It is almost impossible to avoid onions starting to sprout. Despite correct storage, a green shoot pushes itself into the light every now and then. Discovered early enough, the onion is not lost for consumption.

Strongly sprouted bulbs are best planted out

The onion germinates

If the sprouts are not very large, they can simply be cut off and the onion used as usual. A sprouted onion is not poisonous. The onion itself is a little softer than normal because the germ uses up its strength.
If the germ is still small, it can be cut and used as an ingredient in the salad. Its taste is reminiscent of spring onions.
If you like, you can continue to sprout the onion and gradually use the sprouts. So you always have fresh onion greens over a longer period of time. The tuber drives out until its strength is exhausted and only a soft shell remains.

Use sprouted onions

If you have a garden or a balcony with planting possibilities, you can also plant the germinated onion. However, it takes a while before new onions can sprout from the onion. The sprouted onion will first grow and eventually form a flower. Flowering bulbs are an eye-catcher in the window box.(16.99€) The flower will eventually produce seeds from which new bulbs can later be grown.

Ideas on how to use sprouting onions

Sprouted onions are great to use in the kitchen.

  1. The onion can still be eaten, it just isn't crisp anymore.
  2. Sprouted onions are fine for frying or cooking, although they are no longer crunchy.
  3. As the onion gets softer and softer, it soon becomes unsuitable for frying. If you still don't want to throw them away, you can stew the leftovers in goulash, for example.
  4. Young sprouts are relatively hot and are well suited as an ingredient in herbal quark or in a soup.
  5. If you have an old clay onion pot (clay pot with holes all around) you can sprout onions in it. The sprouts grow out of the holes, so you always have fresh onion greens to hand.

Category:

Vegetable garden