Onion storage: what have you tried?

[humblehillsfarm]

My onion harvest of roughly 100 onions is ready. I’ve never store them long term. The coolest temps in our house are around 75 degrees so I’m afraid it may not be the best place to store them. It’s been in the high 80s to mid 90s outside. What have my fellow gardeners tried that did or didn’t work?

 

[chub_the_chick]

My onion harvest of roughly 100 onions is ready. I’ve never store them long term. The coolest temps in our house are around 75 degrees so I’m afraid it may not be the best place to store them. It’s been in the high 80s to mid 90s outside. What have my fellow gardeners tried that did or didn’t work?

Do you have a freezer? You can put them into freezer bags and they last about 9 months when frozen.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Do you have a freezer? You can put them into freezer bags and they last about 9 months when frozen.

I don’t have a very big one but that is so much better than leaving them out to rot.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I keep mine in the spare fridge in the crisper drawers.

This year it looks like I will have 100 candy onions and if they bulb up properly 100 reds as well. I will have to freeze a lot this round.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I keep mine in the spare fridge in the crisper drawers.

This year it looks like I will have 100 candy onions and if they bulb up properly 100 reds as well. I will have to freeze a lot this round.

How long do they keep in your fridge? I’ve always read you shouldn’t keep them in your fridge because they will get soggy. I grew a yellow onion supposedly good for 3-4 months of storage but my storage temps aren’t ideal. Man chopping all those onions for the freezer would be a chore! I can feel my nose running already.....

 

[21hens-incharge]

How long do they keep in your fridge? I’ve always read you shouldn’t keep them in your fridge because they will get soggy. I grew a yellow onion supposedly food for 3-4 months of storage but my storage temps aren’t idea. Man chopping all those onions for the freezer would be a chore! I can feel my nose running already.....

Last years harvest was kept in the fridge and lasted until late May.....we used them all before any got weird. I keep them in the crisper drawer and haven't had any go bad there. If I don't put them in the drawer they don't last as long.....store bought got set on a shelf in the fridge and yes those went squishy.

It is a shame we as a society did not keep with being self reliant and went away from using cold cellars.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Last years harvest was kept in the fridge and lasted until late May.....we used them all before any got weird. I keep them in the crisper drawer and haven't had any go bad there. If I don't put them in the drawer they don't last as long.....store bought got set on a shelf in the fridge and yes those went squishy.

It is a shame we as a society did not keep with being self reliant and went away from using cold cellars.

I’d do anything to have a cold cellar.... except dig it by hand. I’ll put some in the fridge and keep some out and perhaps freeze some as well. If any start to look funky then I’ll chop them and use or freeze them. Google was mostly talking about store bought onions when referring to the fridge anyways. Thank you!!

 

[Sequel]

You can also dehydrate them. I googled around and there is quite a bit out there on using them. Biggest thing is dry them outside unless you blanch first or the smell will run you out of the house! Ask me how I know..

 

[humblehillsfarm]

You can also dehydrate them. I googled around and there is quite a bit out there on using them. Biggest thing is dry them outside unless you blanch first or the smell will run you out of the house! Ask me how I know..

I have a really good dehydrator. I never thought about drying them! Maybe I’ll freeze half and dry half.

 

[Acre4Me]

a root cellar would be great, but not everyone can have one (water table too high, etc). My FIL has a huge garden and orchard, and does not sell anything. They store, give away, or process everything. For this purpose, he built a walk-in cold room in his garage. He altered an A/C window unit thermostat so that he could get it to cool down lower than the pre-set temp limits. But it is not refrigeration temps, so no meat or dairy storage, for sure. It has worked well for him for at least 10 years. He lives in a very dry climate, and I am not aware that he adds any humidity, but I'm not certain on that. We've talked about doing this in our barn as we have an area under the loft stairs that would be a workable and convenient space.

However, for now, pop in your contacts to help resist the crying (always helped me, but alas, I no longer use contacts) and borrow a friends food processor, if you are able, and slice or chop away! Out side, perhaps.

Congrats on the large crop. Ours wasn't great - many rotted in the ground or didn't grow very large. But, first time ever growing onions, so I'm on a learning curve.