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How to Store Onions and Potatoes

We use lots of onions, so need to store them in reasonably large quantity.

Unfortunately, while we bring them home from the store in plastic bags, storing them in the plastic bags leads to mold and sprouting. They need to live in a dry, breathable container, but I also hate buying baskets! Thankfully, sturdy paper grocery bags provide a great solution.

Just cut them off an inch or two below the upper fold. Two of them side-by-side fit nicely in my standard-size cabinet, so I can sort red and yellow onions. Trim a smooth curve in the front face for easy access to the onions.
The bags are sturdy enough that I can tug them out and shove them around while full of onions without fear of breakage, and the onions breathe well enough I haven't had any more problems with sprouting or mold.

I originally intended these to be extremely short-term storage solutions, but they're still working beautifully several months down the road. I'm not terribly worried about the aesthetics of my onion bins, so I'll stick with this reuse project until something better presents itself.

28 comments

Apr 16, 2009. 10:51 AMberrygrower says:

The picture shows there are roots growing on the onion.... is that normal and can you still eat them? Also, when you do get those roots, is that what you can plant in the ground to grow more onions?

Apr 16, 2009. 9:54 PMac-dc says:

Those are shoots (stem that grows up above ground) not roots you see pictured, the roots grow after it is planted in semi-warm soil that is moist, but yes you can still eat the onion, including the shoots though they are sometimes too tough unless cooked, or you can cut off a bit of the end along with the root and grow more onions though certified seed onions are graded to produce better results, often higher yield. Same with potatoes but I would not bother trying to eat the shoots as I doubt they would taste good or much like potatoes.

Nov 9, 2011. 4:18 PMJustEmbers says:

Oh my goodness, PLEASE don't go around telling people they can eat anything from a potato plant (shoots, stems, leaves etc.) aside from the actual potato. Please, please, pretty please don't, you'll get someone hurt that way. The potato plant is in the nightshade family (you know, as in belladonna, aka deadly nightshade... yeah, that family... so are tomatoes, now that I'm on that train of thought). THE ONLY part of a potato plant that is safe to eat is the potato. Onions? Yes. Potatoes? Only if you're trying to hurt yourself or others. Seriously. Just because one part of a plant is edible, that doesn't mean everything (or anything) else from the plant is safe to eat.

Apr 30, 2012. 4:57 AMkenbrbkr says:

Quite true. Originally even the potato itself was toxic. South American natives ate a type of clay with them to neutralize it.

Apr 16, 2009. 9:57 PMac-dc says:

The time when the onion becomes inedible is when it shrivels too much from lack of retained moisture under it's skin, or molds because it didn't lose enough moisture, or rots because it was too warm, though from surface mold you can still peel off a couple layers and eat the rest, the middle that hasn't molded yet. Use caution doing this, make sure there is no rot, and best to rinse and cook them if they are old enough to have molded. Personally I would just throw it away instead at that point.

Aug 7, 2008. 12:52 PMAlka_Seltzer says:

I have a problem. I am a novice when it comes to garden produce but my folks are away on hols and i pulled up my dads entire crop of onions. Over 40. However, i washed off the dirt but im not sure if i should have done that due to the need for them to be kept dry. i have hung some up in the shed which is cool and dry and well ventilated, however, some of the others i cut off the leaves without realising thats how dad stores them. The onions without the leaves on are also damp so i warpped them up in newspaper to dry them out. is this wise?

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Aug 8, 2008. 9:05 AM

canida (author) says:

I wouldn't leave them wrapped up for very long - you do want to dry them, but after a few hours the newspapers probably are probably going to start keeping the remaining water in. Perhaps you can put them on a hanging or elevated screen in the shed? A piece of chicken wire would probably do nicely.

Feb 18, 2010. 10:53 AMWILL62 says:

empty mesh bags oranges came in are good to put onions in I also use mesh bags frozen turkeys come in.......put 3 finishing nails 3" apart in a board you have put on the garage wall next to the door going into the house slide the bag on and off the nails flatways to easily aquire an onion when you need it.

Aug 31, 2011. 4:50 AMjbankston montgomery says:

I like your idea of the mesh bags. One question I have. I've harvested my onions and some potatoes. Am I supposed to wash them off they are all covered with dirt? jb

Sep 5, 2008. 5:37 PMmrsnap1 says:

I've been storing my onions and potatoes this way for years... the only thing I do differently is... I cut the bag right under the handles.. or just rip off the handles.. then I fold and roll the paper bag down to the size I need.. this gives it a very durable and strong edge instead of just a flimsy one that can rip or bend easily... I have also used the rolled down paper bags for ice cubes storage in the freezer instead of the tray -- the ice cubes NEVER stick.. and another use is for a bread basket... they look great on the table.. no bowls to search for and clean up is a breeze!!

Jul 14, 2011. 9:39 AMhotLatte says:

Never mind the three years, I LIKE your paper bag suggestions... especially the ice cube storage solution... 'Think I'll try that today (It's 100 degrees outside).

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Sep 6, 2008. 9:34 AM

canida (author) says:

That's a smart modification - I'll definitely give it a try next time! You've really found quite a few creative uses for paper bags.

Oct 22, 2008. 12:18 PM

The Handmade Project says:

Thanks for the tip on how to properly store these bad boys. I've been keeping them in my hanging fruit basket and missing how fruit looked in them ;)

Mar 23, 2010. 11:42 AMSusancnw says:

THP: Brilliant! Thank you! Onions have gotten so expensive these days (along with everything else) that we want to buy bigger bags and store them...I have several hanging baskets for plants that I picked up at the dollar store...very well made for that matter...so we'll get some chains and put onions in them and hang them in my husband's shop. When that gets too warm this summer, we'll move them to the crawlspace. Bigger pain to get rid of, but it does stay cool down there...

Jan 31, 2010. 7:40 PMseafr0ggray says:

Simply, the refrigerator is dry and cold place. Depending of its volume you can store any of mentioned stuff without making it into growing phase.
About onion sprouts - try them into salads. They taste better than anything you can buy into grocery store.

Jul 12, 2009. 2:05 AMsctirvn687 says:

Could you use a cardboard box instead of a paper bag?

Jan 27, 2008. 2:43 PM

jdege says:

My usual process for handling both potatoes and onions is simple. I buy one onion or maybe three potatoes, use half the onion in a recipe or eat one of the potatoes, put whatever is left in the bottom refrigerator drawer and forget it. About eighteen months later, I open the draw and find something slimy and smelly, and throw it out. Now I'm sure your method works well for keeping a bunch of onions for a few months, when you're buying in bulk and using them regularly. But how well does it work for someone who buys them singly, and uses them only once in a blue moon? Will that 18-month-old half-an-onion be less disgusting, if stored using your method?

Apr 9, 2009. 5:51 PM

rupamagic says:

Your method must be a solid and successful way, because I am fairly certain it is employed by several of my friends!

Apr 8, 2008. 10:27 AMRectifier says:

I tried buying 25lb of onions and keeping them in a basket from a thrift shop awhile ago. Unfortunately, I still lost about 30% of them by the time I had eaten them all. It still cost less than buying the small bags though in the end... I wonder if this method works better than the basket? Or if I just risk wasting a bunch of onions again because the onions here are lousy and not meant to be stored that long? On average, how long would an onion remain in the bag before you eat it?

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Apr 9, 2008. 8:06 AM

canida (author) says:

The goal is to keep your onions cool, dry, and well-ventilated. Often baskets do a nice job; it just depends on the material and construction, as well as the ambient humidity and temperature of your storage location. Oh yes, and the age & quality of onions. This means it's hard to generalize!

My suggestion: eat more onions. They're good for you.

112

Feb 8, 2008. 9:41 AM

jessyratfink says:

I tried this because I was sick of potatoes and onions all over the place in my lower cabinets. I know have the onions and garlic in the cupboard with my spices, and the potatoes in the lower shelves by themselves. Yay! This was a very good idea. :D

Jan 27, 2008. 7:28 PMPatrik says:

There's also the classic solution of storing onions in a pair of pantyhose! :-)

Jan 27, 2008. 1:20 PMGorillazMiko says:

Forgot to add this in.

Jan 27, 2008. 3:35 PM

keng says:

HA!!

Jan 27, 2008. 3:37 PMGorillazMiko says:

Hahaha, yeah. :P

Jan 27, 2008. 1:20 PMGorillazMiko says:

Aw, it's only showing PO.

Jan 27, 2008. 3:36 PM

keng says:

Nice idea....i bet some packing tape here and there would be good too.

Jan 27, 2008. 10:27 AMGorillazMiko says:

Smart idea canida! My mom has a lot of onions, and they're just in this tray thing or something, and they get all weird, I have to tell her this, that would really help. Thanks! +1 rating.