How to Use Green Onions

Green onions, also called scallions, are in the same family as onions, leeks, and garlic. With their long green stems and straight white base, they are sometimes confused with spring onions, which look similar but have a more bulbous white base.[1] There are many interesting ways to use green onions in the kitchen. Use raw green onion to add color and crunch to your dishes, or cook them into your next stir-fry. You can even substitute green onions for chives.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Chopping Green Onions

  1. Image titled Use Green Onions Step 1
    1
    Rinse the green onions under cool water. Remove any wilted or damaged green ends. Peel off any slimy skin from the white bases.[2]
  2. 2
    Trim off the stringy roots from the bottom of the white base and discard. Lay several onions on the cutting board with the white bases facing the same way. Slice about 1⁄8 inch (0.32 cm) to 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) above the roots with a sharp knife. Throw away the roots.
    • Don’t cut off the entire white base. The white part of the green onion is also edible.[3]
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  3. 3
    Trim the green tops, taking off about 2 inches (5.1 cm). Lay a handful of green onions on a cutting board with the green tops all facing one direction. Slice off the ends of the green tops. Throw away the parts you’ve trimmed off.[4]
  4. 4
    Cut the green onions crosswise into 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) to 1 in (2.5 cm) slices. Lay the trimmed green onions on a cutting board. Using a rocking motion, cut them crosswise with a knife, going all the way from the white base up the trimmed stalk.[5]
    • To finely mince the green onions, go over them again, slicing with the same rocking motion. Continue back and forth until you have the right size pieces.
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    5
    Store your green onions in plastic for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Wrap the green onions in plastic or put them in a plastic bag. Keep them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for up to five days.[6]
    • You can also store green onions in the draw by wrapping them in a moist paper towel or dishcloth.
    • You can typically tell that a green onion has gone bad if it turns soft or changes color. It may also start to smell. Throw away any onions that look or smell bad.[7]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using Raw Green Onions

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    1
    Garnish with green onions to add color and flavor to your favorite dishes. Use thinly sliced green onions to add the finishing touch to foods like meats, soups, dips, or deviled eggs.[8]
  2. 2
    Toss raw green onions into salad for an extra crunch. Chop green onions and add them to a salad. They will add a mild onion flavor and a satisfying crunch.[9]
    • If you want to have a hint of onion flavor without the crunchy texture, be sure to very finely mince the onions before adding them to the salad.
    • The white bases of the green onion have a more powerful onion flavor, so you may want to omit them from your salad and just add the milder green parts.
  3. Image titled Use Green Onions Step 8
    3
    Enhance an egg or tuna salad sandwich with green onions. Mix chopped green onions into the tuna or egg salad after you have combined all the other ingredients. Tuck the tuna or egg salad between two slices of bread and enjoy.[10]
    • Wrap the tuna or egg salad in a large leaf of lettuce or serve over a salad for a low carb version.
  4. Image titled Use Green Onions Step 9
    4
    Serve long green onion slices as part of a raw vegetable tray. If you are putting together a vegetable appetizer tray, consider adding green onions to the array of raw veggies. To do this, slice off enough of the green stems to leave about a 3 in (7.6 cm) to 4 in (10 cm) piece.[11]
    • Green onions work great on a vegetable tray with carrots, celery, tomatoes, and a cheesy dip.
  5. 5
    Wrap a green onion in cream cheese and deli meat for a fun appetizer. To do this, take ten trimmed green onions and scoop a teaspoon of cream cheese onto the ends, covering the white bases. Place each cream cheese covered end on top of a slice of deli meat. Fold the bottom part of the meat onto the bottom of the base, then roll the rest of the meat around the onion.[12]
    • If you don’t plan to serve your meat-wrapped green onions right away, refrigerate them until you are ready.
  6. 6
    Substitute green onions for chives in your recipe. If you have a recipe that calls for snipped fresh chives, you can use green onions instead. Be sure to finely mince them.[13]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Cooking with Green Onions

  1. 1
    Cook green onions in meat or vegetable stir-fry. Put 1 inch (2.5 cm) slices of green onions into your stir fry dish. Add them about 1 or 2 minutes before the dish is done, since green onions cook very quickly.[14]
  2. 2
    Use green onions to add flavor and texture to scrambled eggs. Just before you add the eggs to the pan to make scrambled eggs, add in a handful of chopped green onions to the egg mixture. Make sure they are thinly sliced.[15]
    • If you are making an omelette, add larger pieces of green onions, about 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) long, on one side of the pan before you fold the omelette in half.
    • If you want to have your green onions a little softer, saute them with vegetable oil over medium-high heat for about 2-3 minutes before adding them to the eggs.
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    3
    Grill green onions as a side dish. Green onions make a great side dish served with meat or fish. To make them, simply sprinkle trimmed green onions with salt and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes on each side.
    • Don’t worry if you end up with some extra crispy or charred bits when you grill the onions. You can always crumble or chop those parts into small pieces and add to salsas, dips, or salads to give them a smokey flavor.[16]
    • If you don’t want to eat them on their own, try mincing the grilled green onions and adding them to cream cheese for a savory and flavorful dip.
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    4
    Add subtle onion flavor to baked goods. You can always mix in chopped green onions to your dough before putting it in the oven. Try it with pizza dough, cornbread, or biscuits. It works best with savory dishes.[17]
    • Try adding chopped green onions to your Thanksgiving stuffing before putting it in the oven.
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    5
    Dry green onions and turn them into onion powder. Grill your green onions or char them directly on the burners of a gas stove. Let them dry overnight in the oven at the lowest temperature. Then, grind them into a fine powder in the food processor.[18]
    • Use the onion powder for spice rubs, marinades, or onion dip.
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Warnings

  • The white part tends to have a more intense onion flavor. It is also a bit tougher to chew. You can certainly eat it raw if you like the pungent onion flavor and crunchiness, but you may prefer to eat it cooked.[21]
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/when-to-use-the-white-part-versus-the-green-part-of-a-scallion-229290
  2. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  3. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  4. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  5. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  6. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  7. ↑ https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/17339
  8. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  9. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  1. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  2. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  3. ↑ http://simplygloria.com/scallion-wraps/
  4. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  5. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  6. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  7. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/how-to-use-scallions-green-onions-article
  8. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/how-to-use-scallions-green-onions-article
  9. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/how-to-use-scallions-green-onions-article
  10. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/when-to-use-the-white-part-versus-the-green-part-of-a-scallion-229290
  11. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-chop-green-onions/
  12. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/when-to-use-the-white-part-versus-the-green-part-of-a-scallion-229290

About This Article

Andrea Lawson Gray
Co-authored by:
Andrea Lawson Gray
Private Chef
This article was co-authored by Andrea Lawson Gray. Andrea Lawson Gray is a Private Chef and the Co-Founder of Private Chefs of the SF Bay. With more than ten years of experience, she specializes in Mexican cuisine and culinary history. Chef Andrea is also the author of Celebraciones Mexicanas: History, Traditions, and Recipes, an award-winning cookbook. This article has been viewed 13,905 times.
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Co-authors: 5
Updated: December 19, 2022
Views: 13,905
Categories: Onions
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