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Have you ever thought about how you store onions in your home? Did you know that how you store onions can determine your ability to maximize their health benefits?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s true.<\/p>\n
Personally, I fuss over most of my produce like an overprotective parent. I check whether my spinach is still crisp, make sure my basil plant gets just enough sunlight, and panic a little when my avocados ripen all at once.<\/p>\n
But onions?<\/p>\n
I have always assumed they could take care of themselves. I figured they just sat quietly in the corner of my pantry, and I never gave them a second thought.<\/p>\n
That changed the day I spotted a bright green sprout poking out of a red onion I\u2019d left on the counter by mistake and didn\u2019t have with all the others in the pantry.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, I realized that onions aren\u2019t as low-maintenance as I thought. Could I have stored them better? Was sunlight the problem for the onion on my counter? My curiosity got the best of me, so I decided to find out how to store onions properly and keep them as fresh as possible.<\/p>\n
How?<\/p>\n
I spoke to a man at our farmer\u2019s market who was selling them, and I was shocked at what he told me.<\/p>\n
In this article, I want to unpack the information I received on how to store onions and how it maximizes their health benefits.<\/p>\n
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting any exercise program, making changes to your nutrition plan, or adding any new supplements into your current regimen.<\/em><\/p>\n Conventional storage onions, such as white, yellow, or red varieties, should be kept in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, moisture, and heat. This was my issue with the one I left out on the counter by mistake.<\/p>\n Keep them in a cabinet, pantry, or shaded spot under the counter. And for larger quantities, a mudroom or garage can work as well. The main objective is proper ventilation, so breathable containers like mesh bags, paper bags, baskets, or crates are ideal.<\/p>\n Organic onions, on the other hand, do better in cooler environments and are best stored in the refrigerator\u2019s crisper drawer. They tend to sprout faster than non-organic onions because they are not treated with sprout inhibitors. Keeping them chilled helps slow down that process.<\/p>\n Despite what you may have thought, if your onions do sprout, there\u2019s no need to toss them out. I always thought that meant they were bad, but I was told that\u2019s not the case. The green shoots are simply small onion plants and are safe to eat, even if they indicate the bulb is nearing the end of its storage life.<\/p>\n As highlighted above, onions stay freshest in cool, dark, and dry places. A warm, bright, or humid environment does the opposite, as it encourages them to sprout.<\/p>\n Sprouted onions are still safe to eat as long as the bulb feels firm and shows no signs of rot. However, their shelf life shortens once sprouting begins, so be aware of that and check them before you decide to cut them up.<\/p>\n The reason their shelf-life decreases is that after sprouting begins, the growing shoot starts drawing energy from the bulb, causing it to dry out and lose its texture over time.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\nWhere\u2019s the Best Place to Store Onions?<\/h2>\n
What Causes an Onion to Sprout?<\/h2>\n