cooked dishes; they don’t work well raw like in salads.

How to freeze onions

Onions last in the pantry for about 2 to 3 months, stored in a cool dry place. But once onions are cut, they last only a week in the fridge. The best way to save that half of an onion you used for a recipe? The freezer. Here’s what to do:

  • Cut the onion. Onions freeze best when cut. It’s best to cut into a medium or small dice, which is versatile for many types of recipes.
  • Place the onion in an airtight container or freezer-safe plastic bag. If using a bag, use a straw to suck any remaining air out of the bag and seal it. If using an airtight container, you can place a small piece of aluminum foil on top so the onion smell doesn’t permeate the plastic lid.
  • Mark the “Use by” date. Use a permanent marker to label the onions with a “use by” date that is 3 months in the future. 
  • Freeze. Place the onions in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 to 6 months. For best results, use in 3 months.
Onions

Tips for how to use frozen onions

When used right from the freezer, onions keep their signature crunchy texture and flavor. Here are a few tips for using frozen onions:

  • Use frozen onions only in cooked dishes, like soups, stews, sautés, stir fries, and more. Don’t use frozen onions in salads, as the texture is much softer after thawing.
  • Frozen onions can be added right to cooked dishes: no defrosting is required. Keep in mind that frozen onions release more moisture than fresh onions when they hit the pan, so they may need an extra minute or so when sauteing.
  • Use frozen onions within 3 to 6 months. The flavor can degrade if the onions are frozen for too long. For best results, use them within 3 months.
Can you freeze onions

More ways to freeze ingredients

Want to freeze more dairy products, fruits or veggies? Here are a few methods:

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How to Freeze Onions

Can you freeze onions
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Can you freeze onions? This method works beautifully for preserving this common aromatic vegetable: here’s what to do!

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 3 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 3 minutes
  • Yield: N/A
  • Category: Frozen
  • Method: Frozen
  • Cuisine: Frozen

Ingredients

  • White, red, or yellow onions

Instructions

  1. Cut the onion. Onions freeze best when cut. It’s best to cut into a medium or small dice, which is versatile for many types of recipes.
  2. Place the onion in an airtight container or freezer-safe plastic bag. If using a bag, use a straw to suck any remaining air out of the bag and seal it. If using an airtight container, you can place a small piece of aluminum foil on top so the onion smell doesn’t permeate the plastic lid.
  3. Mark the “Use by” date. Use a permanent marker to label the onions with a “use by” date that is 3 months in the future. 
  4. Freeze. Place the onions in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 to 6 months. For best results, use in 3 months. You can use frozen onions directly in cooked dishes; no need to thaw (do not use raw). 

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About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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  1. Sonja Overhiser says:

    Let us know if you have any questions!