I was looking at a stew recipe, or something, and it suggested saving time by using frozen onions. Being Canadian, I’m not sure I’ve ever even seen these (excepting onion rings). Are these a common convenience in the US? Do you use them? Is slicing fresh onions so arduous?
Only frozen onions I have seen are pearl onions (which might make sense in a stew recipe).
You would not slice pearl onions usually. Too small.
Personally, I would never buy pre-chopped onions or garlic. You lose some flavor and I find dicing/slicing onions to be one of the simplest preps in the kitchen and the fumes don’t bug me much at all.
But, I know some people are much more sensitive to those fumes and prepping onions is a painful chore so frozen may well be worth it for them.
I’ve used frozen chopped onions (I’m USian). Tasted fine, much easier on my eyes than doing the chopping myself.
They’re in Canada, too. I saw some just a few days ago at Loblaws while looking for frozen veggies – frozen chopped onions. I didn’t pay much attention as I don’t use them – I just chop up portions of white onion as needed – so I didn’t notice whether it was one of the Loblaws store brands.
As I recall, frozen chopped onions were around many years ago, then seemed to disappear, but apparently they returned at some point.
ETA: I know I saw them, but checking Loblaws online doesn’t find any. But Walmart, Costco, and Metro all claim to carry them …
https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/Great-Value-Natural-Diced-Onions/6000199911067
I think they are great especially if you are cooking for one. I hate to buy a whole onion, chop a tiny piece of it and wait for the rest to rot before I use it. Also, my eyes tear so much I am in danger of serious injury. If you just need a small amount of onion for a recipe such as a single omelet, it is much more convenient to get some out of the bag then just pop the bag into the freezer. While they may be a touch more watery than fresh onions, if you cook them they are fine. It’s just something convenient to have in the freezer.
When I buy an onion (I am single) I chop it up and put it in one of these.
These things are not cheap for food storage but they are awesome. Glass containers with tight-fitting rubber seals. I usually dice half the onion and slice the other half and drop them in one of these. I’ve had the onions in there last two weeks easy. Kind of amazing really.
And it makes it so easy when cooking. Just grab what I need and put it back in the fridge.
I also use them for other veggies (green peppers, carrots, etc). Just spend 30 minutes prepping when I get them from the store, put them in these and I am good for 7-14 days.
I’ve given these as gifts and everyone loves them. They really help a lot (and no, I do not own stock in this company or work for them).
As I mentioned above, my preference is white onions, which are particularly large but have the taste and texture I like. I find that I don’t tear up at all while chopping, but not sure if that’s the type of onion or just me. I also find that both whole onions and partial ones keep quite a long time – several weeks at least, or even a month or more. I rarely need a whole white onion because they’re so big, but the partial ones I double-wrap and keep in a tight plastic container.
Those look really useful, especially being heat-resistant and ovenproof. I’ll have to get me a set.
One of the stores I shop at used to use really good quality tight-lidded containers at the deli takeout, but they’ve since shifted to crappy ones that aren’t worth re-using.
Just remember the lids are not oven proof. They really are nice though. I like that they don’t stain (ever put tomato sauce in those plastic containers and then they are forever orange? Not these.)
Now that I live alone and don’t cook the big pot (or pots) of stew I used to, I’ve used frozen stew mix with pearl onions, carrots and celery because of the convenience and cost of not having to buy a whole onion, bag of carrots and stalk of celery.
I’ve bought frozen diced onions. And here’s a frozen mirepoix: https://www.amazon.com/Cascadian-Farm-Mirepoix-Organically-Vegetables/dp/B077THJ2KK/ref=sr_1_1_f3_0o_wf?keywords=chopped+onions+frozen&qid=1665641743&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjU0IiwicXNhIjoiMi4zNCIsInFzcCI6IjIuMzUifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-1
If I buy a big onion, I toss the half I don’t use in a plastic bag as is. Then let it partially thaw slightly to cut to size. Plus they don’t release the gas that makes you cry! Freeze Onions to Cut Them Without Crying
Even if I chopped an entire onion, I am either putting it in a sealed container as noted above so two months later I can throw out the rotten remains or I freeze the remaining half and if I am doing that anyway I might as well just buy them frozen and pre chopped. I do understand that many people like to use them fresh each time but I just don’t notice a difference.
I got that. I have a set of three different sized casserole dishes that do have an oven-proof top, but only one top for three dishes, so I sometimes microwave using plastic wrap, or if something in the oven needs to be covered, I use foil. These will be a nice supplement to the casserole dishes.which I use quite a lot, both for cooking and for storage. They should work well for leftovers like rice, mashed potatoes, and Chinese food.
When I say that leftover white onion keeps a long time I am of course assuming refrigeration. I put the partial ones double-wrapped in a tightly sealed container so they don’t stink up the fridge. The whole ones I just throw into the vegetable bin at the bottom of the fridge.
We keep bags of frozen onions, peas, spinach, and okra (hey, I like okra) in the freezer for emergencies.
When I use an onion, I dice and freeze any I don’t use.
Holy shit! I was about to order the 4-pack – USD $34.98 on your link – but then I went to Amazon Canada and they want CAD $73.05 for the same damn thing! A lot of that is the exchange rate, though. I considered ordering from the US site but with the currency exchange and extortionate shipping and export fees, it was even more expensive.
Turns out I can get those from Walmart for CAD $12.47 apiece, so I’ll just pick up two or three later today.
Every once in a while – not often – Walmart is good for something. And Amazon is not always the best deal, and sometimes far from it.
We use both. That one and the ikea one
You may find the ikea one to be more affordable in canada.
Also Indian American here. Onions are an essential part of our cuisine just like garlic and ginger. I would not freeze the onions.
Thanks, but I just ordered the Rubbermaid glass ones from Walmart. Much cheaper than Amazon Canada, and exactly the same thing (and yes, it’s the glass ones, not the plastic trays that Rubbermaid also makes). I could have driven over and picked them up but it’s wet and dreary today and Walmart offered free delivery in two days. 
If I’m not going to use a whole onion I just chop the whole thing up and dump the remaining into ice cube trays to freezer into smaller portions.
IIRC I used to buy Ore-Ida frozen onions. They made life easier. I’m not sure why I quit buying them. I too have very sensitive eyes when it comes to chopping onions. I usually wear onion goggles!
To me, chopping onions with a well-sharpened chef’s knife is one of the joys of cookery. Picking the right onion from the various varieties available, and chopping to the right degree of fineness or coarseness, or sometimes just peeling off rings, is also part of the fun of cooking.
I think the reason that frozen chopped onion died out for awhile – at least around here – is that they offered a very minor convenience along with a loss of some of the above advantages. It’s a bit of a mystery to me why they ever came back – perhaps because of a larger number of singles just cooking for one, who saw a big advantage in being able to dole out small amounts of chopped onion and not have to worry about spoilage. But properly wrapped and refrigerated, onions really do keep quite a while.
I agree! I even get a thrill out of the ocular irritation and tearing. Some of this is likely because I usually am high in the kitchen.
I’m a household of one and I cook a lot. I use frozen chopped onions all the time. The thing is if a recipe starts with browning the onions in oil at the beginning, these have to give up a lot of water before they brown. Otherwise, they’re great.
Another great frozen product is a mix of chopped celery, onions, red and green peppers, and parsley.
I keep lots of frozen veggies on hand all the time.
I also use fresh vegetables, too, but sometimes I can’t use them up before they go bad.