Storing green onions (also known as scallions) properly can make a significant difference in how long they stay fresh and flavorful!
Whether you have just harvested an abundance of green onions from your garden or bought a bunch from the store, knowing how to store them correctly is essential to prevent wilting and maintain their crispness.
Keep reading to find out how to store green onions, and also tips and tricks on how to regrow them!
Tips For Buying Good Scallions
Just like there’s a trick for how to buy the perfect watermelon, there’s also a trick for how to find a good green onion – look for clean and white bulbs that have roots still attached. This is because rootless onions will rot a lot quicker, and you can’t even plant them again to grow some new onions!
Now, what you can also look for is a dry and clean middle of the stalk that is free from wilt – give it a little squeeze and it should feel like a plastic straw. Simply cut off any wilted dark green stems or tips if you spot any.
You might also be interested in: How Many Onions Grow From One Bulb? (Explained)
Ways To Store Green Onions
There are two ways to store green onions – either put them in the refrigerator or freeze them if you want to store them for longer.
Let’s discuss this in a bit more detail.
Put Them In A Refrigerator
Putting them in the refrigerator seems like the best solution. However, there are still some ways to make your scallions last longer. For instance, you can put them in water – make sure that the roots are submerged in water.
Make sure to place them in a bottom-heavy glass which won’t fall over. You can keep them on the counter or in the refrigerator. If you’re putting the scallions in the fridge, cover them with a bag and tie it with a rubber band.
Remember to change the water every two or three days. When you store your scallions in water, they can last two to three weeks!
Freeze Them For Longer Storage
Although scallions will be soggy after thawing, you can still save them and use them in soups and sauces as opposed to a salad, or as a garnish where a bright color and crisp texture are preferred.
If you want to freeze them, I would suggest you clean and dry the scallions with paper towels or a cloth tea towel. After defrosting, any moisture left behind will make them more soggy, so be careful to completely dry them.
Cut the stalks into thirds but don’t remove the roots as they will help to maintain freshness. Put them all in a single layer on a sheet pan and move them into the freezer. Then, transfer them into a freezer-safe bag once they have frozen solid. This will save you loads of space!
Scallions stored in the freezer can last for about six months, so if you want to enjoy their unique taste a bit longer, I would recommend freezing them.
Regrowing Green Onions
Did you know that you can regrow store-bought onions? That’s right, with just a few simple tricks, you can grow unlimited green onions at home!
There are two ways you can do this: by growing them in soil or water. If you want to avoid messy soils, then I would recommend you to do it in water. Don’t worry, there is no difference and both ways are effective and will give you bountiful yields.
In Soil
Put some good-quality soil in a pot and plant your scallions there. Make sure to put the pot in a sunny window or outdoors where they can get plenty of sunlight. You can repeatedly cut the tops off as they grow whenever you need green onions.
If you are already an experienced gardener, then you should let the scallions flower to set seeds so that you can grow more brand-new onions in the future. Simply let the flowers dry on the plant, cut them off, and remove the seeds.
Then, put the seeds in a paper envelope until the planting time comes. You have to be patient because green onions can take several months to produce flowers.
Keep in mind that their flavor changes as they set flowers, so if you don’t want seeds, don’t let them reach the flowering stage by simply cutting them at their bases.
In Water
Begin by filling up a small glass or jar with water and submerging the scallion’s roots in it. Place the jar somewhere bright and wait for new green shoots to regrow. Don’t forget to change the water every week to keep your scallions nice and fresh!
You can simply cut them as they grow and use them in salads or to add some spice to your meals. Don’t cut the white ends or otherwise the green parts won’t grow.
Scallions can be regrown in water once or twice. This is because the water doesn’t have enough nutrients to support the third regrowth. Remember that regrown green onions are not as juicy and tender as new ones are.
If you don’t like their taste, simply plant some new bulbs. Also read: Here’s A Surefire Way To Tell If Your Onions Are Ready To Harvest
How To Use Green Onions
Scallions are a flexible component that can be used in various recipes, whether they are bought from a store, a farmers’ market, or regrown in your home. You can eat them raw because they have a bit of a milder flavor than regular onions, but they can also be cooked.
Green onions are mostly used as garnish or added to salads, soups, meat dishes, and mashed potatoes due to their sharp and peppery flavor. They can be used in stir-fries, baked into quick breads, or stuffed inside of meats.
Here are some delicious recipes for green onions: 20 Green Onion Recipes to Use Up a Bunch