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Food/recipes

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How to use up multiple red onions

34 replies

Jennifer48 · 24/06/2026 14:06

Hello, I have about seven red onions that have to be used soon. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could make? I found a recipe for onion jam/marmalade on BBC Good Food but the reviews for the recipe weren't great.
Many thanks in advance.

OP posts:
PurpleLovecats · 24/06/2026 14:07

I’d just chop and freeze. Then use in bolognese etc over the next few months.

AfogatoFirenze · 24/06/2026 14:08

Pickled red onion is very easy

or what about frying them up gently and freezing them in portions? I do that and sometimes add garlic as well to some of them

concertinacornflake · 24/06/2026 14:10

An onion quiche, or some roast onions as a side dish.

FinallyHere · 24/06/2026 14:14

French onion soup.

maybe freeze them until the weather breaks

Jennifer48 · 24/06/2026 14:25

FinallyHere · 24/06/2026 14:14

French onion soup.

maybe freeze them until the weather breaks

Thank you. To de-frost them, would I just de-frost them in the fridge overnight?

OP posts:
parachutegirl · 24/06/2026 14:31

Pickled red onions. There are exact recipes online but it’s great with things like tacos.

FinallyHere · 24/06/2026 14:33

Absolutely, defrost in the fridge overnight

or in an emergency in the microwave

Purpleandping · 24/06/2026 14:35

PurpleLovecats · 24/06/2026 14:07

I’d just chop and freeze. Then use in bolognese etc over the next few months.

That's what I came here to say. It's lovely to be able to put a quick dinner together without chopping onions.

Purpleandping · 24/06/2026 14:35

Jennifer48 · 24/06/2026 14:25

Thank you. To de-frost them, would I just de-frost them in the fridge overnight?

TBH, mostly I'd use them from frozen.

GreenFootstool · 24/06/2026 14:36

I'd make French onion soup but it's boiling here so chucking them in the freezer seems more sensible right now!

BertieBotts · 24/06/2026 14:36

Chop and freeze. You don't need to defrost, just use them directly from frozen in dishes where they need to be cooked. They will be in small enough pieces that they will defrost quickly in a hot pan.

I would not use them raw after freezing.

They can keep for weeks/months if stored in a cool dark place, if you prefer not to use them up. But no use if they are already going a bit sprouty and wilted.

Not2identifying · 24/06/2026 14:36

They are small (when they're chopped) so they don't really need defrosting. They do release more water than you'll be used to but it doesn't make any difference to the taste.

Tonissister · 24/06/2026 14:37

Red onion chutney? But be warned it takes hours to cook and stinks the house out.

Or slice them, toss them in olive oil with a bit of balsamic vinegar and thyme. Slow roast them until soft and caramelised but not too dark, then put them on top of a sheet of puff pastry, brushed with a very thin layer of dijon mustard for a red onion tart.

Ninamalina · 24/06/2026 14:38

Don't bother defrosting if adding to something like a chilli con carne, bolognese, casserole etc..just add them in frozen. They sell frozen chopped onions in all the supermarkets now and you literally just add handfuls from frozen. So handy to have frozen onions in freezer

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 24/06/2026 14:39

You could carry them around with you and lob them at any suspicious characters you come across.

minipie · 24/06/2026 14:43

Agree chop and freeze. I buy frozen chopped onions and they are a brilliant time saver, chuck them in as is like a pp said, they take slightly longer to fry down to golden but no difference otherwise

BertieBotts · 24/06/2026 14:56

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 24/06/2026 14:39

You could carry them around with you and lob them at any suspicious characters you come across.

Relevant username Grin

NotMyRealAccount · 24/06/2026 15:09

I'd make a batch of caramelised onions. Really easy, and probably my favourite way of eating onions.

MiddleAgedDread · 24/06/2026 15:17

dice or slice (or a bag of both!) and freeze then you can chuck into spag bol etc straight from frozen.

Reader19 · 25/06/2026 08:51

Caramelised red onion and goat's cheese tart using readymade puff pastry.

Or red onion tart tatin - there are recipes online.

Chop and freeze anything left.

TY78910 · 25/06/2026 09:02

Freezing is fine but I find that onions make my freezer smell and that affects other food in there. I would say red onion chutney.

BertieBotts · 25/06/2026 10:51

I don't find they stink up the freezer if I keep them in a tupperware type container. The Ikea ones are good value, you can choose glass or plastic dishes and then they have plastic lids which lock on and keep it airtight.

senua · 25/06/2026 11:05

Jennifer48 · 24/06/2026 14:06

Hello, I have about seven red onions that have to be used soon. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could make? I found a recipe for onion jam/marmalade on BBC Good Food but the reviews for the recipe weren't great.
Many thanks in advance.

My recipe for red onion marmalade is similar to BBC GF and it turns out fine (imo). My recipe doesn't have butter but does have mustard seeds.
However, you won't get much marmalade out of only 7 onions because a lot of water is lost in the cooking process. You would probably get 2 small jars.