10 Tips To Store Onions For 6 Months

Do you love onions?

If so, you may be wondering how to store onions for six months or more.

While most people think of onions as a kitchen staple, they can last very long.

In the following guide, I have shared some tips on how you can store them for a long duration.

How To Store Onions For 6 Months

Onions are one of the vegetables that can be stored for a long time without refrigeration.

They can last up to 6 months or more if you store them properly.

Here are a few tips on how you can do so –

1. Choose The Right Onions

The first step to storing onions for a long is to choose the right ones.

You should go for onions that are firm and have dry skin.

Avoid onions that are soft or have started to sprout.

In addition, it is best to choose small onions as they last longer than the big ones.

The big ones are generally wetter and have more moisture content, which makes them rot faster.

This is also why they should be eaten sooner than the small onions.

2. Cure The Onions

Once you have chosen the right onions, the next step is to cure them.

This will help remove any dirt or bacteria that may be present on the surface of the onions.

You can use a damp or dry cloth to remove the dirt from the onions.

Once you’ve cleaned them thoroughly, put them in a colander and place them in front of a fan.

This way, the onions will be completely dry in no time.

If you are using store-bought onions, you can skip this step as they are usually pre-cured.

You can store them directly without having to worry about dirt or bacteria.

3. Store Them In A Cool And Dry Place

The next step is to store the onions in a cool and dry place.

Onions should not be stored in humid or moist conditions as this will make them rot quickly.

The ideal storage place for onions is a dark and cool pantry or cupboard.

You can also store them in the fridge but put them in a plastic bag first.

This will prevent the onions from absorbing moisture from the fridge, which can make them rot faster.

Avoid storing your onions in the kitchen if you can, as the heat and humidity can cause them to rot quickly.

Also, if you are keeping them in the open, store them under the fan, so they dry out quickly.

4. Store Them In A Mesh Bag

Sometimes, even if you store your onions properly, they can start to rot from the inside.

To prevent this, it is best to store them in a mesh bag.

This will allow air to circulate around the onions and prevent them from rotting.

You can find mesh bags at any kitchen store or online.

But what if you can’t find a mesh bag?

In that case, you can use an old pair of pantyhose.

Simply cut off a leg of the pantyhose and tie a knot at one end.

Then, put the onions in it and tie another knot at the other end.

This will create a make-shift mesh bag that will work just as well.

5. Check On The Onions Regularly

No matter how well you store your onions, they will eventually start to rot.

That is why it is important to check on them regularly and remove the ones that have started to rot.

Otherwise, the rot will spread to the other onions, and they will all be wasted.

When checking on your onions, look for any signs of mold or softness.

If you find any, immediately remove them from the storage and use them up quickly.

While using such onions, make sure to cut off the affected parts before cooking them.

Also, wash them thoroughly under running water to remove any bacteria that may be present.

Storing onions properly is not difficult, but it does require some effort.

As long as you keep an eye on them, your onions should last for several months without any problem.

6. Use Them Up Before They Go Bad

Onions are one of those vegetables that you always seem to have too much of.

No matter how hard you try, they always seem to go bad before you can use them up.

Therefore, it is essential to use them up before they start to rot.

And if you don’t want to consume them all at once, you can always preserve them.

There are several ways to preserve onions, such as pickling and freezing.

Pickling is a great way to extend the shelf life of onions.

All you need to do is soak them in vinegar and water for a few days.

After that, you can store them in the fridge for up to two months.

Freezing is another great way to preserve onions.

Simply chop them up and store them in a freezer-safe bag.

They will last for up to six months in the freezer.

So, try to use them up before they go bad.

7. Don’t Store Them With Other vegetables

When storing onions, do not store them with other vegetables.

Onions give off a gas that can cause other vegetables to rot.

Therefore, it is best to store them separately.

You can store them in a separate drawer or shelf in your fridge.

Or, you can keep them in a separate bag if you are storing them in the pantry.

By keeping them separate, you can prevent the onions from causing other vegetables to rot.

Obviously, you can take out an onion or two whenever you need it.

8. Use Them Within A Few Days Of Cutting Them

Many times, we cut an onion and only use a small portion of it.

The rest of the onion is then stored in the fridge, where it slowly starts to rot.

To prevent this, it is best to use the onion within a few days of cutting it.

This type of onion is not going to last for six months, so it is best to use it up quickly.

If you don’t think you will be able to use it within a few days, you can always freeze it.

Freezing an onion is a great way to extend its shelf life.

Simply chop up the onion and store it in a freezer-safe bag.

It should extend their shelf life by a few days.

9. Don’t Store Them In The Fridge

While the fridge is the best place to store onions, there are some situations where you should not store them in the fridge.

For example, if the onion is cut, it should not be stored in the fridge, especially when you want to keep them for an extended period.

The same goes for if the onion is peeled.

When an onion is cut or peeled, it exposes the flesh of the onion to the air.

This causes the onion to start to rot quicker.

Also, the fridge contains a lot of moisture, which can cause the onion to rot even quicker.

Hence, it’s not an ideal place to store onions.

10. Wait For An Appropriate Season To Store Them

Onions are best stored in the cool, dry months of the year.

This is because they are more likely to rot in warm, humid conditions.

Ideally, you should wait for the cooler months of the year to store onions.

This could be anywhere from October to May.

During these months, the temperature and humidity levels are more conducive to storing onions.

If you live in an area with a lot of humidity, you may want to wait until the cooler months of the year to store onions.

These are the things that you need to know about how to store onions for 6 months.

You can use these tips to help you extend the shelf life of your onions.

Just make sure that you follow these tips, and you should be able to store onions for 6 months without any problems.

In the next section, let’s have a look at the FAQs.

FAQs

Over To You

Now that you know how to store onions for 6 months, it’s time to put these tips into action.

Start by storing your onions in a cool and dry place.

And if you want to extend their shelf life even further, you can always freeze them.

If you have more questions or tips on storing onions, feel free to share them in the comments below.

Do share this guide with others who might need it. 

After all, sharing is caring!