Onions are a key base ingredient in countless dishes, from comforting stews to nutritious salads. But, unfortunately, keeping them fresh at home can be surprisingly tricky. One day they’re firm and fragrant, and the next, they’re soft, sprouting, or even turning mushy.
Households that usually store onions in the fridge or pile them together with other vegetables might be accidentally cutting their shelf life short. While many assume the cool temperature of a fridge helps preserve produce, this common storage method might actually be working against your onions.
According to food hygiene expert Sarah Taylor of High Speed Training, the real key is what you store them near.
“Onions are a staple of many food dishes and are always useful to have in the house,” Sarah told Express.co.uk.
“For this reason, it’s beneficial to keep them for as long as possible to avoid unnecessary extra purchases.”
To extend their freshness, the expert divulged that onions should never go in the fridge, stressing that they are “best stored in a dry, dark place.”
The moisture in fridges can encourage mould and spoilage, reducing their usable life. Instead, onions need a spot where air can circulate freely – ideally out of direct sunlight and away from any source of damp.
Another major no-no is storing onions next to potatoes, as while the two might seem inoffensive to each other, keeping them together can accelerate spoilage in both.
“Remove them from their plastic bag to allow the air to circulate around them, and keep them separate from potatoes, as the two together may impact the lifespan of both items,” Sarah explained.
Both onions and potatoes release moisture and gases that can cause the other to deteriorate more rapidly. It’s a chemical clash that quietly shortens the life of your veg – but with a simple tweak in storage, it’s easily avoided.
For those who like to prep ahead, chopped onions can also be stored safely, either for short-term use in the fridge or for longer periods in the freezer.
“You can also safely store chopped onions. To do this, once chopped, add the onion to a freezer bag,” Sarah advised.
And, just like that, you’ll be able to keep chopped onions on hand for the recipes that require them.
