My cooking's not keeping up with the onions in Jack's garden. It looked as though they were going to go to waste until I had the idea of drying them. The weather is perfect for it at the moment - dry, cool and windy. Jack cut some onions up and spread them out on a net on top of a wire mesh table:
He folded the net over them and weighted it down, to protect the onions from dust and dirt:
After a couple of days, they were ready for storage. I put them into a box that tea came in (labelled of course) as I don't think plastic would be a good idea.
Since it seems to have worked fine, Jack is going to dry some more. Then I just have to remember to use them!
I've never seen onions being dried this way! I know that there are special dehydrators for the job, but this method is new to me! You could have chopped them up and frozen them,I am always incredulous when I see packets of chopped onions and even sliced mushrooms in the freezer at the supermarket.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm hopeless at remembering to use veges from the freezer, I'm hoping that having in the cupboard I'll come across them and use them!
DeleteSoup, soup, soup! These look great!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. Remembering to use them is going to be the hard part. Thought you might use some for dying yarn or thread.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... I hadn't thought of drying onions. Dave had a nice crop of them this year. I'll be cleaning them and putting them in bags to hang in the basement over the next few days.
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense in Fall, I don't think it would work here once the rains start. Not sure why Jack has onions bolting in Spring!
DeleteWhat a clever way to preserve them! I use dried onions all the time. Cooking for just 1 or 2 portions demands smaller amounts of ingredients. Using the dried means I don't have half an onion in the fridge for days! Enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteOh that’s encouraging!
DeleteThe Jain community sun-dries a lot of veggies in a similar manner for winters and especially monsoon season. (They don't eat stuff that grows under the ground and follow very strict mealtimes. The more devout still do. It is their creed of nonviolence towards all, including microbes). These are stored in airtight containers and hydrated before cooking.
ReplyDeleteMy question -- didn't the onions smell up the whole place? I ask because I've long wanted to dry garlic, but never gathered the courage....don't want the smell to permeate the house.
There was a bit of a smell when Jack cut the onions in the kitchen, but it’s fine now they’re outside. You could do the cutting outside.
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