Whole onions can be stored for up to six months if kept in the right conditions, according to food storage advice shared by YouTube content creator Jerry James Stone. The key is to avoid the fridge and instead find a cool, dry and well-ventilated spot.
Many people keep onions in the fridge alongside other vegetables, but this is far from the ideal environment for them. If onions begin to sprout, soften or develop mould, they are likely not being stored properly.
Why the fridge is the wrong place
Stone advised: "I'm going to talk to you about how you properly store onions - if you do it correctly, you can actually store them for up to six months."
He continued: "Onions hate being in the fridge, that's the first thing - never put them in the fridge. If you do, they actually rot and go mushy." The cold and damp conditions of a fridge are unsuitable for whole onions, as they require the complete opposite. Because onions tend to absorb moisture, refrigerating them can cause them to become soft and deteriorate far more quickly, though this does not apply to peeled or pre-cut varieties.
Best storage conditions and what to avoid
"The other thing about onions is they prefer to be in a dry place, that's cool, and has good ventilation," Stone said. "Avoid storing them in a cramped drawer; instead, aim for a pantry where there's plenty of air movement. That's [ventilation] super crucial as they emit quite a bit of moisture."
Onions should not be stored next to potatoes. Because of the moisture and ethylene gas onions put out, they cause potatoes to sprout. The food that can be stored next to onions is garlic, as they prefer the same environment.
Packaging and short-term storage
If onions are bought from a supermarket in a plastic bag, it is recommended to remove them from the packaging before storing them. The plastic can trap moisture, which may result in mould developing. A net or mesh bag promotes better air circulation and helps to control moisture levels.
For short-term storage, if the onions will be used within a couple of days, leaving them in a bowl on the kitchen worktop or inside a cupboard will do. For longer-term storage, onions should be kept in a cool, dry and dark space, away from direct light, such as a cellar or garage.
