There are certain rules for how to dry onions after harvesting from the garden. This process largely affects the safety of the crop and its long-term storage. In order for the vegetable to dry well, dig it up, also following the recommendations.
When and how to remove onions from the beds?
In order for the onions to dry well, it is recommended to follow the rules. 14–15 days before the expected harvest, you need to stop watering the plants. At night, it is recommended to cover the plantings with film to protect them from morning dew.
The onion harvest is harvested around the end of July, beginning of August.Vegetables grown from sets begin to be harvested a little earlier than those grown from seedlings. External signs will help determine the degree of maturity of the head. Feathers usually begin to turn yellow, dry out and spread along the ground, the neck becomes thinner and dries. The bulb has a characteristic golden yellow color, the husk is dry, rustles and is easy to clean.
Digging up the bulbs should be done using a fork or shovel. At a short distance from the head, they dig up the ground and then pull it out with their hands. If you pull out the onion by hand, you can damage the bottom, which will lead to early rotting.
It is advisable to harvest on a warm, sunny, dry day. It is better to dry vegetables in the sun rather than in the shade. The sun's rays and wind dry well to the very center of the bulb, and disinfection occurs at the same time. First, you need to carefully shake off the adhering dirt from the heads, but do not hit them against each other. Lay out the bulbs in one layer, periodically turning them with different sides to the sun.
If it rains every day, then a few days before harvesting you can cover the bed with film. The harvested crop is immediately removed to a room with good ventilation.
Where and how to properly dry onions after harvesting?
High-quality drying of onions will preserve the taste and benefits for a long time. There are some differences in the process when it comes to sets, onions or nigella.
Sevok
The seedlings are put away for storage in order to plant them next year. Onion sets need to be dried for at least a month. For the first week, if the weather permits, it is better to dry it outside, on the floor in the sun. The seedlings are stirred periodically so that light and air reach each area.If the weather is damp, then the seeds are distributed on fabric or paper in a room with good fresh air circulation.
When the neck is completely dry and golden, dry scales appear, you can harvest the crop in storage containers. Damaged and small onions are removed to the side. The size of the planting material should be approximately 2 cm in diameter.
It is allowed to store in cardboard boxes, nets or fabric bags, hanging from the ceiling. Periodically, the bulbs are sorted and suspicious heads are selected (the presence of spots, an unpleasant odor, softening of the head should alert you). In order for the seed to have the ability to germinate after planting, it must be stored at a temperature of at least +16 degrees.
Sevok can also be stored cold. In this case, it is stored in the refrigerator or basement at a temperature of -2 degrees. The vegetable must first be heated at a temperature of +30 degrees for two weeks. Before planting, the seedlings are warmed up again.
Onion
It has its own characteristics and how to dry onions correctly after cleaning. Onions need two weeks to dry out. For the first two days, they are left to dry in the garden bed, and then transferred to a dry, ventilated room, where the air temperature is about +25 degrees.
In a well-dried onion, the neck becomes thinner, dries out, and the head becomes covered with dense, rustling, golden scales. The bulbs feel dense to the touch and smell pleasant. Before putting them in a storage container, you need to cut off the feathers, leaving a stump of 3–4 cm. If you plan to weave braids from them, then leave a length of about 10 cm.
For storage, only whole, dense, undamaged heads are selected, which can be placed in boxes, drawers, baskets, and nets.The crop is best stored in a dark, cool place with good ventilation.
How to dry nigella?
Onion seeds are called nigella and the better they are dried, the more likely it is that all the beneficial properties will be preserved. Vegetable growers advise drying nigella in three stages using home heating devices:
- for the first 7 days after the onion is kept indoors at a temperature of +20 degrees;
- The vegetable is dried for another 7 days at +30 degrees;
- During the entire third week, the bulbs are dried at +35 degrees.
After drying, the nigella is placed in boxes or bags and stored in a cool place. The air temperature should not exceed +18 degrees. Do not forget to review the harvested crop, selecting rotten bulbs in a timely manner.
How to dry onions for the winter at home?
There are many ways to dry onions at home using household appliances or outside. Before drying, turnips are cut into slices. The cutting thickness should be about 4–5 mm, otherwise it will not dry out. Chopped pieces of onion, dried for storage, are poured into containers (jars, boxes, boxes are suitable) and put in a cool place.
In the oven
A good way to dry onions after harvesting is using the oven. Line a baking tray with baking paper and lay out the sliced rings in one layer. The oven is heated to 60 degrees and a baking sheet with slices is placed in it. There is no need to close the oven door. The drying procedure lasts approximately 6 hours. All this time, the onion rings are periodically turned over so that they do not darken or burn.
As soon as the rings are completely dry, the cooled product is transferred to linen bags, cardboard boxes or a glass jar. The main thing is that air does not penetrate into the container.It is better not to close the container during the first days; the dry slices will completely dry out during this time. Only after this the containers are closed and stored in a dry, dark, cool place.
In an electric dryer
Onions can be dried in an electric dryer. With this device, the product dries quickly without losing its beneficial qualities. Chopped onions are distributed on dryer trays and then placed in the device for 7 hours at a temperature of 60 degrees. As soon as the slices are dry, they are transferred to bags.
In a convection oven
Using an air fryer you can cook any dish. The hot air flow allows you to fry, stew, bake, smoke. There is another useful function - drying. Kitchen equipment can be used not only for drying onions, but also for mushrooms, fruits, berries, and herbs. During drying, the beautiful appearance, pleasant taste and healthy components are preserved.
The air fryer consists of a lid and a heat-resistant glass bowl. During operation, the spiral heats up, air constantly circulates inside and, as a result, the onion rings are dried evenly.
In an air fryer, onions can dry in just one hour at a temperature of about 70 degrees, but only when you place not a whole onion, but chopped slices. To ensure that the rings are well and efficiently dried, the lid must be kept slightly open.
On air
Onions cut into small slices can also be dried in the air, in the shade. The spicy vegetable is laid out in a thin layer on any surface, for example, cardboard. The rings are turned over daily to dry evenly. This drying method is suitable if the weather is dry and warm.
If the weather is good, then the onions can be dried as a whole, spread out in one layer on a fabric surface directly on the street.In case of cold, rainy weather, it can be stored in a well-ventilated area, such as a barn or hayloft (it is better to keep the door ajar).
Experienced vegetable growers at their dacha make special devices for drying onions with their own hands. If the barn is built in such a way that there is a canopy, you can attach shelves made of blocks to its wall. Such bulbs will not be wet by rain, and air will flow to the vegetable around the clock.
