How To Store Your Garlic & Onions So They Last For Months
While it’s a good thing when garlic sprouts if you’re planning on planting it, that can be a problem when you use it only for eating. Probably all of you have experienced your garlic growing a little green sprout out of the top, and your onions getting moldy.
We present to you a simple, effective and absolutely inexpensive way to extend the life of your vegetables and keep your onions and garlic fresh for months:
You will need:
- Firm, and blemish free garlic and onions
- Brown lunch paper bags.
- A hole punch.
- Paper clips (used to keep the bags closed)
Instructions:
1. Punch the bags any way you wish, even all about the upper half of the bags. You should make multiple rows of holes. Usually this is done by folding the bag a few times and then punching in a row, spacing the punches an inch or so apart.
You can also fold the bag in half lengthwise, punch along one edge, flip the folded bag over and punch along the other edge, approximately 1 between punches. These holes serve for ventilation, so do not mind if they are far from perfect.
2. Fill the bag up to half full, fold over the top, label it and paper clip it with the top down.
This punched paper bag method will make onions, garlic, and shallots in most situations last longer. Air needs to circulate around the bags–that’s the whole point of punching the holes.
You can continue to use the same drawers to store the bags as before, just not to crowd them. The regular plastic bags serve the cause too, they keep the bags upright and also offer room enough for the air to circulate between them. The bins can also be placed on pantry or cabinet shelves.
Undoubtedly, their specific life of these vegetables depends on the temperature, humidity, and light conditions where the bags are stored.
Extra tips:
No plastic bags: Do not store onions in plastic bags. As a result of the lack of air circulation, they will accelerate sprouting and spoilage.
No potatoes close to your onions: Potatoes and onions should not be kept together. The gases they give off will accelerate spoilage of each other.
Temperature: Onions should not be stored for an extended time in the refrigerator because the cold temperature will soften their texture, and they will impart their flavor on surrounding products too. These vegetables will last the longest in a dark, cool, dry place. If you have one, a dark, cool basement is a great choice.
