It happens again and again that onions in the pantry start to germinate. Now the questions arise, why were shoots able to develop and can sprouted onions still be used?
Can you still use sprouted onions?
Sprouted onions can still be used in the kitchen despite germination. Simply cut away small germs and use the onion as usual. For larger sprouts, remove these and plant the bulbs in the garden, where they can serve as attractive plants or be used for sowing for next year.
Why do onions germinate?
In most cases, the reason for onions sprouting is incorrect storage. It was certainly too warm, too bright and possibly too humid where it was stored. If onions are purchased, they should be immediately removed from the plastic bag or tight net. It is best to store them in an airy basket or an air-permeable wooden box. The storage room should be cool, dry and, above all, dark. A basement room or an unheated pantry is ideal.
Store home-grown onions properly
As soon as the onions are taken out of the bed, certain storage rules must be observed:
- let the onions dry in a dry and airy place
- After about 10 days, remove the remaining soil from the onions
- shorten the long roots
- cut the dry shoots down to 5 cm
Now the onions can be stored in the cellar or pantry. Darkness, coolness and dryness are important.
Using sprouted onions in the kitchen
If the onions have developed germs, this is no reason to throw them away. Expelled onions do not contain any harmful substances, but their quality is now inferior and the consistency of the onion becomes soft. If the sprout is still small, simply cut it away and use the onion as usual. If you use onions with large sprouts, the dish will have a bad taste because the onions become musty in this state. But even the strongly sprouted onions don't have to be thrown away.
Using sprouted onions in the garden
Onions with green sprouts can, for example, be planted in the flower bed. The bulb then develops a decorative flower. The onion blossom is also an eye-catcher in the vegetable bed and loosens up the strict order of the bed a little. If necessary, the onion greens can be trimmed and used like chives. It is best to let the onion wither in peace and set seeds. As soon as they are ripe, the onion blossom is cut off and dried. The seeds that fall out are kept dry and dark. They are the basis for sowing onions next year.
