Can You Freeze Red Onions?

Last updated on September 16th, 2022 at 08:00 pm

Onions can be added to pretty much any entree to give it more flavor. They are one of those staple ingredients you should always keep in your kitchen and cook with often. 

Red onions have a flavor that is great for all kinds of dishes. Magenta colored and sweet, these onions are delicious in several ways. 

If you have a lot of red onions that you don’t want to go bad, you could be wondering if you can save them somehow? Can you freeze red onions?

You can definitely freeze red onions to save them for later. Freezing red onions is great to do because it preserves them so you can use them later.

Giving a sweet, savory, and pungent taste, onions add a lot to meals. There are several types of onions that can be used in different ways. 

Some onions are better raw while others are perfect for sauteing. Red onions are an onion that are good when eaten raw on burgers, sandwiches, or salads. 

They are also good grilled, roasted, or even pickled. And you can freeze them!

How Long Can You Freeze Red Onions?

Freezing red onions is a great storing method to save them for later. But how long can you actually freeze them for?

Onions last in the freezer for 3 to 6 months. After this time they will start to lose some quality so it is best to consume the red onions within this time.

As you can see, you can freeze red onions for quite a while. Weeks or months after placing them in the freezer you can take them out and use them to cook with. 

If the correct steps (which I will discuss later on in this article) are followed before freezing the onions then they will stay good and last for a long time in the freezer.

Are Frozen Onions Good?

Red onions taste delicious in so many meals. If you have frozen some, you may be curious and ask the question, are frozen onions good?

Frozen red onions are good even after being stored in the freezer. They are perfect for adding to cooked dishes like soups, stews, or sauteing with other vegetables.

Frozen onions won’t lose any quality unless they are left in the freezer past 3 to 6 months. Red onions that have been stored in the freezer will still be yummy when cooked with. 

It is recommended though that you cook the onions after freezing them since they don’t taste as good raw as when they were fresh.

How Do You Freeze Red Onions?

Now that you know you can freeze red onions to save them for later, you want to try it. How exactly do you freeze red onions?

You should freeze red onions by peeling, cutting (chopping, dicing, or slicing), and then placing them in a freezer bag. You can then store the red onions in the freezer to use whenever you’d like.

If you have a lot of leftover red onions you can freeze them for later. You don’t even have to blanch them first. 

Just peel, cut (whichever way you like best: chopped, diced, or sliced), and freeze them in freezer bags. You can keep these red onions for weeks to months in the freezer so they are handy for wherever you are craving that sweet savory taste for a meal.

Can You Freeze Onions Whole?

I mentioned cutting the onions before freezing them but say you are in a time crunch. Can you just put the onions in the freezer?

It is not recommended to freeze onions whole. Before freezing them, take a little bit of time to cut them and then freeze them this way for best results.

Onions can’t be frozen whole. Before freezing, you should cut them up and then freeze them in a freezer bag. It doesn’t take a lot of time to quickly chop, dice, or slice the onion and there are even some handy onion choppers to help the process go faster. 

For best results don’t freeze red onions or any onion whole and take the time to cut them first.

How Do You Store Red Onions?

You bring home a bag of onions that you just bought at the grocery store. How do you store them so they stay good for as long as they can?

Red onions should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place. Moisture can cause them to go bad so make sure whatever you store them in is well-ventilated.

You can store red onions in your pantry if you are going to use them in the next couple of weeks. Storing whole onions in the fridge can cause them to go bad faster. 

If you like to prepare your onions ahead of time before you cook, you can cut the onions and then store them in the fridge. Don’t store onions in the pantry after they are cut. 

For long-term storage you can freeze cut red onions.

How Do You Defrost Red Onions?

When we freeze food, most of the time you need to defrost it before cooking. But how do you defrost frozen red onions?

You should defrost onions by placing the freezer bag in a bowl of cold water. If you want to skip the thawing process you can since frozen onions can be also be used straight out of the freezer.

Red onions are so simple and easy to freeze and when it comes time to use them you don’t even have to wait to defrost them. You can just add them straight into your dish after taking them out of the freezer. 

If you want to thaw the red onions, just place the freezer bag in a bowl of cold water until they are defrosted.

Final Thoughts

Red onions are a great addition to many dishes. If you have a lot of red onions that you don’t want to go bad, freeze them! 

This will preserve the onions so you can use them weeks or months later. 

Over time they will lose quality so it is best to use them in 3 to 6 months after being frozen.  There’s no need to thaw them (unless you want to), just add them into your meal. 

Follow the steps on how to properly freeze and store the red onions so they will stay good while frozen.