How to store onions in winter? Is it possible to freeze onions and how to do it at home? In a plastic bottle

How to store onions to reduce losses? In this article I decided to talk about how to store onions and how to prepare them for storage. There will also be some useful tips here. You will surely find something new for yourself.

Storing onions is quite a feasible task. Well-ripened bulbs are in a state of complete physiological dormancy and, at a certain temperature and humidity, are perfectly stored at home. The key to long-term storage of onions is compliance with agricultural cultivation techniques, including proper cleaning and preparation for storage.

How to prepare onions for storage?

Preparing onions for storage begins from the moment they are harvested.

Onions are harvested 90-120 days after planting (harvesting time depends on the variety). As a rule, onion harvesting begins in August. By this time, the leaves begin to turn yellow and lie down, the bulbs become fuller, and the necks become thin.

It is advisable to harvest onions in dry weather as follows: dig up the bulbs so as not to injure the bottom, and carefully fold them. It is not recommended to pull out the bulbs, throw them, or knock them on the ground. This leads to their damage and reduced shelf life.

How to dry onions after harvesting?

Storing onions is much more effective after thorough drying. For this, the bulbs along with the leaves spread out in a thin layer in the fresh air. If weather conditions do not allow drying the onions in this way, then they are laid out on the floor or on shelves in the yard (under cover), on the veranda or balcony.

There are other drying methods. You can tie the bulbs into small bunches and hang them outside under a canopy or indoors in a draft. If you live in a comfortable apartment and have a small harvest, you can dry the onions in the oven. To do this, heat the oven to the minimum temperature, turning it on and off periodically. It is important that the onion does not dry out and that the covering scales do not crack.

After the onion has dried, it must be trimmed. It is more convenient to use scissors for this. Trim the dry leaves so that a 4-6 cm long neck and roots remain, without touching the bottom of the bulb.

The surface of the bulbs is lightly cleaned of soil and cracked upper scales.

Then the onion is dried for two weeks, stirring it regularly.

For storage, onions are carefully sorted, selecting strong, healthy bulbs with dry, closed necks that are free of damage and sprouts. This is the preparation of onions for storage.

By the way, the methods of storing leeks and onions are radically different from each other. Although, why be surprised?.. They are completely different in appearance.

Keeping capacity of a bow

Please note that not all varieties of onions store equally well. It is advisable to leave late and sharp varieties of onions, which are characterized by high shelf life, for storage.

Keeping quality also directly depends on the degree of ripening of the bulbs, so harvest in a timely manner.

Yalta onion - one of the famous varieties of sweet onions, which is grown exclusively in Crimea. A feature of this variety is its unsatisfactory keeping quality. The storage period of Yalta (or Crimean) onions is only 120 days, after which they begin to germinate. Therefore, it is unsuitable for long-term storage. However, if you follow the growing technology, harvesting time and proper storage, Crimean onions can still be preserved.

Of course, Crimeans know best how to store Yalta onions. It’s not for nothing that they sell it in the form of beautiful bundles. Therefore, if you managed to purchase a bunch of sweet Crimean onions, then store it in this form, hanging it from a crossbar in the kitchen or pantry.

How to properly store onions?

Dried and selected onions are placed in specially prepared containers. So, to store onions at home use:

• wooden boxes;
• wicker baskets;
• fabric bags;
• special nets for storing vegetables;
• nylon stockings.

Boxes and boxes should be small, no more than 30 cm high and have holes for ventilation. Bags and nets should be take medium-sized ones, and the layer of onion poured should also not exceed 30 cm. It is better to put the onions in several boxes or bags than to pour them into one large one. This way there is a greater chance of saving the harvest.

You cannot use plastic bags to store onions. This material does not allow moisture and air to pass through, so the onion quickly fogs up and begins to rot.

How to store onions for as long as possible and with minimal losses? The “check” principle will help here. During the entire storage period, it is necessary from time to time (2-3 times during the entire storage period) to sort out the onions and throw away spoiled bulbs. This will preserve the rest of the onions until spring.

If the onion becomes damp during storage, it should be dried and placed in a new dry container.

Do you know how to store onions in an apartment most efficiently and healthily? This is storing onions in a proven folk way, namely in the form of woven braids or so-called fagots. To do this, the onions are not trimmed; braids are woven from dry leaves using twine. In this form, onions are perfectly stored. In addition, onion braids are a decoration for the kitchen interior and a means of disinfecting the air in the apartment due to the phytoncidal properties of this plant.

Where to store onions?

For storing onions in the house, the best option is a basement or cellar, provided that the air temperature in it does not fall significantly below zero. To store onions in the apartment, choose dark and cool places. For example, at the balcony.

At what temperature should onions be stored?

To store onions, the following conditions must be created:

The most difficult task in creating conditions is ensuring a relatively constant level of air humidity. And this is very important, because low humidity causes the bulbs to dry out. High humidity promotes the emergence of the bulb from dormancy, which leads to its germination, as well as the development of diseases (for example, neck rot, which causes mold).

To store food onions, 3 main storage methods are used, differing in temperature conditions:

• cold (onions are stored at a temperature of 0... -3°C);
• warm (onion storage temperature is +18…+22°C);
• combined (cold-warm). With this method, onions are stored as follows: in the fall at a temperature of +18...+22°C, in the winter at 0...-3°C (the room is cooled sharply), and in the spring the temperature is raised again to +18...+22°C.

Little tricks for long-term storage of onions

Take note of these tips to help store onions:

So, let's summarize...

You already know how to store onions in winter with minimal losses, as well as how to properly harvest onions and prepare them for storage. And if someone asks you how to store onions, you will probably remember the useful tips from this article. Yes, onions perfectly retain their properties for a long time, but still they also require your attention.

Onions are not afraid of frost

Onions and carrots are planted and sown early, as soon as there is an opportunity to go into the garden and prepare a bed. Onions even like to be planted in cool weather; they tolerate frosts without loss. The gardeners have already warmed up the onion sets, some on the radiator, some on the stove. There are a lot of different sets on sale now - round, elongated, regular light and red. The most optimal size for sowing is a bulb with a diameter of 1.5–2 cm; it will not shoot and the bulb will grow large. We have well-known varieties suitable for storage: Bessonovsky, Strigunovsky, Stuttgarter Riesen, Ermak and some others, including Dutch ones, which grow well in Siberia.

Have you chosen a location for the bow? It should be placed after cucumbers, green manure, parsley, after peas is also good. It is important that the soil is well prepared in the fall. Bad predecessors are carrots, tomatoes, onions, garlic. Onions can be returned to the same place on light soils after three years, on heavy soils after five years.

The best soil for onions is loose, fertile. On acidic soils, liming is necessary - in the fall, half a kilo of fluff lime per square meter is used for digging. Now you can use wood ash - 100 grams per square meter to the depth of the roots. If the soil is poor, then you need to add 4–5 kg of humus, but not manure, 40–50 grams of superphosphate and potassium chloride per square meter, as well as a little ammonium nitrate, half as much as other mineral fertilizers.

Preparation of seedlings before planting, in addition to warming up, includes several other simple operations. The sets are carefully inspected and sorted into fractions: the smallest - 1 cm in diameter, medium - 1.5–2 cm, large - more than 2.5 cm. Each fraction must be prepared for planting and planted separately so that the plants develop equally and evenly.

In Siberia, turnip onions grow better when planted early, because they are a long-day plant. It ripens, as is known, at the end of July. If you are late with planting, the formation of the bulbs shifts to August, when daylight hours noticeably decrease and the nights become colder. The bulbs are poorly poured, do not have time to ripen and are poorly stored. And the thick, damp neck of the onion is affected by rot.

Planting begins with a small fraction of the seed; it requires more time to form a large bulb. As soon as the soil at a depth of 5 cm warms up to plus five, you can plant. Such low temperatures are favorable for root development. When the temperature rises to plus ten, increased growth of roots and leaves begins. The medium and large fractions can be planted three to four days later, but do not linger any longer. Warming soil and air inhibits the development of the root system and stimulates leaf growth. As they grow, they require more and more nutrition, but the roots have not grown. So the first days of May are the most favorable time.

We must not forget about such a procedure as soaking the seeds 10–12 hours before planting. This has a positive effect on development and growth. Soak in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and simply in water at room temperature.

Soaking is also important because when stored at home, the sets are often attacked by thrips. And soaking will speed up their death. Nematodes may also appear in the seedlings.

You can see this pest, or rather, its harmful effects, only during harvesting, and even if you inspect each bulb. In those affected, the bottom cracks, turns out, and has an unpleasant odor. Damaged bulbs should not be scattered; usually they are immediately placed in buckets and burned or poured with boiling water.

An important point is how to avoid shooting. It depends on the storage method. Usually small sets with a diameter of 1 cm cannot be shot. The big one is prone to this. It should be planted in soil with a temperature above plus 12. If arrows appear, they are broken out as soon as possible, as soon as you notice a swelling at the bottom, almost at the very bottom.

And one more serious note. Before planting, gardeners usually trim off the dried feather residue at the very neck of the set, as this stimulates faster growth of leaves rather than roots. But it is necessary that the root system first grows and strengthens.

It seems like planting seedlings is a pleasure. But it happens that there are no shoots for a long time, and then the bulb grows poorly. Or you come to the site, and the seedling is all out - it seems to have pushed itself out of the soil - the roots grow quickly. This means the landing was shallow.

Make furrows in advance, water them, the depth is 4–5 cm from the soil surface for sowing the middle fraction. For small ones, a depth of 3 cm is enough, and for large ones, two heights of the set are enough. That is, up to 5–6 cm. The distance between the rows is 25 cm, and in the rows 8, 10, 15 cm - depending on the size of the set. Having spread out the seedlings, fill the furrows, slightly compacting the soil. It is very useful to mulch the beds with peat or humus. Not only peat mulch will protect against onion flies, but also a thin covering material, and will also retain moisture. Friendly shoots of healthy plants will appear.

– a real storehouse of vitamins and nutrients. In addition, it has excellent taste and serves as an invariable ingredient for preparing many dishes. If you follow simple rules, you can freeze this vegetable, making a healthy preparation for the winter. After all, this method allows you to preserve the nutrients in the product as much as possible. At the same time, it can be immediately used for culinary purposes, without resorting to pre-treatment, which will reduce cooking time.

Vegetables intended for long-term storage must be fresh and of high quality. When choosing tubers to freeze, make sure that they are free of mold, stains, soft spots and other defects. Selected onions must be cleaned, washed and dried on a waffle towel. However, if you simply put the vegetables in the freezer, the experiment will not be successful. The fact is that this culture does not do well with low temperatures and, if the temperature is good, can become watery and lethargic. Therefore, we bring to your attention several of the most popular options, tested by experienced housewives, on how to freeze onions for the winter.

Heat treatment as a way to prepare onions for winter

To fry, cut the onion into cubes or half rings and lightly simmer it in a small amount of vegetable oil. After this, drain in a colander and pack in a plastic bag. Now you can safely put the vegetables in the freezer. They will certainly retain their flavor and density. The advantages of this method of preparation include the fact that onions fried in vegetable oil do not completely freeze or harden. This can reduce cooking time, because pre-defrosting is not required.

In this case, the main thing is not to overdo it, because overcooked foods also have difficulty withstanding sub-zero temperatures. By the way, if you don’t have enough space in your freezer, you can put blanched onions in dense layers in a glass jar, close the lid and store it in the refrigerator.

To boil, cut the peeled onion into cubes. Pour 2 liters of water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add a tablespoon of table salt, place the vegetables in a container and blanch for five minutes. Then you should take out the onion and rinse it in plenty of cold water. Let the liquid drain, place the workpiece in plastic containers and place in the freezer.

Onions, cut into small cubes, can be placed in a bag after heat treatment. At the same time, pay attention to the fact that there are about two free centimeters left in the upper part of the bag, because freezing causes this vegetable to expand a little. Close the bag tightly and gently squeeze out any trapped air. This is necessary in order to ensure the tightness necessary for high-quality freezing and long-term storage. Using your hands, evenly distribute the slices over the surface of the bag, place it on a baking sheet and gently press the surface with your palms. With this manipulation you will not only get rid of excess air, but also save space in the freezer.

Is it possible to freeze onions without heat treatment?

Freezing onions for the winter is possible without thermal exposure, but you will have to resort to minimal pickling. Cut the vegetable into half rings, place in a deep bowl and sprinkle with table salt in a ratio of one to three. After this, package the resulting workpiece into designated containers. Before cooking, onion rings must be kept in cold water for 30 minutes to remove excess salt.

Before freezing for the winter, onions can be slightly dried in the oven. The process will eliminate excess liquid, ensuring long-term preservation of the workpiece. Place the pre-prepared, thoroughly dried and chopped vegetables on a baking sheet greased with sunflower oil and place it in the oven for five minutes (at a temperature of one hundred and eighty degrees). The product is ready to be frozen.

It is recommended to freeze onions at a temperature of minus eighteen degrees. The workpiece should be stored at 5–20 °C below zero. The maximum period is about six months, but it is recommended to use the product for two to three months.

You can use foil. For this preparation, mix the chopped product with herbs and butter. Place the mixture on food foil, wrap and crimp to release the air. When this sausage freezes, cut it into slices and freeze them. They will then serve as the basis for preparing second courses, because such a “tablet” contains onions, butter, and herbs.

You can also preserve green onions for the winter by freezing, which are useful for decorating dishes and giving them a special summer taste. So, wash the green feathers and dry them on a wooden board. This is necessary so that the greens do not form a lump during the freezing process. After drying, chop finely. Place the chopped greens in handfuls in special bags or sealed containers. In order for the preparation to be better stored and more tasty, knowledgeable housewives recommend adding a little dill to it. This will allow you to provide your household with fresh herbs without resorting to dried spices, which have no benefit.

Properly defrost and use onions

This preparation can be used to prepare various culinary dishes - vegetable stews, various soups, minced meats, etc. This additive will give the food a special taste and aroma, and also saturate it with vitamins and nutrients that onions are rich in. It is not recommended to add frozen vegetables to food in their raw form, without heat treatment. The product cannot be re-frozen, as this will cause it to become slippery, lethargic, acquire an unpleasant odor and lose most of its beneficial properties.

Defrosting can be done using the following methods:

1. In a refrigerator. The process will take quite a long time (up to three hours), but it will preserve the solid consistency of the product and its characteristic aroma.
2. At room temperature. To do this, simply leave the workpiece on the table. The speed of the process depends on the temperature of freezing and storage of the product. It should be noted that in this case the vegetable softens and becomes watery. However, the taste is preserved, so the product can be used in cooking.
3. In the microwave. This option allows you to significantly save time; the process will take no more than five minutes. But if you wait too long, the defrosting may turn into the cooking process. To prevent this from happening, set the power of the microwave oven to the lowest setting.
4. In water. It is believed that if frozen onions are placed in a bowl of cold water for several hours before use, their taste will be exactly the same as that of a fresh vegetable.
5. In some cases, the product is used without defrosting, for example, if you prepared pre-fried onions.

Apples and pears

Many summer residents store their harvest on their balconies before the cold weather sets in. But when exactly should potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, apples and pears be moved to a warm place so that they do not spoil? Should I do this immediately at the first frost or can I wait a little longer?

If the balcony is not insulated, then as soon as the thermometer begins to show a negative temperature, apples and pears need to be moved into the apartment, because they will spoil, says Vitaly VASEKHA, senior researcher at the RUE Institute of Fruit Growing. - You can put a jar of water on the balcony: as soon as you see that the water has begun to freeze, take away the fruit, otherwise they will freeze and become loose and lose their taste. On the insulated balcony, the harvest can be stored all winter. The optimal temperature for storing apples is +2 - +4 degrees, for pears +1 - +3.

In an apartment, it is best to store apples in the refrigerator, separate from vegetables, but since most often there is no room for them, place them in boxes or nets that allow air to pass through and place them in the coolest place, away from radiators. Never store apples and pears in plastic bags, as this will significantly shorten their shelf life. In an apartment at a temperature of +18 - +20 degrees, fruit can be stored for about a month. Some apples can be frozen by cutting them into pieces to make compotes from them in winter.

Potato

One of the most convenient options is to make an insulated box for storing potatoes on the balcony. If it is not there, then in the absence of a basement or cellar you will have to look for a place in the apartment or on the corridor.

Potatoes need to be removed from the balcony when the temperature drops to zero degrees, advises Ivan Ivanovich KOLYADKO, Deputy General Director for Scientific Work of the Republican Unitary Enterprise “Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Potato and Fruit and Vegetable Growing.” - Potatoes should be stored at a temperature no higher than +10 degrees, preferably +4 - +5.

Do not put potatoes in bags or bags that do not allow air to pass through - they will spoil, and do not place them in the light - they will begin to turn green.

Onion and garlic

The most persistent vegetables are onions and garlic. They can be stored on the balcony even after you have already moved the rest of the harvest into the apartment.

The optimal temperature for storing onions and garlic is 0 - -1, but they can easily withstand frosts down to -6 degrees, says Nikolai Petrovich KUPREENKO, deputy director for science of the Republican Unitary Enterprise “Institute of Vegetable Growing”.

When storing onions in an apartment, you can braid them and hang them in a dry place (diseases will develop in a humid environment and the onions will begin to sprout). Part of the harvest can be placed in boxes. But just don’t use plastic boxes - onions breathe and release moisture, but plastic doesn’t absorb moisture, so the harvest will spoil.

Check the contents of the boxes periodically: remove softened bulbs from the box immediately so that they do not become a source of infection for others. And do not store vegetables affected by pests and diseases - they quickly spoil.

Beetroot and carrots

They need to be taken away from the balcony at zero temperature - they are afraid of frost. The suitable temperature for storing carrots is +2 degrees. If there are only a few carrots, you can put them in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator: there are ideal conditions for them.

There are usually no problems with storing beets. Before storing, the tops are cut off, dried, put in boxes and periodically checked how they are stored. If you notice rotten fruits, throw them away immediately.

Cabbage

Cabbage will withstand a slight frost of -1 - -2 degrees, but it is not worth keeping it on the balcony for a long time in late autumn. To keep it well, choose late maturing varieties - their heads are denser. Cabbage is stored at a temperature of plus 2 - 3 degrees and high humidity.