Storing Onions
A Quick Guide to Storing Onions
With just a little information about storing onions, you can feel comfortable growing your own onions at home and enjoy them all year round. Storing onions is pretty simple, and merely requires the proper storage space. Everyone has their own special technique, and this onion storage guide will fill you in on what might be right for you.
The first thing to know about storing onions is that how the onion is stored depends on the type of onion. Fresh onions, the sweeter type that grow robustly in summer, are not meant to be stored for long periods of time. Storage onions, on the other hand, grow in the fall and winter and are grown specifically for that purpose. This latter type of onion is generally stronger in flavor than its summertime counterpart.
Both types of onions are stored in basically the same manner: in a cool, dark and dry place. It is important to select someplace out of direct sunlight so that your onions will not grow roots. The vegetable drawer in your refrigerator is an excellent choice as is a bin in the pantry or basement as long as your home is fairly cool.
Storing Fresh Onions
When stored properly, fresh onions will remain crisp and flavorful for approximately 4 weeks. Proper storage means in a cool, dark place, such as your refrigerator’s vegetable bin. Since fresh onions contain more moisture than storage onions, it is important to keep them dry. That means storing them uncovered for the best results. Put a couple sheets of paper towel in the storage drawer and place the onions in a single layer on top of the towel with no covering. That should do the trick just fine.
Storing Storage Onions
When keeping onions for a longer period of time, it is important to make sure that air can circulate around the onions in their storage place. It still must be cool, dry and out of direct sunlight, but the onions cannot be crammed in or they will go soft rather quickly. Never store your onions with potatoes, as the potato will give off moisture that is not good for elongating the life of the onions.
Storage onions can generally be stored for up to 2 or 3 months, and many gardeners successfully store onions for the entire winter. Most commonly, this is done in a cool, dry basement, where the onions are kept in mesh bags and hung from the walls or ceiling to promote air circulation. Some people even use old panty hose to store their onions for the winter.
Storing Cut Onions
Many fret over how to store an onion that has already been cut. No problem. A cut onion will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. That keeps the freshness, as well as the strong smell, in and preserves the crispy goodness until next time.