Storage experts have shared the correct way to store your onions to make sure they don’t go mouldy or soft – and the method should make them last for up to six months
Onion could last up to half a year when stored correctly.
Whether you’re a fan of onions or not, they find their way into a lot of the dishes we cook every single day. From spaghetti bolognese to chicken tikka masala, onions are an easy way to add flavour and texture to hundreds of recipes. But, if you don’t store your onions correctly, they can go off quickly.
It turns out that storing onions is a fine art, as anywhere too cold or too hot could cause disaster. Experts have said that if you store your onions properly they could last for up to six months – but where exactly should you put them?
First things first, don’t store your onions in the fridge. The cold and humid environment is not good for the versatile vegetable as it causes the onion to begin turning starch into sugar. This results in soggy and soft onions over time and will mean they lose their crunch when you finally come to cook them.
Instead, brown, white, and red onions are all best stored somewhere dark, cool, dry, and well-ventilated. The kitchen cupboard might seem like the perfect place, but there’s one thing you should be aware of – the cupboard cannot be near your oven. These areas fluctuate in temperature whenever you use your oven, which can also create a warm and moist environment for your onions, resulting in the same problem as the fridge.
A cupboard that’s far away from your oven is fine, but the very best place to store onions is in a garage – or a cellar if you’re lucky enough to have one. In addition to finding an area that’s cool and dry, onions should be kept out of direct sunlight, as the heat created by the sun’s rays can encourage mould to grow.
If that wasn’t complicated enough, how you store your onions is just as important as where. If you buy onions from a supermarket in a plastic bag, this should be removed before storing them. The experts at Shop Food Waste explained: “Never keep these items in sealed plastic as it will quickly cause spoilage.”
Plastic bags allow moisture to become trapped in the bag, meaning mould is more likely to grow. Instead, you should “keep onions and garlic in a basket or paper bag where air can circulate”. If stored this way, “onions and garlic can last up to three to six months”.
If you do want to contain your onions, using a net or mesh bag is preferred as it will allow for better airflow than a plastic one. If you don’t have any of these to hand, you can even use an old pair of tights. Simply put the onions into one leg and tie a knot above it, then continue in the same way to the top until the leg of the tight is full.
Lastly, your onions should not be stored alongside any other produce. Onions can absorb moisture from other fruits and veg and therefore can spoil quicker. They are also a fairly pungent veg, so storing them with other produce can cause that fruit and veg to end up smelling – and tasting – like onions.
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