If you use onions frequently in cooking, store them in the freezer so you can easily pick them up when you need them. However, it's a good idea to prepare the onions properly before freezing to preserve their taste. While it's easy to freeze chopped onions, you may need to blanch or grind them in a blender first to improve their taste as you use them.
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Method 1 of 3: Freezing Shallots the Easy Way
Step 1. Peel and chop the onion
To prepare the onion before freezing, cut the onion with a sharp knife about 1 cm from the top. After that, cut the onion in half. Remove the thin skin, then cut the onion to the desired size.
- We recommend that you do not cut the onion in sizes smaller than 1 centimeter. This can cause them to be wrapped in ice when frozen because they are too small.
- You can slice onions instead of chopping them if you want to freeze them for use in dishes such as fajita (Mexican roast beef).
Step 2. Put the shallots in a freezer bag
When the onions have been cut to the desired size, place them in a plastic freezer bag. Arrange the onions in only one flat layer so they don't stick together when they freeze later. Remove the air from the plastic bag, then close it tightly.
- If you're freezing a large batch of onions, place them on a baking sheet in a single layer so they don't stick together while freezing. Freeze this way for 2-3 hours, and when the onions are almost frozen, you can put them in a plastic freezer bag without worrying about everything sticking together.
- Use a plastic bag that is thick enough to prevent the onion from getting freezer burn (damage to food due to exposure to cold air in the freezer) and to prevent the red underside from losing its aroma. If you only have thin pockets, use a double.
Step 3. Write on the bag before you freeze it
Before putting onions in the freezer, use a marker or pen to write down the date, contents of the bag, and when you should use it. Place the plastic in the freezer flat, and make sure the onions stay in a single layer when you place them.
- You can store onions in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- If you want to freeze several bags of onions, you can stack them to save space in the freezer. Make sure the onions in each plastic bag stay in an even layer.
Method 2 of 3: Blanching Shallots Before Freezing
Step 1. Peel and chop the onion
Start by slicing the top and bottom of the onion with a sharp knife. After that, remove the thin skin of the onion by peeling it. Cut the onion with a knife to the desired size.
Step 2. Bring water to a boil using a saucepan
Put the water in a large saucepan and place it on the stove. Turn the stove over high heat until the water is completely boiling, which should take about 10-20 minutes depending on the amount of water used.
The amount of water used depends on the amount of onion you want to blanch. For every 400 grams of onion, use 4 liters of water
Step 3. Put the onion in the pot and boil for a few minutes
When the water boils, add the onions to the pot. Cover the pot, and simmer the shallots for 3-7 minutes, depending on the amount of blanching of the onions.
- The more the onions are blanched, the longer it will take to boil them.
- By chopping them up first, you can easily place the onions in a wire basket or metal colander and drop them into the boiling water. This way, you can lift them out of the water easily and quickly when you're done. If you don't have a colander or metal basket, use a slotted spoon to scoop the onions out of the boiling water.
Step 4. Transfer the onion to a bowl filled with cold water
Immediately after removing from the boiling water, place the onion in a bowl filled with ice or cold water. Soak the onions in the ice water for the same amount of time you boil them to stop the ripening process.
- Cold water or ice water used for soaking shallots should have a temperature of no more than 15 degrees Celsius.
- When the onion is submerged in cold water, stir it a few times to allow it to cool evenly.
Step 5. Drain the onion and put it in a plastic bag for the freezer
After you've cooled them down enough, drain the onions using a sieve. Shake the filter to remove excess water, then dry with a clean towel. When it is dry, put the onion in a plastic bag for the freezer and place it in the freezer.
Make sure the plastic bag has today's date written on it so you can see how long the onions have been in the freezer
Method 3 of 3: Freezing Shallots in Porridge
Step 1. Peel and chop the onion into small pieces
Cut the top and bottom of the onion with a knife so you can easily peel the thin skin off. After that, chop the onion into small pieces before you grind it. You don't need to slice or dice them, but make them into small pieces suitable for blending in a blender.
Use the pitcher of the blender as a guide as to the size of the onion slices you should make. If the pitcher is small, chop the onion in small pieces. If the pitcher is large, you can divide the onion into 8 pieces
Step 2. Put the onion in the blender and run the tool
When everything is chopped, put the onion pieces in the blender. Run a blender to puree the onion, and hold the button until the onion becomes a thick, but soft pulp.
- If you're freezing a lot of onions, you may need to grind them in batches. An overfilled pitcher will make it difficult for the blender to grind the onion effectively.
- If the blender motor isn't very strong, you may have to squeeze the onion while the appliance is running to get the onion to reach the knife. To do this, insert the metal russet handle into the hole in the blender's lid before placing it in the pitcher. The round tip of the irus should be in the teapot. So, when you start running the blender, press the onion gently. Because the bottom is round, the irus won't come into contact with the blades of the blender.
Step 3. Transfer the onion pulp to an ice cube tray to freeze
Once mashed, carefully put the shallots into the ice cube tray using a spoon. Place the ice tray in the freezer, and let the onion puree freeze completely. This may take approximately 4 hours.
Cover the ice cube tray with plastic wrap so that the onion smell doesn't contaminate other foods in the freezer
Step 4. Transfer the frozen red onion into a plastic bag and put it back in the freezer
When the onion puree has completely frozen, carefully remove the frozen onion from the ice tray. Place frozen shallots in a plastic freezer bag, and place in the freezer until ready to use.
- Don't forget to write today's date on the plastic bag so you don't use it for more than 6 months.
- Frozen shallot porridge is perfect for adding to sauces, gravy, and soups.
