Fresh green onions are a great way to add flavor and crunch to some of your favorite meals. Instead of having to pick them up from the grocery store, did you know if you store them in a glass jar, they will regrow and you can have green onions for several months?
You can use this trick to increase their shelf life and always have fresh green onions that have the best taste. In this blog I’ll give you the step-by-step instructions you need to keep your green onions fresh for 3-4 months!
Washing Green Onions
When you bring your fresh green onions home from the grocery store you will want to wash them really well. In order to do this, begin by filling a large bowl with 10 cups of cool water and ¼ cup of 5% distilled white vinegar. If there is a rubber band holding the bundle of green onions together, remove it and place the onions in the bowl. Set a timer for two minutes.
Make sure that the water gets inside the ends of the onions because oftentimes that is where the dirt likes to hide. When your timer goes off, rinse them in a colander and lay them out to dry in a single layer on a towel to remove any excess moisture.
How to Store Fresh Green Onions in a Jar of Water
Once they have mostly dried, place the root end of your green onions in a small jelly jar or mason jar with filtered water. Add enough water to the jar so that the top of the white parts of the onions are covered. City water often has chemicals like chlorine and fluoride that will kill the plant. This is why I recommend using filtered water when storing plants and herbs in water.
You will notice that the roots will begin to grow when they are in the water. You can trim them back to about ¼ of an inch with kitchen shears. If you end up getting any plants that do not have roots, you will notice they will not regrow since they are unable to absorb water.
In the first couple of days, the green onions will be in shock and the tops may start to look wilted, but don’t give up on them. They are just adjusting to their new environment and if you give it a few days they will perk back up. You can cut off the wilted part of the plant and save it for later use by storing it in an airtight container. Use these wilted pieces the next time you need them. Once those are used up, you can begin using the fresh ones that have been growing in the jar of water.
If the green parts of the plant are falling over you can trim them down because they will continue to grow. Store them in an airtight container and chop them up as you need them for your various recipes.
Caring for Your Fresh Green Onions
Every 7-10 days you will want to replace the water in the jar with fresh, filtered water. Giving the plants fresh water will allow them to continue to grow. This is a great time to check on the roots and trim them if needed as mentioned above.
When doing this, if you notice the root area starting to get slimy, you can peel away a few layers of the white part and place it back in the jar.
If you follow these easy steps for how to store fresh green onions, they will last 3-4 months on your windowsill in a jar of water. They are a cute little decoration and it will greatly extend the shelf life of your onions. This is such a practical way to enjoy this vegetable for a long time and have less food waste!
Keep Your Fruits and Vegetables Fresh
If you find my green onions tips helpful and are looking for more tips to keep your other fruits and vegetables fresh, check out my eBooks! I Bought It, Now What and I Bought It, Now What: Summer Edition are available in a bundle in The Cross Legacy Shop. These will give you tips for washing and storing 50 of the most popular produce items.
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