Autumn is a time when we tend to make heartier food to keep up warm like stews, soups and roast dinners, so it can be useful to have lots of onions and garlic stored in the kitchen. Onions and garlic should last months when they are stored properly, but most people simply throw them in a cupboard or fridge, which can cause them to spoil within a few days. Both onions and garlic need plenty of airflow to keep them dry, as when they are placed in an enclosed place it causes them to becoming mushy and mouldy before their time.
However Brooke Fedigan, a DIY expert and founder of Farmhouse 1820 has shared keeping onions and garlic fresh for a long time is very easy, as long as you store them inside a paper bag. Brooke said: “What I have found that works the best, is a tip that my mother has used for storing these aromatic goodies; an old fashioned, tried and true storage solution. All you need is some paper bags and a hole punch.”
It might seem strange, but paper is the best material to store onions and garlic in as it is very porous which will allow lots of air to circulate around the vegetables.
Onions and garlic tend to dry out overtime, and any moisture they release will create a humid environment, which can cause them to begin rotting.
A paper bag will let any moisture or humidity escape quickly, while also protecting the onions and garlic from becoming bruised.
It is a simple yet very effective way to keep onions and garlic fresh for a long time so you do not have to worry about using them up as soon as possible and can help you save a little money on your food shop.
How to store onions and garlic properly
To begin, use a hole puncher to poke small holes around the sides and bottom of a paper bag. You are looking for five to 10 holes total around the bag, which will improve ventilation.
Then, simply add your onions and garlic to the paper bag. If you have room, it can help to keep onions and garlic in separate bags to avoid overcrowding, but they can be stored together.
Fold the top of the bag loosely, and it is ready to store. You want to keep bags in a cool dark, and dry area with plenty of space.
The best place in a kitchen to store onions and garlic are drawers, cupboards or pantries. Avoid placing them in the fridge as it is too cold for them and also do not place them near windows as light can make them sprout.
Try to avoid placing them in cluttered areas of the kitchen as stuffiness can cause humidity to build up and also keep them away from ovens as heat will spoil them.
However, if you store onions and garlic properly then they should last up to three months so you have fresh produce through the colder seasons.