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How To Freeze Onion Rings
You can freeze the onion rings in the fridge for a longer time. First, wash, peel and slice the onions. Separate the slices into rings. Place plastic wrap in between the onion rings to prevent them from sticking together. Then place the onion rings in airtight freezer bags and let them freeze.
If you would like to freeze the onion rings, just put them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place in the freezer. Once the onions rings are blanched, proceed to prepare as usual, then put on the baking sheet and freeze them, covered, for 30-45 minutes, until they are firm. Place cooled onion rings in one layer on the baking sheet and freeze for 30-45 minutes, uncovered, until frozen.
After the onions have been blanched, coat the onion rings with batter just like normal, and place the coated onion rings on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, and then freeze them, uncovered, for 30-45 minutes. Once frozen, you can transfer the chilled onion rings into a freezer-safe bag, press all of the air out, and store them up to 3 months. Remove the onion rings from the plastic bag, then put the rings into a large mixing bowl filled with hot running water to fully thaw.
Blanch in the water for 3 minutes (small onions) to 7 minutes (large onions) or until centers are fully heated. Once onions are fully frozen; typically, a couple hours, remove bags from cookie sheets and put straight into the freezer. If you wish to take additional precautions, you may want to double-bag your onions, or put one bag into a sealed container, before placing them into the freezer.
If freezing straight into the freezer bag, always freeze the frozen onions in one layer, no thicker than 1/2″. That is why I recommend freezing the frozen onions either in a pre-measured quantity, or freezing them in a thin layer, which allows you to break the frozen pieces apart with ease if needed.
| Facts | |
| First put onto a baking sheet | If you would like to freeze the onion rings, just put them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place in the freezer. |
| And put them in freezer | Once the onions rings are blanched, proceed to prepare as usual, then put on the baking sheet and freeze them, covered, for 30-45 minutes, until they are firm. |
Before you begin cutting onions up for freezing, you have to understand that frozen onions will not work for every recipe. In general, freezing whole onions for long-term storage is not recommended, though, check out the next section if it is needed. For this reason, I freeze only about five pounds of onions at a time, or as much as I am capable of using within three months.
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If you are desperate to freeze full onions, you will have to blanche them — simmer in warm water for about seven minutes, or until the center is just heated through. Blanch the raw onions in boiling water for 10-15 seconds, then immerse in ice-cold water to stop the cooking process. After 15 seconds, strain the onions through a colander, then drop the onions into the ice-cold water bowl immediately.
Using a sharp knife, slice onions into slices that are between 14 to 12 inches thick, and then divide into rings. Remove onion slices from the fridge and roast them in the oil, in batches, for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until they are browned. Once all onion slices are coated in the flour, dip onion slices in a mixture of milk, let any excess liquid drip off, and coat with the flour mixture again, then place on a plate or tray.
If using a spare onion ring, put on a baking tray in the preheated 350degF oven for about 7 minutes to crisp up the onion rings. Cook time 4 minutes Total time 4 minutes Ingredients 6 ounces frozen onion rings (about 1/2 sack of Alexia onion rings) Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees for about 3 minutes.
The onion rings may expire in time, so they can also be prepared in advance, then chilled, then frozen separately in an individual foil sheet. When you pull some rings out of the freezer for the meal, they will have been cooked from frozen to browned and crisp. Frozen rings are going to be limp every time (unless you get one that comes in a special pack that is specially designed to cook in the microwave.
Properly stored, frozen onion rings will retain their good taste for around 12 months in the freezer, though if stored correctly they usually will stay safe for eating thereafter. We highly recommend against keeping full onions in your refrigerator, however, since when stored cool, dry, and well-ventilated, they keep one to two months in summer, and up to six months in the winter. Us does not recommend using frozen onions in fresh recipes, like salsa, because freezing changes the texture of onions. For salads and cooked dishes, young scallions can be cut up and frozen without blanching; however, they lose their freshness if they are frozen before use.
The key to freezing onions is to tightly seal them inside a quality bag or container, which prevents them from developing odors. Just make sure you pack the ice cube trays tightly inside a bag when freezing–you do not want any onion smells to come out of the freezer. You will also want to transfer the frozen onions from ice cube trays or muffin tins into freezer bags for longer-term storage.
Instead of spending the money, find out how to freeze onions, so that the next time the recipe calls for just half of one onion, you will have extras on hand. Having onions ready to go cuts prep time, and by freezing ahead, you will avoid losing money on throwing away the foods that have been left to rot. Store the chopped onions in the refrigerator (or even in the freezer)… you can hold on to one half-sliced or one-sliced onion in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about one week.
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Freezing the onion rings does change the texture slightly, but thankfully, there is a smart trick you can use to ensure that your frying bits are extra crisp. If you notice that your onion rings are starting to dry out a little while heating, simply give your onion rings a couple of spritzes using an Evo Oil Sprayer (this thing is awesome) and that will restore moisture. This trick works best with things thicker, like onion bhajis (yes, this links to my experiment on heating onion bhajis, feel free to check that out!).
You can freeze red onions, white onions, yellow onions, shallots, chives, leeks with these easy steps. My brother works at a restaurant serving hot food, he gave me some tips and tricks for making perfect, restaurant-quality onion rings at the convenience of my home, and told me how to freeze onion rings.
Should I freeze onion rings before frying them?
The secret is quickly freezing the coated onion slice rings on a baking sheet. In an air fryer, the coating tends to seep through the racks, removing part of its crunch. Place all the coated onion rings on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper, and then freeze for two hours.
What is the best way to freeze raw onions?
In cooler packs, add onions. Setting the bundles level in the cooler helps the onions freeze more quickly and makes it easier to separate portions as needed. When the onions are frozen, push out the air and place the packs on cookie sheets or metal dishes. Rearrange the packets to take up less room.
Can fried onions be frozen?
To store cooked onions for up to 90 days, make sure to let them cool fully before doing so. Then, place the cooled onions in sealed cooler bags. Fill the cups of a biscuit tray with cooled, cooked onions, cover with cling wrap, and freeze until firm to create little, easy-to-use amounts.