Dried onions: how to dry various types of onions for the winter at home

How and when to remove onions from the beds

Onions, regardless of the variety, ripen within 3 to 4 months after planting. A sign that the vegetable is ready for harvest is yellowed foliage falling to the ground. The bulbs themselves stick out from the ground and have a juicy, plump appearance.

Onions should be harvested in dry, sunny weather. It is advisable that the soil is slightly moist, but not soggy. It will be much easier to extract it from such soil and the root system of the onion will not be damaged. Keeping the roots intact is very important, otherwise it can lead to rapid spoilage of the vegetable.

How to dry onions after harvesting

After the onions are dug up, they need to be left in the garden for several hours so that they dry out slightly. Then the vegetables are transferred to the shade, in a well-ventilated area.

After 5–6 days of drying, the onions are sorted, leaving only the strongest, undamaged specimens for long-term storage.If you plan to dry the onions in “braids,” then the tails of the bulbs should be left long, and if in nets, then the dry leaves should be cut off so that a small neck 4–6 centimeters long remains.

On grids

The storage area must be dry and well ventilated. The cut bulbs are laid out in one layer on nets stretched at some distance from the ground. You can also use mesh plastic boxes or bags. However, in this case, the onion turnips will need to be stirred periodically so that drying occurs evenly.

Enterprising housewives have learned to use nylon products such as stockings and tights to dry onions. True, it is best to place completely dried onions in them for further storage.

In "braids"

“Braids” made from onions look very beautiful and often act as a decorative element in country houses.

To keep onions in braids for a long time, you need to know a number of rules:

• Since dry onion feathers are quite fragile, the structure should not be made long and heavy.
• To enhance the strength of the braid, you must add some strong rope.
• To ensure that vegetables are well ventilated, they should not be woven too tightly.
• The braid should be stored in a suspended position.

Watch a video tutorial from the channel “New from the Witch” on how to weave onion braids

How to dry onions at home

Onions can be dried chopped. Cutting options can be different: rings, half rings, cubes. The thickness of the slices, in any case, should not be more than 3 - 5 millimeters.

Green onions are washed and dried on towels before drying. Cutting is done using arbitrary wheels.

In the oven

Spread the onion slices in an even layer on baking sheets lined with baking paper.The oven is heated to a temperature of 50 - 60 degrees, and then trays with onions are placed there. The cabinet door is kept ajar for the entire cooking time, and the cuts themselves are periodically stirred, monitoring the cooking process.

Green onions should be dried separately from onions, as they dry twice as fast. The drying time for onions is approximately 5 – 6 hours.

Watch the video from the Poddubny Family channel - How to dry onions on a hike or trip

In an electric dryer

The onion slices are evenly laid out on trays. The exposure temperature is 55 – 65 degrees. Drying time will depend on the type of onion. Greens will dry in literally 2.5 - 3 hours, but onions may take up to 7 hours.

You can dry both the green parts of the plant and the chopped turnips on different trays.

Watch the video from “Ezidri Master” - Drying onions in Ezidri

In a convection oven

Drying in an air fryer is very convenient, as it takes a minimum of time, literally 30 minutes for greens and 1 hour for regular ones. The onions are dried at a temperature of 70 degrees at the maximum speed of the unit.

On air

Onions can also be dried in the fresh air. To do this, chop the onion. Onions can be dried in rings. Next, the slices are laid out on grates or boards, which are left in a well-ventilated place, avoiding sunlight.

The onions should be stirred periodically to ensure even drying. Drying in the fresh air takes approximately 10 – 14 days.

How to preserve onions after drying

Dried onions and turnips are placed in ventilated boxes in portions of 5 - 6 kilograms, and sent to a dark, cool place. This could be a basement or cellar.

Dried onions or green onions are mixed or stored separately in jars with a tight-fitting lid. The storage location can be a cabinet that protects food from direct sunlight.