Shea Simmons
We all want our groceries to last as long as possible. After all, no one is looking to waste money on food right now. Much of keeping things fresh comes down to storage, and onions are one of the trickiest things to keep in the right place.
When it comes to onion storage, they belong in both the refrigerator and a dark pantry. Yes, we know this sounds confusing, but we’ll explain.
Whole onions do not need to go in your fridge. Instead, they should be kept in a cool, dark, dry space like a pantry. You should also make sure they’re in a basket or bin with some sort of small holes so they can breathe, and if you really want some fancy storage, you can place them in pantyhose. When kept this way, your onions can last for a few weeks.
Now, here comes the fridge part. Chopped onions should be in the fridge. The cool air will help preserve the onion, but you’ll want to make sure that it’s in an airtight container. First, that’ll prevent oxygen from reaching the vegetable, but second, it’ll prevent it from sticking up your entire refrigerator and potentially seeping into other foods. No one wants a strawberry with a hint of onion.
As for your freezer, it’s not the best option—at least for whole onions. They’ll become tough and hard and won’t thaw well. Chopped onions, however, are a different story. They’re totally freezable, just be sure to do so in an airtight plastic bag and remove as much air as possible.
There you have it. When it comes to onion storage, it’s all about what form your onion is in. Now, go make some French onion soup.
