Storing Onions

Onions will keep for a long time if keep at the proper temperature and humidity. This guide is about storing onions.

Solutions: Storing Onions

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Storing Onions and Potatoes

When my pantyhose get a run, I launder them with a regular load of laundry in the washer and then cut them off at the thigh. I use them for holding root vegetables. I put an onion in the toe and then tie a knot, and then add another onion, repeating. The onions lying or sitting directly next to each other hastens spoilage and the knot prevents this from happening. I then make a loop in the end and hang it in my pantry. When I need an onion, I just snip one off at the knot. This also keeps the skins from getting all over (and works with potatoes as well!)

By Denise from FL

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Pantyhose Onion Holder

Save your knee highs and the legs from pantyhose to use to store onions. Just put onion in hose and tie a knot. Add another onion and tie a knot. Hang in a cool dry area. When you need an onion, cut it off the bottom below the knot.

By Hate litter from NC

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Storing Onions and Garlic

We had a few beautiful bowls around the house that weren't being used for anything. I decided to use two of them for our onions and garlic cloves. Now they are easily accessible for cooking with and it gives me a reason to have the bowls that I love out on the counter. :)

By lalala...

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Using Half an Onion

If you need only half of an onion, use the non-root half. Save the root half as it will last longer.

By Brenda

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Storing Onions

You can hang onions in the basement, garage, or coldest room in the house and they will keep longer. I tie the onions in old pantyhose and seperate them with a twisty tie so they are aired well and I can reuse the hose for next time or to filter oil or something. I hang them with metal hangers by nails, poles, or wherever I can (they look like a funny old horror film but hey, they wasted nothing in the old days either).

I also use the onion peels (all onions, purple is the best) to dye my eggs at Easter and save on using dyes or food coloring. I store the peels in a 10 lb. old onion bag that is made of a mesh material so they can breath and dry out better just incase I get a little onion in there. I boil the eggs in the water with the peels in there and I also use a coffee can to do so.

The rest of the onion trash goes to the neighbors mulch for the garden.

By Mary from Roseville, MI

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Questions

Here are questions related to Storing Onions.

Storing Onions

After previous problems with some moldy onions, because they touched in storage, this year we used several old pairs of tights. Pop one onion in, right down to the toe, then tie a knot above it. Continue until you've filled one leg, then do the other leg. Hang on a nail in a cool dry place.

We have done the same with marrows. One per leg in my daughter's too small tights. Our garage looks like a spare part factory, particularly with two marrow legs in bright blue tights, but they are keeping well so far!

By LisaTK from UK

Editor's Note: Marrows are known as summer squash or zucchini in the U.S.

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Most Recent Answer

03/17/2011

It is hard to tell. Ours always gets moldy and gross.

Storing Onions

How does one store yellow onions so they don't go soft and mushy? I have about 20 pounds of nice big yellow onions and want to store them so I can use them all winter. I live in Winnipeg, Canada, so I can't keep them outside or they will freeze. Thank you for your help!

By catastrophy

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Storing Onions

I planted large onions this year and we have a lot. How do I store them for the winter?

Hardiness Zone: 4a

Barb from Michigan

RE: Storing Onions

I store onions every winter. We built a cold room in our basement and I usually get a 50 pound bag of onions and break them down to 5 pounds in a net bag..I hang them on the wall..I use the net bags you get onions in the store in or make my bags out of nylon net...They usually last till spring..If I have left overs and they start to sprout I usually dehydrate them for summer. I have been doing this for about 30 years. (08/08/2006)

By Barb from Rothbury, Mi

RE: Storing Onions

The most essental vegetable and easy to store. They, including the tops need a few weeks to dry, then do one of the following storing methods.

Hang Them

When dry the best can be hung in nets or strung together. They will keep n a cool dry place. To start a string take four onions and tie the stalks together, then tie the knotted stalks to a pece of string. Hang this from the roof of your store and then add further onions one at a time , by tying their stalks around the string.

Freeze Them

Skin ,slice and blanch for 2 minute before freezing. Small onions can be frozen whole. When needed add frozen to soups and stews. (08/09/2006)

By Katt

RE: Storing Onions

Storing them in their original form is great, but you can also freeze them. I chop them up and freeze in ziplock bags. Then when I am making chili or meat loaf, they are already chopped and ready to use. You can also store some in slices, great for stir fry, etc. It's nice because once they freeze they separate easily. (08/09/2006)

By Cheryl (http://www.2ewenique.com)

Storing Onions and Potatoes

I had many a potato and onion go bad until I learned to Never refrigerate potatoes or dry onions (as opposed to scallions or the sweet varieties). Never wash them until I am ready to use them. Store them in a dark, cool space like a closet, garage or pantry. These vegetables require good air circulation.

To get onions to last for months, cut one leg from a clean pair of pantyhose. Drop an onion into the toe, and tie a knot close to the onion. Drop in another. Repeat until filled. Hang from a nail in the pantry or garage. When I need an onion I cut right below the lowest knot.

Air circulation encourages long life and discourages sprouting. This technique works well with garlic and potatoes, too. And you won't believe how many you can fit in one pantyhose leg, plus you are finding a use for pantyhose that have a run in them. Of course, take time to put your worn panty hose in the wash before using to hang and store your root vegetables.

By Bobbie G from Rockwall, TX

Storing Onions

I planted large onions this year and we have a lot. How do I store them for the winter?

Hardiness Zone: 4a

Barb from Michigan

RE: Storing Onions

This is great information, the problem I have now is when to pick them. We have already had a frost and other coming next week. My onions are already a third above ground level (I don't know why, unless this is normal). I'm a first time onion grower in Michigan. So now I can store them, but when do I pick them? Thanks. (09/12/2008)

By wanda

RE: Storing Onions

Hello. After first using part of an onion, whether slicing or dicing it, how do you store the rest of the onion? Would I use a Ziploc Bag? Use an airtight container?

I tried both of these procedures but the partial onion (already sliced) either gets "mushy" or just dries out.

I am not concerned about storing a whole onion. Only how to store it after part of it has already been used (diced or sliced). Any help you can give me on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. (03/02/2009)

By Robert F.

Storing Onions

We have white onions we have harvested from the garden. How long can I expect them to last if they are stored in a cool place, in pantyhose?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

By Meg from Louisville, KY

RE: Storing Onions

I store mine in garage, spread layers of news paper then spread onions on it, they should last all winter, good luck. (06/15/2010)

By kffrmw88

RE: Storing Onions

Storing them in nylons is a good way. We used to put them in the basement hanging by hooks. It wasn't heated. They lasted all winter. One suggestion is to tie a knot with string between each onion. If you need one or two just cut below the knot (my grandmothers idea). Also if one goes bad it won't the other onion's go bad because they aren't touching. (06/17/2010)

By scott E.