The Last Thing To Do Before Throwing Away A Cracked Ice Cube Tray
Prepping ingredients ahead of time ensures you can whip up tasty meals without a lot of hassle. For instance, caramelized onions are a delicious addition to a variety of recipes when you're looking to boost flavor. Because the process of caramelizing onions can be a bit labor-intensive, it's best to make more than you need and save the leftovers for future meals. However, you'll need to find a suitable storage method to ensure your caramelized onions maintain their awesome flavor. Surprisingly, a wonderful storage method might be in your freezer right now. And even more surprising, this storage tool might be something you're considering tossing.
The solution to your caramelized onion conundrum is an ice cube tray, an essential but often overlooked tool in your kitchen arsenal. Most plastic trays develop cracks over time, making them unusable when it comes to holding water. However, that doesn't mean you must discard trays when issues develop. Because caramelized onions are more viscous than other liquids, you won't have to worry about seepage through the cracks of the tray. As a result, broken trays can be used for an ingenious cooking hack that ensures you have caramelized onions on demand in your kitchen.
Onion ice cubes? In my kitchen?
While caramelized onion ice cubes sound a little suspect, freezing onions after cooking is a great way to preserve them. For example, frozen caramelized onions can stay good for three months when stored correctly. In addition, ice cube trays are an ideal storage method as they can help preserve caramelized onions in the freezer. They also allow you to portion out the ingredient for easy and efficient meal prep.
When adding caramelized onions to the ice cube tray for freezing, consider how many onions you use during your cooking process. For instance, let's say you caramelize five large onions. You'll want to create five equal portions in five separate cube compartments in the tray to ensure a uniform amount in each. Now you can easily accommodate virtually any recipe with the perfect number of caramelized onions. And you can rest assured that there are so many tasty ways to use your onion cubes in your cooking.
How to use frozen caramelized onions when cooking
So, you now have a convenient cube of caramelized onion deliciousness in your freezer. But how exactly can you use it? When it comes to breakfast, caramelized onions make a perfect addition to all sorts of egg preparations. Begin by warming up the onions in a skillet and adding eggs once they've melted down. You can also incorporate onions into a quick and tasty omelet using the same approach.
When it comes to lunch, French onion soup is a hearty and filling option. And with your onion ice cubes, preparation couldn't be easier. Simply add one onion ice cube to a stock of your choosing and watch it melt into deliciousness. As for dinnertime, caramelized onions can be incorporated into so many great dishes. You can make a gourmet pizza pie by adding onions, mushrooms, and blue cheese to the dough. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar at the end for a wonderful flavor enhancement. You can also add onions to other dishes, including pasta, meat sauces, and dressings. Who knew that a cracked ice cube tray could be so helpful in the kitchen?