Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how to store your onions and keep them fresh for long.
Despite being a staple in most of our dishes, we often overlook the storage of onions. We don’t exactly try to store them; we leave them just about anywhere, which makes them go bad pretty quickly.
In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to properly store your onions to ensure they stay fresh for as long as possible.
Types of Onion and Their Shelf Life
Onions come in various types, such as yellow, red, and white, each with its own unique flavor profile and shelf life.
Yellow Onions: Yellow onions have a moderate shelf life, lasting around 2-3 months when stored properly.
Red Onions: Red onions have a slightly shorter shelf life of about 1-2 months.
White Onions: With a milder taste compared to yellow onions, white onions can last around 1-2 months when stored correctly.
How to Store Onions and Keep Them for Long
Follow the step-by-step instructions to store your onions and maintain their freshness and flavor.
Step 1: Choose the Right Onions
Before storing onions, it’s important to choose the right ones. Look for dry, firm onions without any bruises or sprouts. Avoid onions with moldy or slimy spots as these indicate spoilage.
If you harvested the onions yourself, curing is an essential step before long-term storage. Spread the onions in a single layer in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight.
Allow them to cure for about a week or two or until their necks are completely dry. This process helps to thicken the outer skin and increase the shelf life.
Step 2: Ensure Proper Storage Conditions
The key to keeping onions fresh is proper storage conditions. Temperature and humidity affect them greatly, so you need to pay attention to the condition of where you want to store your onions.
Choose a cool, dark, dry location such as a basement, cellar, or garage, away from direct sunlight or heat. The ideal temperature ranges between 50-60°F (10-15°C).
Avoid refrigerating them, as moisture can cause them to become mushy and spoil faster. It is also not recommended to freeze onions, because, like ginger, while they may keep for long, their aroma and flavor would be deeply affected.
Storage options to consider:
1. Mesh Bags – Hang mesh bags filled with onions in your chosen storage area. The breathable material allows air circulation while keeping pests at bay.
2. Wire Racks – Place whole onions in wire racks, allowing ample airflow around each bulb. Ensure the rack is not touching any walls or surfaces to prevent moisture buildup.
3. Cardboard Boxes – Layer onions in cardboard boxes lined with newspaper or paper towels. Change the lining every few weeks to absorb excess moisture.
Step 3: Keep Onions Away From Other Foods
You should keep onions from other produce like potatoes and apples because these fruits emit ethylene gas that can cause onions to spoil faster.
Keep your onions separate from these food items to prolong their freshness and stop them from going bad.
Step 4: Check Regularly
Periodically inspect your stored onions and remove the ones that show signs of sprouting, mold, or soft spots to prevent them from spoiling the others.
Remember, one bad apple onion spoils the bunch.
Can You Freeze Onions?
You can freeze onions, but it’s not recommended. Freezing changes the texture of raw onions, making them less suitable for slicing and dicing in salads or sandwiches after thawing.
Follow the steps below to freeze your whole onions:
- Peel the onions and trim off the root ends. Leave the onion intact; do not chop or slice.
- Blanch the onions by immersing them in boiling water for one minute. This step helps preserve color, taste, and nutrients.
- Transfer the blanched onions into ice water to stop the cooking process. Let them chill for approximately five minutes.
- Drain the onions thoroughly and pat them dry using a clean towel or paper towel. It is crucial to eliminate as much moisture as possible to avoid ice crystal formation, which may affect the quality upon defrosting.
- Place the onions in the freezer. To save space, consider laying them flat until frozen solid, then stack them. Once frozen, onions can last up to 12 months.
When needed, simply take out however many you require and add them directly to your dish. Just keep in mind that their consistency might be softer than fresh onions due to the freezing process.
Do onions last longer in the fridge or on the counter?
Whole onions generally last longer when stored on the counter rather than in the fridge.
Refrigerator temperatures range from 35–40°F, which is colder than the recommended storage conditions for onions (50-60°F). Cold temperatures inside the fridge convert starches within the onion into sugars more rapidly, causing them to turn soft and spoil sooner.
Conclusion
Properly storing onions involves maintaining a delicate balance of temperature, humidity, and airflow.
By storing them in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area, using appropriate storage containers, and periodically inspecting for spoilage, you can extend the shelf life of your onions and ensure their freshness for longer periods.
Image Sources:
1. HomePerch
2. India Mart