Whole onions and shallots are best stored in a cool, dry, dark and well-ventilated room. Ideal places include the pantry, cellar, basement or garage. Peeled onions can be stored in the fridge for 10–14 days, while sliced or cut onions can be refrigerated for 7–10 days.
That said, if you lack fridge space and storing onions at room temperature is your only option, whole, raw onions will last two to four weeks at room temperature. When storing onions, whether at room temperature or cooler, be sure to provide proper ventilation to prevent mold.
Store in a Cool, Dry Place
For this reason, he says it's best to store onions in a cool, dry place like a cellar, pantry, or even a garage. While they can be stored whole in the fridge, Yee notes that this causes the onion to convert starch to sugar, and can result in soft or soggy onions.
Keep storage onions in a cool, dark, and dry place. Moisture and light lead to mold (ew) and sprouting (annoying, though not a deal-breaker), so stow your storage onions (red, yellow, and white as well as shallots and the diminutive pearl and cippoline) in a dry, well-ventilated basket, bin, or large bowl.
Instead, keep storage onions, such as red or white onions, in the mesh bag they came in, or in a bowl in a cool, dry, ventilated spot in your pantry. The USDA recommends you store them at 45 to 50ºF (just above refrigeration level), but if you can't find such a cool place, they'll keep for a week at room temperature.
Place the container in a dry, dark spot, like in the back of your pantry or inside a cabinet. Sunlight can affect temperature and humidity, causing onions to go bad. Properly stored whole onions will stay fresh for 6 to 8 weeks.
Store the onions in a cool, moderately dry location. Storage temperatures should be 32 to 40 degrees F. The relative humidity should be 65 to 70 percent. Possible storage locations include a basement, cellar, or garage.
Don't wash your onions or garlic before you store them. Keep them very dry. While in Storage Check and cull them often to make sure the onions and garlic are not sprouting or developing soft spots. Remove and eat any damaged bulbs.
Keep them dry. Try storing them in a paper bag to wick some of the moisture away. 3. Put them somewhere where the temperature is consistent such as under the sink or in the basement.
Generally speaking, onions should last between seven and ten days in your refrigerator and six to eight months in your freezer, but all of that can depend on how they are stored.
Onion bulbs and potato tubers both flourish underground, meaning that the vegetables require similar storage conditions — cool, dark, and ventilated environments — and they fare much better on a counter than in the fridge.
Storage rots are caused by fungi and bacteria (Pseudomonas and Erwinia spp.) that live on organic matter and onion debris in the soil. These organisms are common in soil and will attack several different host plants. They become a major problem wherever onions are grown in a short rotation.
Do not wrap onions in plastic or store in plastic bags. A lack of air circulation will reduce shelf life. Onions should feel firm and dry, be free of gray or black mold, and should not have any visible sprouting.
Never store onions in a plastic bag or airtight containers. Onions need good air circulation to stay fresh. Otherwise, they may rot quickly and be more susceptible to sprouting.
NO PLASTIC BAGS: Don't ever store onions in plastic bags. That will accelerate sprouting and spoilage because of the lack of air circulation. NO POTATOES NEARBY: Potatoes and onions should not be stored together.
Onions and garlic are also best stored in cool, dark environments, but it's also important the storage place is also a dry environment. Both are “cured” prior to being sold in grocery stores. This curing process removes moisture from the outer layer of the skin.
Keep Onions Away from Apples and Potatoes
"In general, don't store ethylene-sensitive fruits or vegetables with fruits or vegetables that produce a high amount of ethylene gasses," says John Adler, the vice president of culinary at Blue Apron.
On top of this, between 0 and 4° Celsius, onions can be kept healthy and suitable for storage for up to 12 months. Between 25 and 31° Celsius, they can be kept healthy and suitable for storage for up to 8 or 9 months.
Don't store potatoes in the fridge.
Raw potatoes have lots of starches, and the cold temperatures can turn the starches into sugars. This can make your potatoes turn sweeter and darker during cooking.
What you don't want is to have your potatoes and onions in close proximity, as gases from the onions can hasten sprouting in potatoes.
It isn't necessary to store onions in the refrigerator, as the cold temperature will quickly soften their texture. A softened texture and moisture spots are a sign the onions have spoiled. Don't miss these other foods that shouldn't be stored in the fridge. Ready to start cooking?
Also, lack of air circulation will cause onions to spoil, as will storing them near potatoes, which give off moisture and gas that can cause onions to spoil quickly.