Three Simple Methods for Drying Green Onions

Introduction

Drying Green onions are a delicious and healthy addition to any meal, but they can be a little tricky to store. If you don’t use them all at once, you might find yourself with a fridge full of slimy green onions. Fear not! There are three simple methods for drying green onions that will help you preserve them for later use. In this blog post, we will discuss each method in detail so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

What is a Green Onion

Are you unsure what green onions are? Don’t worry; I was the same way until I began producing and utilizing them on a daily basis. The leaves of onion plants are used to make green onions. The bunches of green stems with small white bulbs are probably something you’ve seen at the supermarket. Another term for green onions is scallions depending on which part of the world you reside. So, in future don’t be confused with the term scallion.

How to dehydrate Green Onions in your Oven

An oven is one method for dehydrating onions at home. Here’s how to dehydrate onions in the oven, step by step:

Preheat the oven to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius).
On a cookie sheet, arrange the thinly sliced onions in a single layer and place an oven thermometer in the centre.

Place it into the oven with the door slightly ajar to enable air to circulate.

Every 30 minutes, check the temperature to make sure the onions are uniformly heated.

The onions will shrink after around 6-12 hours of waiting and will be ready for storing.

Because ovens are common in most kitchens, using one to dry onions is one of the simplest methods, and the preparation requires no specific skills. The only downside of this method is that it leaves the oven door slightly open, which might be harmful for children or dogs playing in the kitchen, so be careful.
The onions will shrink after around 6-12 hours of waiting and will be ready for storing.

Drying Green Onions in a Dehydrator

First step is to wash the green onions and remove any wilted bits and cut the ends with the root. Try and keep the pieces uniform as it helps with the drying process.

I use different trays for the white and green parts. This is done as the white parts contain more moisture and therefore a little longer to dry. By keeping then separate you can remove the green ones a little bit earlier.

Place the trays in the dehydrator, at 100 degrees it takes roughly 6-7 hours. By drying them slowly it will better preserve the taste and color.

Once done place them in an air tight container, I prefer glass such as a canning jar.

Drying Scallions or Green Onions in the Sun

Spring onions should be rinsed in cold water.

Cut the lengths evenly, roughly 1 cm width

Give them a good wash under some cool water.

Using a new clean napkin or paper towel, dab them gently so as to remove as much moisture as possible.

Allow to dry in a “still region” away from high winds, otherwise your onions will blow away.

You may check on them a few hours later and reposition them to speed up the drying process and reduce adhering to the paper.

Shake/pull the onions from the paper after 24 hours.

Place them in an air tight container and they should last up to 18 months.

How to Rehydrate Green Onions

Bring water to a boil and pour into a bowl.

To the boiling water, add the dehydrated green onions.

Wait around five minutes.

Scoop out your onions, dry them, and put them to good use! Remember that you may cook with the water.

It now has a tinge of onion flavor and will enhance the flavor of a variety of foods.

Final Thoughts:

The drying process is mostly the same for all types of vegetables and herbs. I hope this post have given you more ideas about what you can preserve for those lean times. Winter can be harsh but having the foresight to preserve food during these times you can continue to enjoy the flavors of summer. Green onions are packed with vitamins and flavonoids which have both an anti oxidant and anti inflammatory effect. So this is a great food to preserve and have on hand. Be sure to have a read our guide to dehydrating beans as will.