Perfect Scallion Preparation Guide: How to Store for Freshness & Prep Tips
Easy for Beginners! How to Prepare and Store Scallions (feat. Onion Storage Tips)
Today, I’m sharing a super basic but incredibly useful tip for cooking: ‘How to prepare and store scallions’! This is something most home cooks probably know, but I hope it helps even one person who didn’t. If you’ve ever hesitated about how to prep or store scallions you have in your fridge, worry no more! I’ll guide you through keeping your scallions fresh and ready to use for a long time. (Plus, a bonus tip on storing onions!)
Main Ingredients- 1 bunch scallions
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the scallions thoroughly. Pay special attention to the root end, as it can often retain soil. Make sure to clean all the way to the roots.
Step 2
To ensure all remaining soil is removed from the roots, rinse them under running water, then soak them in a bowl of water for about 20 minutes to loosen any stubborn dirt. After soaking, give them another good rinse. Once the roots are completely dry, place them in a zip-top bag and freeze. You can then easily pull them out whenever you need to make broth, adding delicious flavor to your stocks.
Step 3
If you enjoy making scallion salads (pajeori), it’s convenient to prepare scallions specifically for this purpose. Choose thicker scallions, cut them in half lengthwise.
Step 4
Once halved, the scallions will have thin outer layers. Gently roll these layers around.
Step 5
While keeping the layers rolled, use your knife to thinly slice them into julienne. The thinner you slice, the better they will absorb dressing for salads.
Step 6
These thinly sliced scallions are perfect for making delicious scallion salads or garnishes. They are so fine they resemble spring onions!
Step 7
Now, let’s separate the remaining scallions into the white/green stalk parts and the leafy green tops.
Step 8
The stalk portions of the scallions are versatile for many dishes. They can be chopped finely, used in broths, or for stir-fries where longer pieces are desired. Cut them into finger-length pieces for easy storage. This way, you can quickly grab what you need for cooking.
Step 9
The leafy green tops are best used in soups and stews. Finely chop them so they are easy to add to broths. These leafy parts cook quickly and add a wonderful aroma when added towards the end of cooking.
Step 10
And that’s it! Your scallions are now perfectly prepped. Divide the prepared scallions into stalks and leafy tops, and store them in zip-top bags. You can keep them in the refrigerator for immediate use, or freeze them to maintain freshness for longer periods.
Step 11
As a bonus, here’s a handy tip for storing onions to keep them fresh longer!
Step 12
To help onions last longer, trim off the root end, peel away the outer skin, and then wrap each onion individually in plastic wrap. This helps reduce moisture loss and keeps them fresher for a bit longer. If this method seems too tedious or you want to store them for an extended period, the simplest and most effective way is to slice all the onions and freeze them. Frozen sliced onions can be directly used in stir-fries and other cooked dishes.
