If onions are stored for too long, they will sprout and grow green shoots. So, can you still eat onions that have sprouted? How should onions be stored?
I. Can the green shoots from onions be eaten?
Onions that have sprouted and even grown green shoots are still edible and do not produce substances harmful to the human body. However, the nutrients in the onion bulb are transferred to the top to nourish the sprout, leading to a decrease in the original nutritional content and edible value of the onion, and its texture is not as good as before.
Generally, onions tend to sprout at 15°C, so after buying them, you can let them dry in the sun for a period, then place them in a ventilated and dry area to prevent sprouting.
The green shoots from onions can be eaten. Since the yield is not large, they can only be used as a supplementary ingredient in cooking. They can be added to soups or used as a base for hot pot dishes to enhance the umami of the dish without masking the onion's own flavor.
II. How to grow onion shoots
1. Choose a plump, round onion with well-developed roots. The choice of container is also very wide; it can be a plate, bowl, glass, or teacup, as long as it can hold enough water to cover the surface of the onion.
2. After 2 days, several thin white roots will grow from the bottom of the onion.
3. After 15 days, the tender green shoots will gradually grow taller and exceed the height of the onion.
4. After 20 days, the small green shoots on top of the onion will be over 20 cm tall, and it's time to harvest the onion shoots.
III. How to make Scallion Shoots and Egg Stir-fry
1. Crack three eggs into a bowl and beat them into a liquid. Add a few drops of white vinegar and 2 grams of salt (I have a 2-gram salt spoon that came with the salt when I bought it). Mix well.
2. Wash the onion shoots, chop them finely, and add them to the egg mixture. Stir again to combine.
3. Heat a pan over medium heat with a bit more oil than usual for stir-frying. Pour in the egg mixture and stir-fry quickly until it puffs up and is cooked through.
IV. How to store onions
1. Onions should be stored in an open container and kept away from moist environments. The best way to store them is to hang them in a dry, ventilated place away from direct sunlight. For example, you can use a mesh bag or clean, dried old nylon stockings. Put the onions inside, tie the opening with a string, and hang it in a dark, ventilated spot to prevent moisture and spoilage.
2. Once an onion is cut, its nutrients will be lost quickly due to oxidation, even if it is wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator. Therefore, it's best to cut only as much onion as you need and avoid storing cut onions.