How to Store Spring Onions to Stay Fresher for Longer
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Want to know the best way to store spring onions? Let me show you how to store spring onions for maximum freshness and minimal food waste.
Quick Summary
Spring onions store best when kept in water. When stored correctly in water, they’ll stay firm and crunchy for around a week, as opposed to a couple of days without water.
Food waste is a pet hate of mine. It leads to higher food bills. Plus, it’s bad news for the planet. This is because as well as all the resources it takes to grow our food, when food waste ends up in a landfill, it releases methane. This is a powerful greenhouse gas – 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide – that accelerates climate change.
It just makes sense – both financially and environmentally – to avoid waste where we possibly can.
When it comes to salad greens, there’s a special technique on how to store spring onions and keep them fresher for longer. And the best part is there’s no special equipment required or multiple steps to follow.
How to Store Spring Onions Correctly
The internet is awash with lots of different ways to store your spring onions. However, through trial and error, I’ve found that the best way to store them is to treat them like cut flowers. So when you pick or buy your spring onions simply keep them in a glass or vase of water on your kitchen countertop. There’s no need to refrigerate – just keep the water topped up.
Here’s a pictorial representation of my spring onion bouquet – displayed in a charity shop glass find!
Your family and friends might think you’re a bit odd storing your spring onions in this manner, but you’ll have the last laugh! Your spring onions will stay firm and crunchy for around a week using this method, as opposed to lasting a couple of days in the fridge.
Top Tip
As with cut flowers, remember to change your spring onion water when it turns cloudy for optimum freshness.
You can also store celery, asparagus, and other stalk vegetables in this way to help store them longer. Even lettuce can be stored in water like this. I’m pretty sure that soon my kitchen is going to resemble a florist’s workshop!
Why You Shouldn’t Store Them In The Fridge
When I used to buy or pick spring onions I used to put them straight into the fridge as they were. If I didn’t manage to eat them immediately, they tended to wilt within a couple of days, tops.
It turns out that putting spring onions straight into the fridge is the very worst way to store spring onions. This is because the cold air of the fridge causes the spring onions to lose a lot of moisture. They quickly dehydrate and wilt, and from there, it’s a one-way trip to the compost bin.
Instead, reach for a glass or vase, and display your spring onions with pride!
And did you know you can even regrow your spring onions once you’ve finished with them?! It’s true – no sorcery involved!
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When I buy spring onions, I re plant them in the ground or a pot & they last for months!
I’ve not tried doing that Mitzi, will give that technique a go!
The onion recipe was great. I tried it and was delicious. Thanks for the post with clear info.
This is for sure going into my menu list. Thanks for sharing the detailed recipe.
Hi Wendy, I just start learning cooking. Your tips are always useful for me. Thanks.
What a great idea, thank you for this tip! Love your website keep going with the awesome work! :)
What a great tip! I must start decorating my kitchen with green vegetebles in a vase too. Thank you
What a great tip! I must start decorating my kitchen of green vegetebles in a vase too. Thank you
When I get my onions Home I clean them leave them to dry, cut them up and put them in a mason jar. Really save on time and keeps really well