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Three vacuum-sealed bags filled with chopped onions are stacked on a tray with a white marble background.
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How to Freeze Onions

Learn the easiest, most reliable way to freeze onions so you always have chopped onions ready for soups, stews, casseroles, and everyday from-scratch cooking.
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Flash Freeze (Inactive Time):2 hours
Course: Freezing
Cuisine: American, farmhouse
Keyword: freezing onions, frozen onions for cooking, how to freeze onions, onion meal prep, preserve onions

Equipment

  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • baking sheet
  • Parchment Paper
  • Freezer-safe bags or container
  • Marker

Ingredients

  • Onions yellow, white, red, or sweet

Instructions

  1. Prepare the onions: Peel your onions and slice or dice them into the size you use most often. Even pieces freeze better and cook more evenly.
  2. Line the baking sheet: Place parchment paper on a baking sheet to keep the onions from sticking during freezing.
  3. Spread the onions out: Arrange the chopped onions in a single layer on the tray. This flash-freeze step keeps them from clumping so you can scoop out what you need later.
  4. Flash-freeze the onions: Place the tray in the freezer for 1–2 hours, or until the onions are frozen solid.
  5. Transfer to storage bags: Once the onions are firm, scoop them into freezer bags or containers. Press out as much air as possible before sealing.
  6. Label and store: Label each bag with the date and amount, then freeze for up to 8–12 months. Add directly to soups, stews, casseroles, and skillet meals — no thawing needed.

Notes

Frozen onions work best in cooked dishes since they soften when heated. Use them in cozy meals like cabbage roll soup, shepherd’s pie, turkey pot pie, lasagna soup, and more.