Some onion varieties keep better than others do, so if you planted the following varieties, you’re in luck. For more tips on storing your garden onions, like how long you have to use them, read on! A few will naturally go bad, but many will keep for months. These don’t keep very well, so it’s a good idea to use them right away. Enjoy garden onions year-round by storing them in the root cellar, fridge, or freezer. Add a bit of kelp meal for additional minerals and dig this in. To begin, start by standing the scallions upright in a cup or other tall container. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Don’t store your onions with your other winter stored vegetables, because they will pick up the odor of the onions. No matter what size your home or yard, you have space for a root cellar. The best temperature for storage ranges from 32ºF (0ºC) to 40ºF (4.4ºC) with 70 percent humidity. The best temperature for storage ranges from 32ºF (0ºC) to 40ºF (4.4ºC) with 70 percent humidity. As they grow in your garden, some onions develop thick necks. Cover with ¼ inch of new dirt. Onions are also categorized as “short-day” onions or “long-day” onions. Onions are easy to grow and produce a tidy little crop with very little effort. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 17,341 times. If you have any hills in your yard, you can dig a root cellar right into the hill. To keep onion bulbs as intact and unblemished as possible, it is best to use a garden fork or another gardening tool to gently ease the onions from the soil, rather than trying to yank them up by hand. If you have a large harvest of onion, you can, All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Gently pull your onions from the soil or use a garden fork to loosen them, being careful not to pierce the bulb. By properly storing your onions, you can keep them fresh for several months. Once you harvest your fresh onions, you can use several different storage methods that are best for you. I like to put my onions into mesh bags and I save any from the grocery store (the bags that oranges come in). How Long Will Onions Stay Fresh in Storage? 8. After that, cut off the roots and stems on your onions and peel away the dry outer skin. When most of your onions have fallen tops, begin harvesting them. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. https://www.growveg.com/guides/how-to-harvest-and-store-onions/, https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/501/, https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/502/, https://commonsensehome.com/how-to-store-onions/, https://growagoodlife.com/harvesting-curing-and-storing-onions/, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Here are several types of root cellars that you can incorporate into your home: You can modify an area of your basement for a storage root cellar. Check your onions regularly; if you find a spoiled one, discard it immediately before it infects the others. This also works for other alliums such as shallots and garlic. Storing onions from your garden can save you money on your grocery bill! Other types of onions are also good for storing, but the following are known as good keepers: Before thinking about storage for your onions, it’s necessary to follow a few steps for harvesting and curing. Cure just the onions you'll store; separate the soft, young and thick-necked bulbs and use them first. Even though the onions will be crowded while they live in the flat, they don’t seem to mind. Onion storage is quite simple if you do it the right way, whether they are whole and unpeeled, peeled and sliced, or caramelized to perfection. The first thing to consider when storing your onions is the temperature. After you’ve cured your onions, trim the tops off the bulb. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. ~The Reid Homestead #homesteadgardening #foodpreservation #preservingonions #storingonions #onionstorage #onionvarieties #growingonions. Store onions add delicious flavor to winter soups, bone broths, chili, stews, and roasts. You can attach a door to the dugout area for easy access. If you’re short on space and need to cure the onions outdoors, spread the onions in a single layer and cover them with a light sheet to prevent sunburn, and then anchor the rocks in place with rocks. The lack of air circulation encourages sprouting and spoilage. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. For me, freezing and dehydrating onions, as I explain in these two posts complete with You Tube videos, is a great alternative. Most onions can keep for … Also, check for soft spots and rot. This article tells you all you need to know about the best way to store onions. For more tips on storing your garden onions, like how long you have to use them, read on! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Planting Onions From Seed. Darkness is also important, as the absence of sunlight reduces humidity and temperature fluctuations. Once the onions are harvested, they keep a long time if you store them properly.Learning some methods of how to store onions will keep them for months. Onions are a kitchen staple, and people often wonder about the best way to store them. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. To keep your scallions the freshest, the first step it to store them in the fridge. If you want to keep it for longer, you can chop it up and freeze; it will come in really handy for quick meals. Store the onions in a cool, moderately dry location. Never store onions close to potatoes. By using our site, you agree to our. If you don't have a spot that cool, try to find the coolest place in your home to store them. Allow the bulbs to rest on top of the soil. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. For short-term storage, you can put your onions in the fridge. Onions can keep in the refrigerator for typically two weeks to 18 days. The relative humidity should be 65-70%. Make sure onions are not stored in plastic bags, only mesh bags for airflow. Onions are ready to store when the … To cure the onions, place them in a clean, dry, shady, well-ventilated spot with stems still attached. Even a small amount of moisture can cause your onions to rot. Storing Dried Onions Now that your onions are dry, they should be stored somewhere where plenty of air can flow around each onion, keeping them dry at all times. Only do this if you’re planning to use your onions within a week or two. Store dried onions in a wire basket, crate or nylon bag in a place where the temperature is between 32 to 40 F. (0-4 C.). Your onions will stay fresh for at least three days and perhaps as long as a week. Natural cold storage has ideal conditions for keeping onions. Secret #6: Store onions in a dry, dark, and airy space for maximum longevity. How to Store Persimmons for Months of Enjoyment, What Does Onion Snow Mean for Your Springtime Onion Planting. Storing our big onion haul from the garden is an issue. Some of your onions won’t have any stems left because they might fall off after drying completely. When choosing onions to grow for winter storing, select varieties that are known for their long-term storage capabilities. Make sure none of the onions has cuts or bruises. Because sweet onions have a short shelf life, use sweet varieties first and save pungent onions in storage. Once onions absorb moisture they spoil a lot quicker, and turn mushy. Luckily, you don’t need to use up all your onions right after you harvest them. The soil keeps the temperature naturally cool. You don't want to damage any of your onion crop by pulling them at the wrong time or damaging them with improper methods. Than you are in the right place and I'll tell you how to do Article by Seed To Pantry School. Rinse the onions to remove any dry, skin particles. Your root cellar can be as simple as burying a large bucket or trash barrel in the ground with a secure cover. Green onions, also called scallions, are a versatile ingredient that's included in many recipes.They add both flavor and color to a dish, can be cooked or eaten raw, and used as a garnish. Not using the proper storage for onions can lead to spoilage and, if eaten, may even make you sick. Before you store your garden onions, dry and cure them outside for a total of 3 weeks. Fill a flat ⅔ with potting soil. They contain sulfurous compounds (the stuff that makes you cry when you cut them) that help to preserve them. Storing Dry Bulb Onions The pungent onions harvested in late summer and early fall can be stored for months. How to harvest and store onions The first time I grew onions was a total flop. A root cellar or cold cellar provides a reliable, eco-friendly way to store your onions and other vegetables. Hang them in a cool, dry, frost-free place – such as a shed – until you need to bring them into the kitchen. Humidity levels should be between 65 and 70 percent for best results. In order to gather a bountiful crop of onions for storing, you need to follow a few steps for the best ways to harvest. To do this, move your onions under cover. Storing garden onions properly rewards you with your own harvest in the middle of winter. Then you will want to check out my article on how to store onions from the garden straight through the winter! All you have to do is wall off the area, so it stays at a consistently cool temperature, especially if your basement has heat. Never store whole or unpeeled onions of any type in the fridge because they will absorb far too much moisture. When storing them in the refrigerator, the National Onion Association suggests wrapping the dried onion in a paper towel or newspaper and put it in a spot where it will stay dry. Cure thoroughly in a warm, well-ventilated area away from direct sun. Last Updated: April 21, 2020 Onions fresh from the garden make a great addition to a variety of meals. I just want to know how to store onions from garden fresh, that are just for a week or two to keep? How to Choose Onions to Grow for Food Storage. You can dry onions on racks or on layers of newspaper in a greenhouse, polythene tunnel or cold frame. Dehydrating onions is easy and a convenient way to store them: Remove the papery skin from the onions. The first thing to consider when storing your onions is the temperature. Freezing Onions If you have too much humidity it promotes root growth, while high temperature promotes sprouting. Humidity for onion storage should be at 65-75%. You don’t want to store these with healthy onions because the moisture caused by the injured onions can spread to the good ones. Store sliced onions in the refrigerator inside of a container, or a Ziploc bag. Store your onions in a hanging net bag or hook them onto a hanging loop of string. It’s built underground or partially underground, or can be part of your home. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. onions should be stored in a cool, dark place between 45 and 55 degrees F. Whole, raw onions will last two to three months when stored in a cool, dry place. Make sure the towel is just barely damp and not soaked, which will encourage mold. Immediately after getting your green onions home from the store, market or garden, wrap them in a damp paper towel and then loosely cover them with plastic wrap. How to Store Onions and Potatoes: We use lots of onions, so need to store them in reasonably large quantity. This is convenient if you only want to store a small amount of onions. This article has been viewed 17,341 times. If you put any onions in an outdoor shed, keep track of the temperature and move them to a warmer storage area if the temperature drops below freezing. The ideal conditions for long term storage of onions are 32ºF or 0ºC. Examine all your onion bulbs before storing. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. Storage temperatures should be 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit. No matter which onion variety you pulled from your garden, storing your onions under the right conditions will keep your harvest fresh from fall through the winter. I am such a fanatical feeder of my crops, the soil was just too rich and the bulbs never formed properly. If you expect rain during any of the drying time, move your onions to a protected, dry area to finish curing. Lay the harvested onions gently to one side – don’t toss them around. 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