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Onions are a classic kitchen staple. White, red, or green, there are few recipes that aren’t improved by the presence of a tasty, tangy onion. And whilst these vegetables can be stashed away for months in the kitchen, if you store them correctly, they’ll stay fresher for even longer and you’ll never need to waste one again. Read on below to find out how to store fresh onions and how to store onions long term, so you’ll always have one to hand for your favorite recipes.
Storing whole onions
Whole onions will keep best in a cool, dry place as any moisture or light will promote the growth of mold and sprouting. They need to be left in a well-ventilated area, and, if you have a pantry or a cellar, they’ll be perfectly at home in these spots. If you don’t have a pantry or cellar, then a dry, cool cupboard away from the oven will work too. Essentially you want to reduce any moisture or excess heat close to the onions. You should also remove the onions from any grocery bags prior to storage as they’re best left unwrapped.
You can leave onions in the fridge, but sometimes this will cause them to turn soggy as they convert starch to sugar in the cold environment. Importantly, potatoes are not onions’ friends in the cupboard. If you keep these two ingredients together it can lead to a very stinky, liquified mess as the potatoes can quickly start to rot when stored next to onions. We have a useful guide and infographic detailing various different vegetable and fruit storage requirements, which you can save in your phone photos to easily refer to, to help with all your store cupboard sorting.
Moisture will affect shallots in the same way as onions, causing rotting and mold. Leave them in a cool, dark place, and uncovered. Similarly to onions, once chopped they should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. They will usually keep for around 10 days if sliced. If you’re wondering what’s the difference between a shallot and an onion, it’s largely in the taste. Shallots are milder and sweeter than a classic green onion, and lack some of the flavor intensity found in onions, so they tend to be better suited to raw dishes like salads.
Storing cut onions
Our top advice on how to store cut onions is to put them into the fridge. Once you’ve made the cut, then it’s best to put the onion into the fridge in an airtight container. You don’t want to leave them loose in the fridge for several reasons, but the main one being that other ingredients, like apples and celery, will absorb the odors from an onion if close-by. When kept correctly, your sliced onion should last for up to five days in the fridge.
How to store green onions
Green onions and spring onions will always fare better in the fridge. They don’t do well left at room temperature, and will stay at their freshest when wrapped in a damp kitchen paper towel and placed into an airtight container. If stored this way they should last up to five days in the fridge, but always give them an inspection for any wilting or slimy parts before using. On the other end of the color spectrum, when it comes to considering how to store red onions, follow the same principles as for your white onions. Cool, dark, and dry for any whole red onions and, once chopped or sliced, then it’s time to transfer to the fridge. Whilst white, red, and green may be some of the more well-known types of onions, there are actually over 20 onion varieties to explore, which all offer nuanced flavor profiles for different dishes.
Long-term storage solutions
Surprisingly you can keep chopped onions in the freezer for an even longer-term storage solution. When deciding how to store chopped onions in the freezer, just follow the same method as when storing in the fridge. Make sure they’re in an airtight container, and they then should last in the freezer for a few months. If you freeze the onion whole, it can be usable for up to eight months. You don’t have to thaw your onions either, simply use them straight from the freezer. When you’re ready to get cooking, there are so many different recipes available to use up any leftover onions, from the classic and comforting French onion soup to the world of desserts like a pear tart with caramelized onions.
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