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I have just discovered frozen onions

(89 Posts)
kittylester Thu 20-Sept-18 16:05:24

and mushrooms, shallots, peppers and all sorts of other things.

According to DD3 'most people' use them.

They seem like cheating to me but I am making a vast chili and the weekend and thought I'd try them out.

Anyone else use them? I am just behind the times?

NfkDumpling Tue 25-Sept-18 12:36:13

Agree about the gastro chips Kitty. They are worth it. But I shall try freezing some chip shop chips next time we have some as even sharing a small portion is far too much. They say the price will go up after this summer’s drought but I don’t understand why they don’t simply shrink the portion size a bit.

kittylester Tue 25-Sept-18 06:49:09

I've heard about that, Nannypansy, can you give more details please (including the chip shop, if they are nice!)

We use McCain Gastro chips which are expensive but well worth it.

muffinthemoo Tue 25-Sept-18 00:25:55

I have to think freezing and defrosting avocado does unspeakable things to the texture.

Blinko Mon 24-Sept-18 12:38:02

Looks like the frozen avocados have mixed reviews - on here, at least. I have yet to break open the pack...

Nansypansy Mon 24-Sept-18 08:08:18

I know you can buy frozen oven chips but they’re always so dry and I’ve found another option! .... I sometimes treat myself to fish ‘n’ chips from the local shop which are truly delish. However, there’s usually too many chips for me so I froze some and the next time I wanted chips, I brought them back to life in the oven and they were great! Last time I got some, I had a ‘side’ of chips too and froze them!!!

Juggernaut Sat 22-Sept-18 12:10:25

The only commercially frozen veg that I use regularly is spinach, I'm an addict, and will eat it at any time of day!
I buy fresh onions in huge bags from the local market, slice them very finely in the magimix, then freeze them, in smallish plastic bags, squished flat so that they take up less room.
I also make up bags of soffritto in the same way, it takes far less time to put a stew or casserole together!
Ikea do wonderful plastic bags with press together seals, in 6 different sizes, and they last for ages, as I wash them well and use repeatedly.

giulia Sat 22-Sept-18 06:54:30

Living in Italy, I need soffrito all the time for tomato sauces. To prevent waste, I buy a head of White celery, cut into sticks, blanch quickly and freeze. When I find good quality (not Chinese) garlic, I separate the heads, without peeling and pop into a freezer bag. (It chops well from frozen). When I prepare the soffrito, I make more than I need and freeze the rest in portions. The same when I cop too much onion, I just pop what's left into small bags and freeze.

Syd261 Sat 22-Sept-18 01:58:50

I actually bought some of Iceland’s frozen avocados the other week to try and that was my thought but after wasting so many fresh ones - them over ripening or still being too hard etc I decided that the price was worth it. Result - if you leave them to defrost for over 3 hours.eg 5 hours,then yes a bit but nothing too bad - great for doing guacamole! I find the best defrosting time is 2 1/2 hrs. They come in nice portion sizes too.

Shizam Fri 21-Sept-18 23:30:33

Blinko Iceland’s frozen avocados are flipping disgusting! Weirdest taste and horrid slimey texture. And no cheaper than fresh.

watermeadow Fri 21-Sept-18 19:49:39

I hate chopping onions but don’t use the frozen ones, after trying them once or twice. They don’t have as much flovour as fresh ones yet leave my breath stinking of onions for 24 hours.

essjay Fri 21-Sept-18 18:37:00

living alone frozen onions are great just add amount needed, no waste

Izabella Fri 21-Sept-18 18:32:08

We keep root ginger in the freezer and just grate it as we need it. Same with galangal.

1974cookie Fri 21-Sept-18 17:38:10

Oh the joys of contact lenses !
I can chop onions with no problem at all, but the one time I did so wearing spectacles, oh the teary eyes and the pain ?? OUCH.

muffinthemoo Fri 21-Sept-18 17:15:18

My top freezing tip though is lemon and lime juice. Grab a bundle when on offer or about to go off, and juice them into an ice cube tray and freeze.

Fresh lemon and lime juice for recipes at any time. This has saved many a meal in my house from the Curse of the Forgotten Citrus.

Barmeyoldbat Fri 21-Sept-18 16:58:33

Should have said, also use frozen mash as its so much easier and nicer than mine

Barmeyoldbat Fri 21-Sept-18 16:56:45

I have been using chopped onions and also chopped garlic for years. I buy them from Waitrose, two packets at a time and keep any unused in the freezer. Love them.

GabriellaG Fri 21-Sept-18 16:09:43

The only frozen veg I use are peas.
Tried the chopped frozen onions once and threw the remainder out. Far too watery.

Rosina Fri 21-Sept-18 15:55:02

Frozen onions are wonderful! I don't suffer watering eyes as I wear contact lenses and curiously this seems to stop the fumes affecting me, but since I discovered frozen onions I have always used them. I used to buy the net bags of three large onions, use one, maybe two and invariably throw the other one away. Very wasteful. I also use frozen peppers, and Waitrose chargrilled vegetables which are delicious in all sorts of dishes. Why peel and chop when someone else will do it for you? We have plenty of salads and fresh vegetables with meals, but for dishes that need a selection of vegetables its frozen for me.

kittylester Fri 21-Sept-18 15:36:27

Tesco sell frozen garlic and ginger but I use the ones in jars.

Willow10 Fri 21-Sept-18 15:34:51

Thanks gmelon - I'll try it!

gmelon Fri 21-Sept-18 15:25:58

her secret*

gmelon Fri 21-Sept-18 15:25:21

A friend converted me to frozen mash some years ago.
We used to take it in turns to do a lunchtime meal on Fridays. Just a normal meal.
She did a quick sausage and mash for us. It was lovely. Then she revealed het secret !
The brands are slightly different so personal preference really.
My first try was Iceland as that was where my friend bought hers. Iceland being round the corner from her house.
I'm not a fan of Iceland but I would highly recommend their mash.

123kitty Fri 21-Sept-18 15:17:12

Although I have a freezer full of frozen veg which I love, after reading your posts I'm going to give avocados a miss. Thanks grans

4allweknow Fri 21-Sept-18 14:29:39

Nandalot, where do you get frozen ginger? I have the same problem buying fresh. I do use frozen onions depending on what I am making. Why can I not find sliced frozen onions, they all seem to come chopped.

Fennel Fri 21-Sept-18 14:17:49

Sounds like a good idea.
I wonder if they do peeled small onions, to make pickled onions?
It's the peeling I find difficult.