The one place you should store onions in the kitchen to keep them fresh for months

Onions can remain fresh for up to three months or more if stored 'properly' in the kitchen.

This news may come as a surprise to avid onion lovers, as they may find that their onions are spoiling shortly after purchase, reports the Express.

The issue often lies in incorrect storage within the kitchen environment.

Allium vegetables, such as onions, should not be kept in the fridge because the cold temperature accelerates the conversion of starch into sugar.

Merissa, a culinary expert and the founder of Little House Living, has pointed out that the humid conditions inside a refrigerator also contribute to onions becoming soft, mushy, and potentially mouldy prematurely.

She explained: "While whole onions can be stored in a fridge, it is not recommended. That is because whole raw onions absorb moisture quickly and can turn softer in the fridge."

Melissa advises that onions, when stored "properly" in a cool, dry place, should stay fresh for over three months from the time of purchase.

How do I keep whole onions fresh?

The key is to store them in an area free from moisture and extreme temperatures, which typically means keeping them in a cupboard or drawer.

Melissa advised: "Store your onions in a dry [spot] where moisture cannot seep through to keep them from spoiling or rotting. Avoid storing onions in areas such as under the sink or in the basement, where it is humid."

She further explained: "If onions are stored in a hot area, they will start drying out and sprouting, which can lead them to rot and spoil quickly. If they get too cold, onions will become moist, lose their hardness, discolour, and even mouldy".

It's perfectly fine to store onions on your countertop but it's strongly advised to keep them away from sunlight as this can cause them to sprout and begin rotting.

It's important to remove onions from their original plastic packaging from the supermarket, and instead place them somewhere which allows a lot of airflow such as a paper bag or a mesh bag.

Melissa advised: "Plastic bags will invite a great deal of moisture and make the onions rot faster than you want them to."

How do I store sliced-up onions?

Once the onion bulb is broken it will only last a few days, and this is the only time they should be placed back in the fridge.

Melissa stated: "Sliced, chopped, and cooked onions should always be stored in the fridge. These types of onions are not suitable for pantries and will rot quickly outside your fridge."

She continued: "Half-cut onions should be wrapped tightly in cling film or plastic wrap and then put into an airtight container, while chopped onions should be put in a plastic zipper bag."

Ensure to store pieces of onion in a container to avoid exposure to ethylene gas, a growth hormone emitted by certain fruits and vegetables which speeds up the ripening process.

Onions are very sensitive to ethylene and when stored with other vegetables it can cause them to sprout and spoil quickly.

Peeled onions will last seven to 10 days in the fridge when stored correctly while peeled onions will last between 10 to 14 days.

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