How to Store Onions and Potatoes (2024)

FAQs

How to Store Onions and Potatoes? ›

The best temperature is about 45-50 degrees. If you have a cool basem*nt in your home, that will work well. Never store potatoes in your refrigerator; the colder temperature will turn the starch in the potato into sugar, which will affect not only how the potatoes tastes but also how it cooks.

Onions and potatoes store best in a similar environment: a cool, dry place. And both like to have a ventilated container, like a paper bag, basket or open bin. Stored properly, these pantry staples will last for months.

Sure, spuds and bulbs are tasty when combined together in meals. But when it comes to storage, they should be kept far away from one another. Why? Onions produce and emit ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening process and can cause nearby potatoes to rot and spoil more quickly.

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.

Generally, potatoes last one to two months when stored in a cool, dry, dark and well-ventilated space (never under the sink!), such as the pantry, versus one to two weeks in the refrigerator, according to FoodSafety.gov's FoodKeeper app, the federal consumer resource for food safety.

Store peeled, halved, and sliced onions in airtight glass containers (plastic may absorb their smell) in the fridge; peeled onions will last about two weeks this way, and sliced onions will last for a week to 10 days.

It's best to store your potatoes in an open bowl, paper bag or a cool dry place. You'll know how to store your potatoes best by watching how long it takes for them to go bad.

Keep Potatoes in a Cool and Dry Environment

As previously explained, potatoes should be placed in a cardboard box, mesh bag, or basket to ensure good ventilation. Store your potatoes in a cool, dark place (45 to 50 F is the ideal temperature range), such as your pantry or unheated basem*nt.

Store in a Cool, Dry Place

The ideal temperature to store onions is around 45 to 55 degrees, according to Matthew Yee, chef at Farm to the People. For this reason, he says it's best to store onions in a cool, dry place like a cellar, pantry, or even a garage.

How to Store a Whole Onion. Whole onions don't need to go in the refrigerator—in fact, it's actually not a good place to store them. The fridge is a cold and humid environment, which can cause onions to soften and spoil. The best place to keep whole onions is somewhere dark, cool, dry, and well-ventilated.

What is the best bag to store potatoes in? ›

2. A basket, bowl, or paper bag is better than a plastic bag. A paper bag, basket, or large bowl are ideal for storing a pile of potatoes since they allow for plenty of air circulation. If you carried potatoes home from the store in a plastic bag, it's best to remove them for longer-term storage.

Storage Conditions A dark place that is 38-42 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 - 90 percent humidity is perfect. Common places that work well are a basem*nt (away from the furnace), garage, root cellar, or a dark and cool closet or kitchen cupboard close the floor.

You absolutely can freeze potatoes, and you should if you have an excess of spuds. But there's one important thing to remember: You should really only freeze cooked or partially cooked potatoes, as raw potatoes contain a lot of water. This water freezes and, when thawed, makes the potatoes mushy and grainy.

Keep Potatoes in a Cool and Dry Environment

As previously explained, potatoes should be placed in a cardboard box, mesh bag, or basket to ensure good ventilation. Store your potatoes in a cool, dark place (45 to 50 F is the ideal temperature range), such as your pantry or unheated basem*nt.

A cool, dry basem*nt where temperatures range from 50 to 60° F (10 to 15° C) is ideal, especially for potatoes, which need to be protected from light. I often store early summer potatoes in bins and boxes under my bed, because it's the best cool, dry, dark place in my house in late summer.

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.

The open vents will allow the produce to "breathe," preventing premature spoilage and making your food last. Almost all fruits, with the exception of berries and watermelon, should be stored here, including unripe avocados. Potatoes, if you store them in your fridge, would belong here as well.