Onions usually have a long life span but knowing the best place to store them will not only cut down on food waste and save you money but can make your vegetables even tastier.
Many people make the mistake of keeping all their vegetables in the bottom of the fridge or on the kitchen counter, but this can cause onions to rot, sprout or even turn mouldy.
Karen Lamar, a storage expert from Organic Cotton Mart, has shared that the best way to keep onions fresh for longer is to keep them away from moisture and sunlight.
She said: “The rule of thumb for storing whole onions is to keep them in a place that’s cool, dry, and dark. One of the main reasons that onions go bad is that they sprout.”
Onions should never be kept in the fridge as they can absorb moisture due to the humidity, but they should also not be placed on countertops as light will cause them to sprout and make them taste extremely bitter.
Instead, the best place to store onions is a drawer, cupboard or a dark corner of the kitchen away from windows or cooking appliances.
It is also best not to store onions next to potatoes, carrots and celery as they release moisture which can cause onions to become mushy and spoiled within days.
Once you have found the perfect spot to keep onions then keep them in an open container as they need somewhere well-ventilated to stay dry which will keep them fresh.
Karen said: “Onions need to breathe to stay fresh. Keep them in mesh bags or perforated bins for steady airflow.”
She added: “When crisp and dry, onions can easily last two to three months at room temperature in a mesh bag. Remember to follow the dry, dark, ventilated, and isolated rules while storing them.”
Mesh bags are the best storage method for onions as not only are they airy but they stop moisture from being able to build up in an area, but you can also store onions in wire baskets, paper bags, or in a netted bag.
Just make sure to keep taking onions out of their original plastic packaging as it can trap moisture which will cause onions to quickly begin rotting.
The only time onions should be stored in a sealed container is if you have peeled or chopped them up.
Karen said: “Peeled onions should always be refrigerated and not kept out in the open as they become susceptible to bacterial growth and spoilage.
“A stay in your fridge in an air-tight container can extend its shelf life for up to 10-14 days.”
Chopped onions should also be stored in the fridge and kept in a glass container to prevent their potent smell from being absorbed by other food.
Whole onions can last up to three months when stored properly, peeled onions can last up to two weeks while cut onions will last up to one week.
