When you nibble up an Allium cepa , there ’s this unverbalised commitment : you ’re not just grabbing a vegetable . You ’re holding onto flavour , deepness , and the power to make your meal feel like they ’ve come from a five - sensation kitchen .
But what happens when your onion decide to give up the ghost and decompose before you ’ve even gotten through half of them ? Well , that ’s a job .
Luckily , with the right storage techniques , you’re able to keep those onions fresh for months . Yes , month . Here ’s how .
The Onion Breakdown: Know Your Types
Not all onions are created equal , and empathize the differences can help you count on out how to stash away them properly . There are two main family of Allium cepa : storage onionsandsweet onions .
Storage Onions : These are the thick - skinned , long - lasting onions . remember chickenhearted , white , and red onion . They ’re hardier , making them ideal for long - term repositing . You ’re probably used to seeing them at the foodstuff entrepot , stacked high in ABA transit number .
Sweet Onions : These are the Vidalias , Walla Wallas , and other juicy , tenuous - skinned varieties .
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While their savor is meek and yummy , they do n’t have the same staying power as computer storage onions . But do n’t worry , they can still be store for a reasonable amount of time if you handle them right .
Airflow is Key: Avoid the Onion Sweats
Onions hate moisture . Like , really detest it . If you store them in a humid place , they ’ll sprout or call on flaccid and mushy quicker than you could say , “ Gallic onion soup . ”
To keep them fresh , you postulate to prioritize airflow . That means no stuffing them in plastic bag or seal container . Those environments hole wet , and trammel moisture touch disaster for onions .
So, what’s the best way to store them?
Mesh Bags or Baskets : These are your best Quaker . You know those mesh bag onions sometimes do in ? They ’re not just for show .
They allow breeze to distribute around the onions , maintain them dry and glad . If you ’ve already read them out of the bag , do n’t interest . A conducting wire basket or bowl that allows air flow will do the trick .
Pantyhose Hack : Okay , this might go uncanny , but if you ’ve got an extra couple of clean pantyhose lie around , you ’ve struck gold .
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Slip an onion into one leg , tie a knot above it , then slip in another Allium cepa . Repeat the process until you ’ve filled the hosepipe . Hang it up in a cool , juiceless place , and your Allium cepa will thank you for their unexampled , blowy diggings .
Plus , this hack writer can keep them fresh for up to six calendar month .
Cool, Dark, and Dry: The Onion Trifecta
There ’s no getting around it – onions thrive in nerveless , dark , and dry environment . If they had a go out profile , that ’s what they ’d list under “ idealistic term . ”
You ’re conk out to want to store them in a office that ’s juiceless and slightly cooler than room temperature , around 45 - 55 ° F ( 7 - 13 ° speed of light ) .
So , where can you rule this onion plant Eden in your home base ?
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Pantry : If your pantry is moody , nerveless , and has decent flow of air , it ’s the perfect smirch for your onions . Keep them off the terra firma , though , as the story incline to pile up more moisture .
Basement or Cellar : If you ’ve receive a cellar or basement that does n’t get too humid , onions will live their best life down there . But be mindful of temperature fluctuations ; you do n’t require things to get too cold , or they might pullulate untimely .
service department : In the cooler month , a garage can be another good option , as long as it ’s not prostrate to dampness .
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What About Refrigeration?
Here ’s the deal : onions and refrigerators do n’t always get along . While sweet-scented onions benefit from coolheaded temporary ( and can be stash away in the fridge for a little time ) , storage onions generally do n’t want to be refrigerated .
The frigid surroundings of your electric refrigerator will introduce moisture , which leads to – you guessed it – soft , sprouting onion .
When is it okay to refrigerate onions?
Sweet Onions : Due to their high water content , odorous onions are more prone to spoiling .
Pop them in the electric refrigerator , but do n’t block to wrap them in a newspaper towel or place them in a breathable bag to fend off wet buildup .
stark naked or Cut Allium cepa : Once you ’ve trend into an onion , the clock is ticking . Keep any naked as a jaybird or chopped onions in an airtight container in the fridge .
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They ’ll stay respectable for about a hebdomad , and yes , it ’s good to store them like this . Just be cook for your fridge to smell like Allium cepa every time you open it . That ’s the Mary Leontyne Price you pay for pre - chopping contrivance .
Avoid the Potato-Onion Romance
It sounds like a strange read-only memory - com , but trust me , onions and potatoes should never live together . Why ? Because they both breathe gases that make the other ripen – and rot – faster .
It ’s like they ’re in a toxic human relationship . Keep them far asunder in your pantry , and both will live much longer , happy lives .
Signs of Trouble: When Onions Go Bad
No matter how carefully you stack away your Allium cepa , sometimes life just happens , and one or two might wrench on you . Here ’s what to see for to see a speculative onion before it ruin the bunch :
Soft Spots or clay sculpture : If an onion plant has indulgent , squishy areas or visible mold , it ’s a goner . thresh it before it infects the rest .
Sprouting : spud onions can still be used , but you ’ll take to slue out the greenish shoots , which can have a bitter taste . If your onion plant are sprouting too often , double - control your entrepot condition . They might be too fond .
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Off Smell : A fresh onion plant should have a mild , vulgar smell . If it ’s starting to smell out funky or moody , it ’s past its prime .
Storing Onions for the Long Haul: Freezing and Dehydrating
Let ’s say you ’ve grease one’s palms too many onions and you have sex they wo n’t last in storage . you may always flex to freezing or dehydrate as a way to extend their shelf life even further .
Freezing Onions
Freezing onions might not seem like an obvious choice , but it forge amazingly well . You just have to do a bit of preparation :
chop up the Onions : Peel and chop the onions to your preferred size – whether that ’s cut or diced lump .
Blanch ( Optional):Blanching your Allium cepa before freezing can assist conserve their texture , but it ’s not purely necessary . If you choose to blanch them , unload the Allium cepa pieces into boiling water for 3 minutes , then transfer them to an ice bath .
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Flash Freeze : Spread the chop onions in a individual layer on a baking sheet and freeze them for a few hours . This prevents them from stick together in a openhanded glob once you remove them to a container .
Store in Airtight Containers or Bags : Once the onions are icy , transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag . judge it with the engagement , and they ’ll keep for up to 8 months .
Just keep in nous that rooted onion plant lose some of their crunch , so they ’re well used in cooked dishes like soup , stews , or casserole .
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Dehydrating Onions
If you ’re really serious about long - term memory , desiccate Allium cepa is another self-coloured option .
Slice the onion : Peel and slit your onions thin .
practice a Dehydrator or Oven : Spread the slices in a single bed on the dehydrator tray or a baking sheet . If using a dehydrator , come the maker ’s direction , usually drying at around 135 ° F ( 57 ° speed of light ) .
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In an oven , limit it to the lowest temperature potential and leave the door crack for airflow . It can take anywhere from 6 to 12 minute , depending on the thickness of the slices and the drying method .
memory board in Airtight Containers : Once your Allium cepa are full dried and crisp , store them in airtight containers . They ’ll keep for over a twelvemonth and are perfect for soups , seasoning blends , or even as crunchy salad toppings .
Keeping Allium cepa brisk for month does n’t want a long ton of exertion – just a little attention to the details .
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ensure your onion have the right air flow , keep them in a cool and teetotal point , and resist the temptation to store them with tater . If you do that , you ’ll be cooking with fresh , flavorful onion for a foresighted time to fall .
So the next time you find yourself eyeball that bulk bag of onion at the shop , go ahead and convulse them in your pushcart . You ’ve got this storage thing down . Just verify to keep an extra pair of pantyhose William Christopher Handy .
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