Is there a reason to peel onions for storage or sale?
I typically try to buy organic onions. Recently the only organic onions that are available are already peeled (i.e., have the outer papery skin removed).
Why is this being done?
Presumably there is a cost to peeling the onions for the consumer so there must be a benefit either for the consumer (although none comes to mind) or during the processing of the onions.
Best Answer
Combination new technology and an excuse to charge more.
It seems to be a 'value added' feature driven by new technology in processing harvested onions and the 'convenience' of not having to peel the Onion.
According to fruit today this is a growing market. As others have noted sometimes Organic means an excuse to charge more. Peeled onion aids that front.
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What is the best way to store onions to keep them fresh?
Keep storage onions in a cool, dark, and dry place. Moisture and light lead to mold (ew) and sprouting (annoying, though not a deal-breaker), so stow your storage onions (red, yellow, and white as well as shallots and the diminutive pearl and cippoline) in a dry, well-ventilated basket, bin, or large bowl.Can onions be peeled and stored?
Peeled onions can be stored in the fridge for 10\u201314 days, while sliced or cut onions can be refrigerated for 7\u201310 days. To keep them even longer, freeze them in a resealable bag or airtight container.How long are unpeeled onions good for?
Whole, unpeeled onions generally keep for up to two months as long as they are stored properly. What is this? Whole, peeled onions only last for two weeks. Cut onions have an even shorter lifespan, as they only keep for seven days.How do businesses store onions?
Store onions in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Maintain storage temperature of 45-55\xb0F. Do not wrap onions in plastic or store in plastic bags. A lack of air circulation will reduce shelf life.How to Cure Onions [for WINTER Storage on the Shelf]
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Answer 2
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say no. I think it's an excuse to increase the price of these "premium" groceries.
Similarly, pre-sliced mushrooms and pre-diced celery are available in my local grocery store at a premium price. Added processing adds extra cost of production and therefore price to the consumer.
In the case of onions, I think this is a marketing gimmick to make these veggies seem fancier. I cannot think of any benefit for storage.
It may also be an issue of product differentiation. Meaning, it makes the organic onions easily recognizable in a room full of other, similar onions.
Answer 3
I don't think there's a good reason for it. It might make the onions look prettier to some people, and look convenient (pre-peeled!), but it's not like that saves you any significant amount of time, and it leaves them vulnerable to damage and drying out faster.
Answer 4
Sometimes we see peeled onions at our local farmer markets. I have asked several vendors about this and most said it is a result of trying to make sure every particle of soil is washed from the onion. Many of them use vegetable scrub brushes and those automatically rub away the skins during the scrubbing process. One vendor said some people grow in more dense and clay-like soil and will need a vigorous scrubbing process. Some vendors are also concerned about passing along any soil-born contaminant so they not only scrub the skins off but also dip in a very weak bleach solution.
One vendor said he took the skins off because the Hmong vendors in our area did so and their onions looked so clean and shiny. This vendor said he did it to be competitive in that market.
I grow my own onions so I've never purchased any with the skins off.
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