Onions are the base of countless dishes, enhancing flavours and bringing depth to everything from stews to salads. Despite their importance in the kitchen, they can spoil quickly if not stored properly, leading to waste and last-minute grocery runs.
Sarah Taylor, a food hygiene expert at High Speed Training, has shared some practical advice to ensure your onions remain in perfect condition, so you can enjoy them whenever needed. She said: “Onions are a staple of many food dishes and are always useful to have in the house. For this reason, it’s beneficial to keep them for as long as possible to avoid unnecessary extra purchases.”
To extend the shelf life of onions, the storage method, as well as the location, is key. According to Sarah, “onions are best stored in a dry, dark place and should not be kept in the fridge.”
Avoiding fridge conditions helps prevent moisture buildup, which can lead to mold and spoilage. Opting for room-temperature storage allows onions to breathe, keeping them from becoming damp.
One crucial mistake many people make is leaving onions in their plastic bags, as proper airflow is essential for maintaining their quality.
Sarah suggested: “Remove them from their plastic bag to allow the air to circulate around them.”
But perhaps the most surprising piece of advice is keeping onions away from potatoes. As Sarah pointed out, the two together “may impact the lifespan of both items”.
Potatoes and onions release gases that can accelerate each other’s decay, so storing them apart ensures both stay fresh for as long as possible.
For those who like to prep ahead, Sarah also suggested: “You can also safely store chopped onions. To do this, once chopped, add the onion to a freezer bag.”
Chopped onions can be stored in the fridge for short-term use or frozen for longer-term storage.