One of the first ‘pins’ that I saw on Pinterest when I joined was of growing green onions in a jar. Or rather, rejuvenating green onions in a jar. While green onions might not be the priciest of produce (usually runs around 69¢ per bunch), if you’re like me and love them in so many things you may find that you’re constantly buying them. I usually pick up a bunch and use about 2-3 of the onions and within a week the rest are no good and I need to go out and buy another bunch! I was tired of constantly wasting perfectly good green onions that I just hadn’t had a chance to use yet, so when I saw the pin about re-growing them in a jar, it was perfect.

Now, the blog that the pin linked to talked about how this was a great idea (I agree!) but they mentioned that they never had to buy green onions again because of this. After several trials by myself and another friend, I discovered that while this is a great way to get more out of your green onion bunches, they definitely don’t seem to be lasting forever. I’ve managed to keep my current batch alive for about 2 months, but they are on their way out, so it will be time for a new batch soon. Instead of spending about $18 a year on green onions (I know, crazy big expense ;-) ), this should cut the cost in half. Just think of what you will be able to do with that extra $9 a year!!! Now don’t get too crazy with your new-found wealth though.

2 month old green onions vs. 2 week old green onions

 

In order for this to be a functional solution for green onions, you just need to follow a few quick steps/tips:

  • Some blogs say that you should start with the white bit and the green will regrow. This was a disaster for me, but it could work for you (it has for others). I left about 2cm of green on the onions when I popped them into water
  • Fill the mason jar with about 1-2 inches of water. Make sure to use some cool, fresh water.
  • Place the jar on a windowsill where it will get some sun. It doesn’t need 24/7 light but a few hours a day is a good idea.
  • Replace the water when it starts to look a bit murky. This will be about every 4 days or so.
  • When the onions are ‘new’ they will grow at light speed, so be prepared to either eat a lot of dishes with green onions, or just chop off some of the tops when they get too tall.
  • If the whites start to fall apart, throw those babies out and start over.
  • If they don’t seem to be growing anymore, time for a new batch.
It’s a quick and easy project that makes you feel like a pretty darn savvy penny-pincher. Now remember, you don’t need to be saving big money to be able to have an impact on your bank account. It’s the little things that count :)  Do you have a thrifty money-saver like this?