Onions are a staple ingredient that cannot be missed in Korean meals.
The uses are endless, from making soup to stir-frying, dipping, and simmering, but storage is difficult, especially in summer. If stored incorrectly in hot and humid weather, it is easy for it to quickly recede, become moldy, or become stiff.
From whole, unpeeled onions to cooked onions left over after cutting them once. If you pay a little attention to each condition, you can use fresh onions for a long time, even in the middle of summer.
Unpeeled onions are relatively easy to store. However, in summer, an environment that simultaneously controls temperature and humidity is important. The best way is to put it on a well-ventilated net and hang it in a cool, dry place.
In particular, if you leave it as it is in a plastic bag, it is easy for mold to form as it gets damp inside. If you put it in a box, cover it with newspaper, and lay the newspaper on the floor one layer at a time to help absorb moisture. A shady place below 15 degrees is more suitable than a refrigerator, and you should avoid places on the balcony or under the sink where there is a lot of humidity.
Onions cut in half during cooking tend to spoil much faster. This is because moisture is removed from the cut surface and the rate of deterioration increases as it absorbs odors from other ingredients. Cut onions must be placed in a wrap, airtight container, or zipper bag to minimize contact with air.
At this time, if you put a kitchen towel on the side of the onion and store it, it will prevent moisture absorption and maintain freshness. In a refrigerator, a drawer compartment with less temperature change than the vegetable compartment or a compartment that is deeper inside than the door is appropriate. However, it is best not to leave it for more than 3 to 4 days and use it quickly.
If you want to keep it longer, you can also freeze sliced or sliced onions. If you disassemble it one by one and put it in the freezer, you can easily take it out and use it for stir-frying or soup.
Onions can affect other foods in the refrigerator due to their unique strong smell. When storing cut onions, it is best to use a glass container with high airtightness, and putting coffee grounds or green tea bags together in an airtight container can enhance the deodorizing effect.
If you dice an onion and then marinate it in olive oil and refrigerate it, you can use it directly in simple stir-fries, pasta, or salads, which also helps reduce cooking time. In this case, it is preferable to use it within 4 to 5 days.
Even though onions look fine on the outside, they easily rot if the inner layer starts to spoil first. In particular, when storing multiple pieces together, you should check their condition periodically and pick out any onions that have receded or been crushed immediately. This is because if even one onion is damaged, it can affect the onion next to it.
Onions with excessively dry or wrinkled skin also lose moisture and lose their flavor and texture, so be sure to check before use.
Onions are an inexpensive and highly versatile ingredient, but if storage fails, the damage is not small. Especially in the hot summer, it is easy to get dry and moldy even if you don't pay attention for a while, so more careful care is needed.
Whether in the shell or cut, the most important thing is 'ventilation and airtight'. With a little care, you can always take out fresh onions and keep the basic flavor of the table. The power to make a full summer meal eventually starts with “basic food management” in the refrigerator.